Tonight for the Edmonton Oilers is the World Series, the SuperBowl, March Madness, and whatever it is they do in the NBA all rolled into one. Oilers/Canucks on Hockey Night in Canada. This could be the most fun match-up to watch all season, friends. Perhaps the two fastest teams in the NHL doing battle.

So why does tonight mean "everything"? A win tonight moves the Oilers one point back of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Just one point.

Okay, maybe tonight doesn't mean "everything" but it's far better being one point back than 20 points back. One point is striking distance. One point is motivation to keep fighting and trying to win. One point is a validation of everything the Oilers have done over the last three seasons.

There are ramifications if this game is a win or a loss for Edmonton, and there's a upside to either situation. Should the Oilers win, there will be motivation to keep this roster together. For those of you wanting to see Ladislav Smid's contract extended, a win tonight could be the push required by the team and Smid's agent to get things done. A win could help Sam Gagner get re-signed. It might be the reason to keep Ryan Whitney and Ales Hemsky around.

Should the Oilers lose, they won't be so far back that playoffs are over. It might encourage the team to go out and get a quality rental or two. Think about Mark Streit from the Islanders, for example. With Lubomir Visnovsky signing a contract extension, perhaps the Oilers could acquire Streit, the terrific puck-moving offensive defenseman who plays the left side, for defenseman + a conditional pick. The addition of Streit would be incredible. Or what about Jay Bouwmeester?

I was at the game between the Oilers and Blue Jackets on Thursday, and it was a huge win for the Oilers and their fans. The Jackets have been the best team in the Western Conference in March, grabbing points in 13 of 14 games straight. They came out flying against the Oilers, quickly taking a two goal lead. But the Oilers battled back; they were warriors. They showed true heart and character in the win, and the game was thrilling. Playoff hockey in March between two teams that have so much to prove.

Success in Edmonton is not a matter of talent (or the lack thereof). This is psychology. If the Oilers believe they are good enough, they can beat anyone on any given night. They have 15 games remaining...Need to go 10-5, or 9-4-2 over the next 15 to make the playoffs. Their record with Shawn Horcoff in the line-up isn't that far off of this pace.

So what do the Oilers need to do tonight to beat the Canucks? It's all possible stuff, friends. There's no reason for pessimism here. We can do this.

- The Horcoff line, along with the Smid/Petry defensive pairing, needs to shut down the Sedin's and Burrows. With it being a home game, the Oilers get the last change and the ability to match lines.

- The Oilers need their top line to continue playing like they have been. Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins just belong together. Peas and carrots.

- The Oilers need to "out-depth" the Canucks. Keep in mind the Canucks entire 2nd line is injured. The Oilers should be able to keep up offensively. The Gagner/Hemsky/Paajarvi line that won't be out against the Canucks best shutdown players.

- The Oilers need to be smart with their ice-time. The team seems to play best when they are cycling all four lines, giving everyone a chance to play. I wouldn't have believed it a month ago, but Mike Brown helps this team so much in ways people may not notice. He's not going to give you goals, but what he gives you is heart, blood, and motivation.

- And, of course, Devan Dubnk needs to be his best.

We're on the threshold here in Edmonton. You can see glimpses of an amazing team ready to burst out. The Oilers had three Goals of the Week during their last game. They can be spectacular and everyone on the roster is beginning to understand and believe just how much potential there is.

All of Edmonton needs to get behind this. Let's think about the potential and the opportunities. Let's encourage Oilers management to go for it at the deadline. Hey, nobody thought the 2006 Oilers had a chance, but look how much the last-minute deals added to the mix. The Oilers could be two or three rentals short of winning a round or two. Asking for 2006 all over again might be too much, but think about how young and talented this team is. They, perhaps more than then any opposing team, are the main barrier to success. The second the Oilers players figure out how good they are and how they can beat anyone, this will be a championship team.

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