Wednesday, May 31, 2006
He was a Sabre when Dallas won in 1999 on a controversial goal.
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Ask Edmonton Oilers forward Mike Peca what it was like to lose the Stanley Cup to the Dallas Stars on a disputed goal in Game 6 of the 1999 finals and his smile quickly evaporates from his face.
His teeth grind and his eyes narrow, his strong jaw hardens.
Seven years later, the pain of Brett Hull's disputed goal in triple overtime still feels fresh.
"The run was great," Peca said Tuesday as he took off his shoulder pads in the Oilers dressing room. "Playing in the finals was great. Losing was devastating, especially based on the goal that we lost on.
"It leaves you with the emptiest of feelings. You grow up your whole life wanting to win a Stanley Cup and to get that close and have it ripped away, it's dealing with the ultimate what if. That's something that's really driving me right now and that I'm helping other guys understand that empty feeling. To come all that way and lose, it's a great big waste of time."
Back on the ice
After taking a couple days off to recover from Saturday's series-ending win over Anaheim in the Western Conference finals, Peca and the rest of the Oilers returned to the rink Tuesday to begin preparing for the Stanley Cup finals.
The team is making its first appearance in the championship round since 1990, when the Oilers won their fifth title in seven years. Only Peca, goalie Dwayne Roloson and forward Radek Dvorak have played in the finals.
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