‘Bet’s on’: Alberta premier challenges B.C. premier in upcoming Stanley Cup playoff bout

B.C. Premier David Eby has accepted Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s bet in the upcoming Stanley Cup playoff matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks.

It comes following the Canucks’ 1-0 victory against the Nashville Predators Friday to book their ticket to the second round.

Smith’s challenge to Eby, first posted on social media, says the loser has to deliver a statement written by the winner in the legislature while wearing the winner’s jersey.

Eby responded Saturday morning, saying “Bet’s on,” calling for the two cities to set aside differences and a common “hating” of the Calgary Flames for Stanley Cup glory.

“In this vast democracy called Canada, we must often set aside our differences to come together. But over the coming weeks, British Columbians and Edmontonians will have to set aside what we have in common (hating the Calgary Flames) for hockey glory,” his post on X reads.

The Canucks downed the Preds in six games, while the Oilers dispatched Los Angeles Kings in five.

In the second-round bout between the two western Canadian teams, home advantage will go to the Canucks as they finished first in the Pacific Division, a couple of points ahead of Edmonton.

The Oilers lost all four games against the Canucks in the 2023-24 season, including an 8-1 drubbing in their first encounter in early October. Vancouver outscored Edmonton a combined 21-7 in those matches.

Tuesday is the expected start date of the series — the first Oilers-Canucks clash since the 1992 Stanley Cup playoffs. Edmonton came out on top in that series 4-2.

You can read more about the matchup between the two teams on Sportsnet.