“Things repeating 40 years later” has been a theme of this blog and its accompanying podcast for the better part of a year now. The Boston Celtics, a panoply of college basketball teams (Houston, Auburn, St. John’s, Duke), even my ol’ alma mater, Binghamton High School, and its boys’ basketball team.

Basketball has been the connection on all of this, but more than anything last year I wanted to see an Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup, shades of their 1984 triumph. Alas, it was not meant to be, but as goes one of my truisms, life always gives you a second chance.

Led by guys named Gretzky and Messier, the Oilers won it all in ’85 as well, meaning this could be a 40-year anniversary party too.

Tonight is Game One of Lord Stanley’s final round, a rematch of last year and the potential for some sweet revenge.

Or, whatever polite endeavor passes for sweet revenge in Canada.