No team has ever won a Stanley Cup in the pre-season.

But they can sure take some initial steps toward achieving some cohesiveness and familiarity that hopefully translates into momentum heading into the regular season.

Or can they?

The Edmonton Oilers could use all the help they can get when it comes to getting out of the gates, after back-to-back seasons of slow, shaky starts.

Of course, they more than made up for it, and proved the old adage it’s not how you start, but how you finish that counts, by reaching the Stanley Cup Final both times.

Still, considering they were the ones watching as the Florida Panthers hoisted hockey’s Holy Grail in the end, it’s tough not to wonder if a little bit smoother start to it all could have maybe — just maybe — made some sort of difference in t

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