ANAHEIM — It was as valiant, improbable and courageous a game as the Edmonton Oilers have posted in a long, long time.
Followed by one of the biggest chokes.
In a hockey game that absolutely defied description, the Oilers and Ducks turned in a night for the ages Friday, taking Game 5 of their playoff series to the limits of believability and back. Twice.
Reeling after back-to-back losses at home and down to four defencemen for most of the first period Friday, the Oilers somehow managed to survive a vicious Anaheim assault to build a 3-0 lead and come 3:16 away from one of the most inspirational victories in their long and storied history.