I'm offline for a few days. Should be back behind the keyboard on Friday.

Spare a hopeful thought for the Oilers.

That's the Edmonton Oilers' power play stats for the Stanley Cup finals. To put it another way, they've converted four per cent of their PP opportunities.

And that's probably a big part of the reason why the Carolina Hurricanes hold a 3-1 stranglehold on the Oilers in the fight for the Cup. They beat the Oilers tonight 2-1 at Rexall Place.

One of those goals came on a power play. That's one more power play goal than the Oilers got.

I repeat: The score was 2-1.

Goaltending wasn't the issue -- Jussi Markkannen played well.

The Oilers came out strong, but they were not the stronger team by game's end -- even though the support of their leather-lunged fans never wavered.

And that has me fearing for the Copper and Blue.