 The ad hoc nature of the game was controversial.Had the NHL tiebreakers been in effect, the Oilers would have qualified for the playoffs since they had superior goal differential — critics argued that the real reason the league ordered the playoff was that they wanted to give the Fighting Saints an extra chance to qualify on account of the fact that they were playing in a large, brand new arena whereas the Oilers were playing in a small and antiquated facility.As a footnote, the Fighting Saints went on to play the Winnipeg Jets, who defeated them four games to one.