Stanley Cup Final Preview: Florida Panthers Face Off Against Edmonton Oilers
The stage is set for a thrilling Stanley Cup Final as the Florida Panthers take on the Edmonton Oilers, with the series set to begin on Wednesday night in Edmonton. According to a report by the Associated Press, the two teams met in the handshake line after Game 7 of last year’s playoffs, with Matthew Tkachuk of the Panthers telling Connor McDavid of the Oilers, "We’re gonna see you again next year in it."
McDavid, the Oilers’ captain, recalled the conversation, saying it was "funny to look back on how it’s worked out." The two teams have indeed made it back to the Stanley Cup Final, with the Panthers seeking to become the first team to win back-to-back championships since the 2014-2015 Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Panthers and Oilers have had a remarkable postseason run, with both teams showing incredible resilience and determination. The Oilers lost their first two games in the first round but have since won 12 of their last 14 games. Similarly, the Panthers lost the first two games of their second-round series and fell behind 2-0 in Game 3, but have gone 8-2 since.
What Remains the Same
Despite the changes that have taken place since last season, both teams have maintained their core strengths. The Oilers still boast the dynamic duo of McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who are the top two scorers in the playoffs with 26 and 25 points, respectively. The Panthers, meanwhile, are led by Tkachuk, captain Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who has been in outstanding form throughout the playoffs.
Barkov, the Panthers’ captain, spoke about the team’s experience and confidence, saying, "We know how hard it is to make it this far, to make the finals. The first year we went, we were all like, ‘Wow, this is something new for us.’ I think last year was more like, ‘OK, we’re here again, let’s do the job.’ This year, we knew it was going to be hard, but here we are again. Every year is a little different, but it’s the same excitement and same goal: We want to win it again."
What Has Changed
There have been some significant changes to both teams since last season. The Panthers have added star talent in the form of Brad Marchand and Seth Jones, who were acquired by general manager Bill Zito at the trade deadline. Defenseman Niko Mikkola has also shown significant improvement.
The Oilers, meanwhile, have lost young players Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to restricted free-agent offer sheets by St. Louis in August. However, general manager Stan Bowman has made some astute signings and trades to bring in more experience, including John Klingberg, Jake Walman, and Trent Frederic.
Coach Kris Knoblauch believes that his team is better equipped to handle the pressures of the Stanley Cup Final, saying, "We’re better equipped this year. We’ve got, especially up front, a lot more physical players."
The Road to the Final
Both teams have had a remarkable postseason run, with the Panthers and Oilers handling adversity in impressive fashion. The Panthers rallied from a deficit against Toronto and thrashed the Maple Leafs in Game 7, before sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes in the East final.
The Oilers, meanwhile, dug themselves out of a 2-0 hole against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, gave up a goal with 0.4 seconds left against the Vegas Golden Knights in the second, and lost the series opener to the Dallas Stars in the West final. However, they have consistently shown their resilience and ability to bounce back.
Ekholm, the Oilers’ defenseman, spoke about the team’s strength, saying, "We bounce right back. That’s the biggest strength of this team is just every time we seem to have our backs against the wall, we respond and we play our best hockey and bring it the next day. I think that’s a big part of what I think makes us a bit different."
The Stanley Cup Final promises to be an exciting and closely contested series, with both teams evenly matched and determined to lift the championship trophy. As reported by the Associated Press, the Panthers and Oilers are set to face off in Game 1 on Wednesday night in Edmonton, with the series set to be a thrilling contest.
