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'Let's go, Oilers,' some defiant fans chant as Panthers head back to the Stanley Cup Final

'Let's go, Oilers,' some defiant fans chant as Panthers head back to the Stanley Cup Final

National Post5 days ago

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'They're a great team and it's obvious the last couple of years, they're the standard, obviously,' Brind'Amour said. 'I thought our guy battled really hard all series.'
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Tkachuk, Evan Rodrigues and Anton Lundell scored on consecutive shots during Florida's second-period flurry — two of those coming in a 30-second span — while Bobrovsky finished with 20 saves.
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Barkov's assist on Verhaeghe's winner also stood out as its own terrific individual effort. Florida's captain was jostling with Carolina's Dmitry Orlov in a battle near the boards on the left side when he turned toward the crease, stepped inside of Eric Robinson and sent the puck over to Verhaeghe for the finish that silenced a Hurricanes home crowd in full-throated roar after Jarvis' tying score.
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'He took on one guy, then two guys and then gave the puck to me with a pretty open net,' Verhaeghe said. 'So it was an unbelievable play by Barky at a critical time.'
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Sebastian Aho scored twice in the first period for Carolina, both on neutral-zone giveaways — the first being one from Gustav Forsling that hit Aho in stride for a a breakaway chance that ended up in the net. Aho added another off a giveaway from Niko Mikkola with little more than a minute left in the first for a 2-0 lead.
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Carolina has won at least one postseason series in its current run of seven straight playoff appearances, though three have now ended in the Eastern final. Two of those had ended in sweeps in a losing conference-final losing streak that reached 15 games _ dating to sweeps in 2009, 2019 and the 2023 first tilt with the Panthers — before Monday's Game 4 win.

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MATHESON: For this Cup final, Oilers' Kane is able
MATHESON: For this Cup final, Oilers' Kane is able

National Post

time2 hours ago

  • National Post

MATHESON: For this Cup final, Oilers' Kane is able

Article content 'This group worked really, really hard to get back to this point. I know more than anybody, not knowing if you'll get another shot to win. I've been in the conference final a bunch of times and the one final last year and not being able to help the team the way I knew I could, it was very difficult,' said Kane, who has 10 points in 16 games this spring. Article content 'Florida plays a certain brand of hockey. The way we've been looked at from outside our room is that we're just this offensive team and we've started to change that narrative. Obviously, we can score goals, but we can lock things down. And we can play a physical, in-your-face brand, whatever kind of game you want,' said Kane, who has another big body, Trent Frederic, this year, along with Darnell Nurse. Article content Is intimidation still a thing this late in the playoffs, with two teams left? Article content 'Yeah, it's always a factor. It's important to have that aspect to your group because you never know when it can play in your favour,' he said. Article content Indeed, playing the game with a snarl can be a winning recipe. Article content 'They know us, we know them. It went down to the bitter end last year. Both teams understand this will be the toughest challenge they've faced. Any sort of edge you can create could possibly be the difference,' he said. Article content 'As a team we're better equipped, especially up front, a lot more physical players,' said Knoblauch. 'We didn't have Evander last year but for the first two games, and not healthy. Do I think he'll make a difference now? Absolutely. Physicality, scoring. We missed him last year. But we've also added Frederic. He plays a similar game. Not as much offence as Evander but pretty darned physical.' Article content Knoblauch agreed with the game-within-the-game theme for Kane. Not everybody gets their competitive juices flowing like Kane's manner of agitation, though. Article content 'Some players talk between the whistles. Other players think that distracts them from their game. Others thrive on it. Like Corey Perry, like Evander Kane. That gets them involved in the game and they can distract somebody else,' he said. Article content 'Yeah, Evander's a good player and hopefully, he can provide something more that we didn't have last year (against the Panthers),' said Knoblauch. Article content We know Kane will arrive at Game 1 in ill humour, but in which luxury car? He's been in a Lamborghini and a Rolls-Royce this spring. Article content 'You'll have to tune in to find out,' laughed Kane, who told Jeremy Roenick and former NHL referee Tim Peel on a Stars and Stripes podcast that he would be in a Lamborghini here, but in Florida for Game 3? Article content 'Guys were talking like, 'Do I chopper in in Florida?' ' he said. Article content THIS 'N' THAT Article content Knoblauch said Oilers captain Connor McDavid is just fine after he only skated for 10 minutes Sunday before leaving the ice, so relax in Oilers Nation. 'He'll be skating tomorrow (Tuesday).' … Knoblauch said winger Connor Brown will be playing Game 1 which means Jeff Skinner, who scored in Game 5 in Dallas, will be out … Florida captain Aleksander Barkov has just won his third Selke award as the NHL's best two-way forward. He also won in 2023-24 and is the fourth back-to-back winner over the last 25 years, following on the heels of Patrice Bergeron, Pavel Datsyuk and Rod Brind'Amour. Barkov beat out teammate Sam Reinhart, with Tampa's Anthony Cirelli third and Jersey captain Nico Hischier fourth. Oilers centre Leon Draisaitl was sixth behind Vegas' Jack Eichel. Article content

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