Oilers' killer instinct buries Dallas, books spot in Stanley Cup Final
Article content
The only team to survive an elimination game against Edmonton was the Florida Panthers in Game 7 last year, a loss the Oilers are now in a position to avenge in the first Cup Final rematch since 2009.
'It's amazing,' said Leon Draisaitl. 'We put in a lot of work over the year and a lot of guys stepped up at different times. We just found our game, we found our pieces in the right spot. We're starting to find our stride.'
Brace yourselves for Oilers-Panthers II. The Stanley Cup Final opens Wednesday in Edmonton.
'We're going up against a great team, the Stanley Cup champs from last year,' said Oiler captain Connor McDavid. 'It's their third finals in a row. There's not much you can say about them; they're great.
'We'll have our hands full, but we're a good team, we're a special team. We feel good about our game.'
The Oilers are a machine right now, improving to 12-2 in the last 14 games after overcoming the 0-2 deficit to beat Los Angeles in six and taking Vegas and Dallas down in five games each.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Province
16 minutes ago
- The Province
Will the Edmonton Oilers bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada?
Florida Panthers centre Aleksander Barkov (16) talks to Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid (97) at the end of Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. Photo by Rebecca Blackwell / AP Photo WATCH BELOW: On the latest episode of Off The Post, Toronto SUN Sports Columnist Steve Simmons, Postmedia Hockey Columnist Bruce Garrioch, The Province and Vancouver Sun Canucks reporter Patrick Johnston and Postmedia's Rob Wong discuss the Florida Panthers impressive run during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, if they are perfectly built for playoff-style hockey and if the Oilers or Stars have a chance to beat them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Vancouver Canucks Sports Vancouver Canucks News Local News
The Province
2 hours ago
- The Province
Don't expect Florida Panthers to jump the Edmonton Oilers this time
'We know what to expect. We've seen this team before. There are a lot of familiar things about this" Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner watches the play in front of him against the Florida Panthers at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts / Postmedia There haven't been many times in Stanley Cup Finals history that a teams wins three of the last four games and doesn't lift the trophy. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Unfortunately for the Edmonton Oilers, last year's final was over before it started. Florida got the jump on them and by the time the Oilers recovered they were down 3-0. Credit them for pushing back to turn a sweep into a dramatic seventh game, but that slow start was a killer and it can't happen again. Now that the Oilers know what it's like to be in a Stanley Cup Final — perhaps the last piece of experience this ever-evolving team ever need — there is good reason to believe things will be different this time. 'There is obviously a sense of calm having gone through this scenario last year,' said defenceman Darnell Nurse. 'That said, (Florida) is here for a third time, so they're going to have that sense as well. 'I know for our group it's definitely a different feeling than going into last year. Going through it the first time, there were a lot of moments where you were really excited. For us this year, the level of excitement isn't as heightened as before. We know the task and the job that needs to be done.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. They might not win it all, but getting caught flat-footed out of the gate doesn't seem likely for a team that's thought about little else for the last 11 months than Game 1. 'Our makeup of the team is a bit different than last year,' said defenceman Mattias Ekholm, who'll be in his third career final when the Oilers host Florida Wednesday night at Rogers Place. 'Not a lot of guys had been that far in the playoffs before. So it's good to have that and to be calm with that, guys being calm in situations that are pretty stressful and being able to deliver under pressure. When you've been there and seen it there are no real surprises along the way.' These aren't a bunch of wide-eyed first-timers anymore. This is a group that has weathered every storm there is to weather in this game, faced every possible stressor. It's a team that's 12-2 in its last 14 games against Western Conference heavyweights Los Angeles, Vegas and Dallas. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We have a different mood,' said head coach Kris Knoblauch. 'Last year was new to us, we didn't know what the Stanley Cup Final was going to be like. 'And, also, the way we went into it. Game 6 against Dallas last year we didn't play our best game (outshot 34-10). We did win it but it wasn't our strongest game. It's a little bit different (this time). 'But the biggest change is we've been here before — we've done the press conferences, we've answered the questions about what it's like to be in the Stanley Cup Final. 'We know what to expect. We've seen this team before. There are a lot of familiar things about this.' Teams gain a wealth of experience in every playoff round they win, or lose. But there is something different about the final. Things get amped to an entirely different level when you're four wins away from lifelong dream and every hockey fan in the world, and players from 30 other teams, are watching. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. They always think they're ready, but history shows that most teams aren't. The list of teams that needed a couple of chances to break though is a lot longer than the list of teams who lift the trophy on their first try. 'It's the ultimate, it's the biggest stage in hockey, it's the highest stakes of games you can play,' said Ekholm. 'It's the series that everybody wants to be in. Being in that can be stressful, but both teams have a lot of experience in that so it's going to be a different atmosphere. Everybody knows what's going on. This is what everybody wants.' Nurse says it wasn't just the big stage that caught Edmonton off guard, it was how hard the Panthers came out of the gate. They seemed one-step faster. They were harder. They had the taste of a previous year's Cup final defeat in their mouths and it showed. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'They came out and played better in those first three games, there were a couple of close ones where they made one more play than we did,' he said. 'For us, knowing the importance of the start of the series and the importance of every moment, we have to take that to another level this year.' Coming back from adversity is what the Oilers do best. They came back from 2-0 down to win four-straight against the Kings. They didn't lose another game to Vegas after giving up the winning goal with .4 seconds left in Game 3. And they ran the table after giving up five third-period goals in Game 1 against the Stars. Now, they have to comeback after what Florida did to them last year. 'That's the biggest strength of this team,' said Ekholm. 'Every time we have our backs against the wall, we respond and we play our best hockey.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. E-mail: rtychkowski@ Read More Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post, and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun Sports Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks News Vancouver Whitecaps
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg a perfect landing spot for Jonathan Toews' next chapter
The Winnipeg Jets remain in the market to upgrade the centre-ice position and one of the most intriguing players that is available will be Jonathan Toews. The pride of St. Vital recently made it clear through agent Pat Brisson that his healing journey has brought him to a place where an NHL comeback is something he plans to pursue this fall. There's no doubt whatsoever that the Jets will be among the teams interested in Toews' services and given where they are in their competitive window, they absolutely should be. Winnipeg Jets' GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said in January that he had been in touch with Jonathan Toews' representatives. (Jeffrey T. Barnes / The Associated Press Files) Provided Toews can remain healthy after his excruciating battle with long COVID, he checks a lot of boxes for what the organization would be looking for. Wherever Toews lands as an unrestricted free agent, his resumé speaks for itself. For those who need a refresher, Toews is a three-time Stanley Cup champion and has appeared in more than 1,200 games when you include the regular season and the playoffs. He's been a highly-productive player since entering the NHL during the 2007-08 season with the Chicago Blackhawks and his leadership skills are legendary. Toews is a winner who hates to lose and he's someone who isn't afraid of the bright lights or the big stage. These are all qualities that would come in handy for an organziation looking to take the next steps in pursuit of the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. With Luke Schenn the only player on the current roster who has been part of a Stanley Cup champion team, adding someone with three rings to go with an abundance of gold medals looks like a natural fit. Back in January, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff held court with several reporters on a road trip, including colleague Mike McIntyre, and mentioned he had been in touch with Toews' representatives. 'Knowing Jonathan and knowing what standard he holds himself to as an athlete, and what impact he wants to have in games when he plays, I think it will be an interesting journey to watch how things unfold with him.'– Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff 'He's going to want to play to win. These guys don't want to just say they want to play. He knows the standard he would have to be at, and we would certainly hope to be in that mix,' said Cheveldayoff. 'Knowing Jonathan and knowing what standard he holds himself to as an athlete, and what impact he wants to have in games when he plays, I think it will be an interesting journey to watch how things unfold with him. 'Certainly if he's progressing to that point in time, it would be a real welcome conversation to see if there's a fit both ways. I think it would be a great story for his career, too. Not that he needs another story to his career. But I think he's proud of his roots and would be an interesting fit.' One of the most important factors for Toews in making his decision will be having the ability to play for a winner and the Jets would appear to fit that criteria. Clearly, steps forward were taken by the Jets this past year, when they put together the best regular season since returning to the NHL in 2011 and captured the Presidents' Trophy. That the Jets were among the last eight teams standing reinforced that they were a legitimate contender, but by losing in six games to the Dallas Stars, it was clear the Jets still needed to upgrade the roster slightly to get over the hump. Winning six playoff games was something the Jets hadn't done since 2018 when they advanced to the Western Conference final and racked up nine of the 16 wins required to get your name etched on Lord Stanley's silver chalice. That progress is to be acknowledged and it will also serve as motivation moving forward. Motivation is something Toews is never lacking and by having the game he loves taken away from him, there's no way he would put himself through the physical and mental toll required if he didn't think he could be an effective player. Now, there's no playbook when it comes to what Toews has battled through medically since taking his last shift during the 2022-23 season, when he was limited to 53 games. 'I think it would be a great story for his career, too. Not that he needs another story to his career. But I think he's proud of his roots and would be an interesting fit.'– Kevin Cheveldayoff The last time Toews appeared in the post-season was 2020, when he orchestrated an unlikely upset and the Blackhawks bounced the Edmonton Oilers in four games during the qualifying round. Toews was the most effective player in all three zones in that series — which included two of the best players in the world in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Not only has Toews proven to be a clutch performer, both in the NHL and while suiting up for Canada on the international stage, he's got a level of defensive awareness and competitive spirit that all teams are looking for. Toews won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010 when the Blackhawks captured the first of three Cups in five years (2013, 2015) and he also won a Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward in the NHL in 2013. It's true that Father Time remains undefeated and that Toews turned 37 on April 29. It's also true that Brad Marchand of the Florida Panthers is 37 and has been a driver on a highly-effective third line as he prepares to suit up in the Stanley Cup this week, while Corey Perry of the Edmonton Oilers turned 40 last month and has seven goals and 10 points in 16 playoff games this spring while flourishing in the role of a complementary scorer and shift disturber. So, while the examples of players making an impact in their late 30s and early 40s remains rare, bet against Toews at your own peril. Toews doesn't need to suit up for his hometown team to enhance his legacy, but for someone who helped the Blackhawks win a championship for the first time since 1961, it's easy to see the appeal of joining a Jets' team that could be knocking on the door. It might just be the perfect landing spot for Toews to write the next chapter in his storied career and to eventually go out on his own terms. On top of winning three Stanley Cups, Jonathan Toews has won two Olympic golds at the 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi Games. (Grigory Dukor / Reuters files) For the Jets, bringing in someone with the pedigree of Toews makes a ton of sense, especially when you consider that captain Adam Lowry is expected to miss the start of the season after undergoing successful hip surgery last week. Lowry's absence means the Jets will have plenty of important minutes to distribute in the early stages of 2025-26, which should provide ample runway for Toews to show what type of role he'll be able to handle. Once Lowry is back to full speed, having him on a depth chart that features Mark Scheifele, Toews and/or Vladislav Namestnikov, Morgan Barron, Rasmus Kupari or David Gustafsson would provide an upgrade — with prospects Brayden Yager and Brad Lambert knocking on the door and looking for inclusion, provided they're not playing on the wing instead. The Jets already have a number of versatile guys that can either be used down the middle or on the wing, including Namestnikov, who has handled the bulk of the second-line centre responsibilities during the past two seasons when Sean Monahan wasn't on the roster. Signing Toews isn't the only option the Jets are going to consider and it's not a make-or-break situation if Captain Serious chooses to go in another direction, but signing him to a one or two year deal is something that could help provide a boost for what will be one of the most important off-seasons in franchise history for Cheveldayoff and his staff. X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Ken WiebeReporter Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken. Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
