BLOG: The Battle of Alberta is for the fans

EDMONTON, AB - It hasn't happened in 31 years, but the Battle of Alberta is about to grip the entire province.
The noise surrounding the games is about to be dialed up to 11. The fanbases, social media, radio, print, and television are all ready to indulge in what's a once-in-a-lifetime series for fans under the age of 30.
"The hype is real life. There are a lot of passionate fans in Alberta. As players we're trying not to get consumed by that," Mike Smith said. "There's a lot of extra noise, but there's a focus with this group that we have a job to do, and it didn't matter who we were going to play against."
So how did former Flames and current Oilers like the Oilers netminder and Derek Ryan find out that the province's dream matchup was about to become a reality?
"Honestly, I didn't even watch it. I just checked the score this morning when I woke up," Derek Ryan said. "It's one of those things that was totally out of our control. Either way, it went it would have been a tough battle, so I left it as a surprise.

Not quite the snarling, chomping at the bit in anticipation reaction that was expected for a Battle of Alberta. How about Smitty?
"I actually fell asleep around nine o'clock last night, but I woke up in time for overtime," he said.
The reality for those inside the locker room is that the opponent shouldn't matter when it comes to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A team needing to raise their game based on a rivalry or the competition at hand isn't conducive to success and likely isn't sustainable in the long run.
The Battle of Alberta is more of a celebration for those around the game of hockey. It's for the fans and the media, those who buy the sweaters or tickets, and those who eat, sleep, and breathe their team's colours. For those who have to live it, the mentality is to treat this series as another step on a longer, more important journey.
"I think [the media] hype it up more than the players do," Smith said. "I think being this close as far as logistics make it a little more interesting, but I think for us we're not getting caught up in the hype. It's just another series for us"

"It doesn't matter if it's Calgary or someone else, the job is the same," Smith continued. "We're trying to go out there and compete for the ultimate prize. If we have to get through Calgary to do that, then that's the goal and all that's on our mind."
Only seven current Oilers were even alive for the last post-season provincial dustup between the two teams -- Mike Smith, Duncan Keith, Derek Ryan, Derick Brassard, Kris Russell, Mikko Koskinen, and Zack Kassian.
Despite all that, the consistent head-butting of a playoff series between two teams can help ratchet up the tenacity. Ryan attributed the 10 games played between the two clubs in last year's Canadian Division as a bigger source of consternation than the colours of the jerseys.
For the fans, however, this will be a moment to take in. All the fervour and passion that will surround these teams over the next two weeks should be worth the 31-year wait.

"Everyone's pumped. I have friends, family, everyone [reaching out]," Kulak said. "I have die-hard Flames fans and die-hard Oilers fans; they're looking forward to it. I think we all are, but for us players, the job stays the same. It's going to get more intense, it's going to get harder, it's going to get tighter, and we all need to step up another gear and be ready to go."
Kulak, who has worn both jerseys and has ties to both cities, is hoping to channel the excitement from those around him into positive results on the ice.
"There's a lot of energy built up and I think the best thing for me personally is to use it," he said. "It can prepare you more and give you that extra boost you need to come into a big series like this."