Photo by Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
The legitimacy of anthems before sporting events is a much-debated and polarizing topic. There is no dispute, however, on how chill-inducing the collective performance of 18,000-plus Oilers fans was prior to Edmonton's first home game of the second round.Fans inside a packed Rogers Place collectively belted out the American anthem prior to Sunday's Game 3 after Canadian artist Brett Kissel prompted the crowd following apparent technical issues with the microphone (the mic sound in the video was picked up by an external camera mic, but was not heard by anyone in the arena).Kissel, after strumming the opening chord and attempting to sing the first note of the Star-Spangled Banner, drew out the conductor within and asked the crowd to "do it together" after realizing there was an issue with the sound system in the arena. With no karaoke-style lyrics posted on the scoreboard, nearly 20,000 strong nailed the American anthem in perfect unison before crushing the Canadian one right after.Playoff hockey is in full swing in Edmonton after a 10-year hiatus, and even the fans know how to put on a show.An incredible moment
When the mic doesn't work, the crowd takes over & belts out The Star-Spangled Banner…
…In Edmonton
#StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/pWvrlknbV6
— NHL (@NHL) April 30, 2017