from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

Ales Hemsky’s Edmonton Oilers turned out to be a flash in the pan back in 2006. Meanwhile, the only fluke out East that spring was that Jason Spezza and his Ottawa Senators didn’t meet the Oilers in that Stanley Cup Final.

“That was our best team,” recalls Spezza, leaning back in his dressing room stall in Dallas, his legs stretched out in front of him. “When Dom Hasek was in net for us, we were unbeatable. Absolutely unbeatable.”

Alas, while the Oilers emerged from the No. 8 hole to win the West, Hasek got injured in Round 2 and Ottawa couldn’t advance. Then Hemsky’s goalie, Dwayne Roloson went down as well, in Game 1 of the Cup Final, and destiny settled on a Carolina Hurricanes team that seemed to enjoy every possible break in winning that franchise’s only Stanley Cup.

Today, Spezza and Hemsky dress just a few stalls down from each other in Dallas, a couple of 32-year-olds who have waited most of a decade for their next decent shot at Stanley. They would happily accept a little of that Carolina karma this spring, if it meant one more dance with the Cup.

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