Oilers inspired by support

The Edmonton Oilers are drawing inspiration from everyone, be it hockey legends in the stands or soldiers stationed overseas.

It is no secret that the Oilers, who trail the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup finals, get ramped up by the most raucous crowds in hockey.

Among the capacity crowd of 16,839 on hand at Rexall Place for Sunday's 3-1 win was Mark Messier, who captained the Oilers to their last Stanley Cup in 1990.

"We have been able to celebrate our past because, when you have that kind of past, you want to celebrate it," Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe said.

Messier and fellow Oilers alumni Paul Coffey and Glenn Anderson also attended Monday's 2-1 loss in Game 4, but the Oilers are being careful not to parade out past heroes because doing so often places undue pressure on the players.

"We didn't want to be burdensome to the new guys," Lowe said. "At the same time, people would say you can't keep hanging onto the 1980s."

That's when Edmontonians enjoyed a decade-long dynasty, winning Stanley Cups in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and the aforementioned title in 1990.

Back then, the Oilers boasted Hall of Fame talents like Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Grant Fuhr and Coffey.

This year's Oilers have proven no less successful, mind you, but bear little resemblance to the dynasty teams from the 1980s.

Seeded eighth, they've been underdogs in every series and, other than former Hart Trophy winner Chris Pronger and Selke Award winner Michael Peca, have few, if any, decorated players.

"It would really separate the success of the '80s and create a whole new identity for the team," Lowe said of winning the Cup without a team of superstars.

"The fact we have been able to do it in a year a lot of people wouldn't have expected, it is a little bit more special," said Oilers assistant coach Craig Simpson, who won two Stanley Cups with Edmonton.

And perhaps why Canadians worldwide have embraced them so zealously.

Before Game 4, two soldiers on leave presented the Oilers with a Canadian flag signed by 1,600 troops serving in Afghanistan, where playoff hockey has been a welcome diversion.

The flag was promptly hung in the Oilers dressing room.

"It's been everywhere in Afghanistan," said Petty Officer Mitzy Bryson. "Anywhere there are Canadian troops, that is where the flag has been.

"There's not a lot of things to do in Afghanistan, so we have one central place to watch TV and we have been following Oilers games over there and it's an incredible thing for morale because the majority of troops are from the base in Edmonton."

Added Pte. Kim Smith-Samms: "When you're away from home, it's fantastic. It's just morale, it's a major morale booster for all of us over there."

And for the underdog Oilers here at home.