Losing three teeth among Ryan Smyth's memories of Rexall Place
CBC News | Posted: April 2, 2016 12:00 PM | Last Updated: April 2, 2016
'I don't know how you can forget that, when you lose your teeth,' the former Oiler said
Former Oilers forward Ryan Smyth won't ever forget that Stanley Cup playoff run in 2006 — he's got the battle wounds to constantly remind him.
Rexall Place was buzzing with energy when the Oilers were down 2-0 in the series against the San Jose Sharks.
In the heat of the battle, Smyth swooped in as teammate Chris Pronger cleared a shot.
"Prongs had it and I just looked at him. All of a sudden [the puck] was just coming towards me and I just caught it at the last second," Smyth said.
He fell to the ice, and so did three of his teeth.
"I think if I would have taken it straight on, it would have been worse but I took it just on the side," he said. "Obviously I was ticked off."
Smyth stepped off the ice, accidentally knocking down an usher on the other side of a doorway.
He returned in the third period, setting up Shawn Horcoff in triple overtime for the game-winning goal.
Smyth found out after that game the usher on the other side of the door had broken her wrist.
"I said, 'Oh no.' The next game I asked if [they] could bring her down and I'd sign her cast," he said. "I ended up doing that."
The Oilers would go on to beat the Sharks four games to two.
Oilers alumni, including Smyth, are expected to be in the old barn on April 6, when the team plays its final game at Rexall Place.