Latest news with #KrisKnoblauch
CBC
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Revenge or reprise? 'Mature' Oilers poised for Cup final rematch with battle-tested Panthers
Social Sharing The Oilers were crestfallen. Heads sank into hands. Tears flowed from reddened eyes. Edmonton's bloodied and bearded roster had given everything in the Stanley Cup final. The gutsy, backs-against-the-wall effort — valiant in erasing a 3-0 series deficit to force Game 7 — came up just short 12 months ago. The team's core, led by superstar captain Connor McDavid, vowed that sweltering Florida night after falling to the Panthers that they would be back on the same stage. "It's been a want since the end of last year," Corey Perry, the Oilers' greybeard winger, said of a return to the NHL's title series. "There's been a lot of thinking about what happened last year, and self-reflecting. "Here we are." The Oilers, it turns out, were right. Edmonton will make a second consecutive appearance in the Cup final after beating the Dallas Stars 4-1 in the Western Conference final. And Florida, once again, is waiting. "It was on our mind since we lost that last game," Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said of his team's mission. "It was a long, tough summer, training camp, regular season." WATCH | Oilers playoff run helping newcomers find community: How the Oilers playoff run helps newcomers find community 16 hours ago Duration 1:55 The team from Alberta's capital didn't have its best for stretches of that 82-game schedule. Edmonton finished third in the Pacific Division following a rash of injuries down the stretch and fell behind 0-2 to the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs. All the club has done since? Put up a 12-2 mark in rebounding with four straight wins against the Kings before getting past both the Vegas Golden Knights and the Stars in five games. And unlike last spring when the Oilers, who host Game 1 of the Cup final Wednesday, relied heavily on the contributions of McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — to be clear, the two headliners have again been excellent — the group has got goals from 19 different players in this post-season. A rebuilt defence corps, meanwhile, weathered the loss of Mattias Ekholm, back from injury for Thursday's 6-3 victory in Game 5 over Dallas after basically two months on the shelf, while the goaltending of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard has come up huge when needed. "Some teams get really hot coming down the stretch and they ride it all the way through the playoffs," McDavid said late Thursday night in the bowels of a cavernous American Airlines Center. "For us, it's come together in the playoffs. We've been building and building and building our game. "Our best hockey is still in front of us." Edmonton had already ridden a wild roller-coaster by this point last year. This run feels different. "The first time you go through it, there's a ton of joy and excitement," Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse said of winning three playoff rounds. "And there is now, don't get me wrong, but there's also a hunger and knowing what's coming and the opportunity that's ahead. We're all excited." "Those games can be emotionally draining," McDavid added. "We're not drained — we've got lots of depth. We've got as good a chance as they do." That would be the nasty, battle-tested Panthers — in a third straight final after steamrolling the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1, bossing the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7, and disposing of the Carolina Hurricanes in five. "We know what they're about," Draisaitl said. "We played them seven times. It's nice to get a shot at getting some revenge, but we're a long ways from that." Knoblauch said his players are wiser as they pivot to an opponent led by Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Sergei Bobrovsky and Brad Marchand making its third straight Cup appearance. "This is a mature group," the second-year bench boss said of Edmonton. "They're older. They've seen a lot of playoff hockey. They know what they need to do to get it done." The task, however, remains daunting. "If it's going to change, we're going to play our best hockey," Knoblauch added. "We have a chance, but we're going to have to be at our best."
Ottawa Citizen
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Edmonton Oilers-Florida Panthers II: Will it be heartache or revenge?
Article content This was the plan all along. Article content Article content From the beginning of last summer, through a lukewarm start to the season and through a stretch drive that looked more like a waist-deep walk through quicksand, this was plan. Article content This was the payoff. Article content Getting back in the Stanley Cup Final. Article content Not winning the division. Not finishing the season on a roll. Not winning a scoring title. Not blowing through Los Angeles, Vegas and Dallas in 16 games to win another Western Conference championship. Article content Article content All that has ever mattered since the final horn sounded at the end of Game 7 last year against the Florida Panthers was what the Edmonton Oilers accomplished Thursday night. Article content Article content Giving themselves another chance to finish the job. Article content 'We spent seven months getting ready for this playoff run,' said head coach Kris Knoblauch, after the hard-charging Oilers improved to 12-2 in their last 14 playoff games by eliminating Dallas Thursday night. Article content 'It was on our minds since we lost that last game. It was a long, tough summer. Training camp and regular season was kind of just punching our card, showing up, wanting the playoffs, wanting another opportunity. Article content 'We should definitely feel proud of what we accomplished, happy about what's gone on, but on our mind hasn't been just to be the best team in the West. We weren't thinking about that all summer, we were thinking about the ultimate prize.' Article content Article content And here they are. Article content Article content 'These are the things you dream about,' said 40-year-old veteran Corey Perry, who has turned the clock back to the tune of seven goals in 16 games. 'We said last year right after Game 7 that we'd be back. And we're back.' Article content And now, once again, it's close enough to touch. The only thing standing in the way are the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, who've been just as impressive on the other side of the draw. Article content They are a menacing, highly-skilled power team that torments you physically and mentally and elevates its game in the big moments like only one other team in the NHL. The guys who beat Edmonton last year added Seth Jones and Brad Marchand, so that's what the Oilers will have to deal with. Article content 'We know what they are about, we played them seven times,' said Leon Draisaitl. 'They're a good team. We're a really good team, as well. It's nice to get a shot at getting some revenge, but we're a long way from that.'
Global News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Global News
ANALYSIS: Hockey in June is compelling, even with Jets out of playoffs
It's hard to imagine, but it took 1,312 regular-season games, and 78 more in the playoffs, to get to the same two teams playing for the Stanley Cup: the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. And for teams from opposite sides of the league, and completely different geographies, this series is set up to potentially be one of the best in decades. The contrasts and contradictions and storylines are fascinating. Story continues below advertisement The loquacious Panthers coach Paul Maurice versus the reserved Kris Knoblauch. Great players on both sides — Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl versus Florida's Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk — teams that both found great success in these playoffs with the depth on their rosters. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Perhaps the biggest perceived advantage is in goal. For Florida, Sergei Bobrovsky (you would think) has an advantage over Stuart Skinner. But all Skinner has done is win game after game, with an exaggerated save percentage since regaining his form against Vegas in Round 2. There's also the amazing play of two grizzled veterans, the Oilers' Corey Perry and Panthers' Brad Marchand, who have both been integral to their team's success without changing their style one little bit. Both will drag their teams into the fight. And of course, the biggest storyline: can the Edmonton Oilers bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada for the first time since 1993? Story continues below advertisement While the city of Edmonton is already in a frenzy, it will take a few games, maybe three, for the rest of the country to catch up. Winnipeg Jets fans, Ottawa Senators fans, fans of all the Canadian teams, in fact, will look enviously at what the Oilers are doing before jumping on the bandwagon for Connor and company. But it will happen. Last season's series proved that hockey in June, even if it's not your favourite Canadian team, can grip the nation. And by the time hockey's grandest prize is given out, our country will be glued to the television, hoping that 32 pounds of silver resides in pro sports' most northerly city.
Vancouver Sun
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Edmonton Oilers-Florida Panthers II: Will it be heartache or revenge?
This was the plan all along. From the beginning of last summer, through a lukewarm start to the season and through a stretch drive that looked more like a waist-deep walk through quicksand, this was plan. This was the payoff. Getting back in the Stanley Cup Final. Not winning the division. Not finishing the season on a roll. Not winning a scoring title. Not blowing through Los Angeles, Vegas and Dallas in 16 games to win another Western Conference championship. All that has ever mattered since the final horn sounded at the end of Game 7 last year against the Florida Panthers was what the Edmonton Oilers accomplished Thursday night. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Giving themselves another chance to finish the job. 'We spent seven months getting ready for this playoff run,' said head coach Kris Knoblauch, after the hard-charging Oilers improved to 12-2 in their last 14 playoff games by eliminating Dallas Thursday night. 'It was on our minds since we lost that last game. It was a long, tough summer. Training camp and regular season was kind of just punching our card, showing up, wanting the playoffs, wanting another opportunity. 'We should definitely feel proud of what we accomplished, happy about what's gone on, but on our mind hasn't been just to be the best team in the West. We weren't thinking about that all summer, we were thinking about the ultimate prize.' And here they are. 'These are the things you dream about,' said 40-year-old veteran Corey Perry, who has turned the clock back to the tune of seven goals in 16 games. 'We said last year right after Game 7 that we'd be back. And we're back.' And now, once again, it's close enough to touch. The only thing standing in the way are the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, who've been just as impressive on the other side of the draw. They are a menacing, highly-skilled power team that torments you physically and mentally and elevates its game in the big moments like only one other team in the NHL. The guys who beat Edmonton last year added Seth Jones and Brad Marchand, so that's what the Oilers will have to deal with. 'We know what they are about, we played them seven times,' said Leon Draisaitl. 'They're a good team. We're a really good team, as well. It's nice to get a shot at getting some revenge, but we're a long way from that.' Aside from the huge impact of losing Zach Hyman for the rest of the playoffs, the Oilers look Stanley Cup ready in every aspect of the game. The offence goes without saying — they have Draisaitl and Connor McDavid and on top of that 11 different players have three or more goals. The defence shut Vegas out in the last two games of that series and held Dallas to 12 total shots in the third periods of Games 3, 4, and 5. And Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard (combined salary $3.6 million) have eliminated $19.75 million worth of opposition goalies so far. If everyone can elevate just a little more, it might be enough. 'If it's going to change (from last year) we have to play our best hockey,' said Knoblauch. 'A lot of credit to Florida, they might be even better than they were last year. For a team to get there three years in a row, that's not by accident. 'I think we have a chance but we're going to have to be at our best to give ourselves that opportunity.' Why will it be different this time? Connor McDavid believes losing Game 7 of a Cup Final strengthens a team's resolve like nothing else can. 'I think we're better for going through last year, it was a great learning experience and it's really driven us all year,' he said, adding he can already feel it in the room. 'I think this run has felt different from last year, it's felt very normal. It hasn't been emotional. We haven't had the highs and lows, it's just kind of been steady. 'That's put us in a good position. Those games can be emotionally draining and we're not drained. We have a lot of depth. We have as good a chance as they do.' And the whole revenge thing? If it works out that way, great, but believe the Oilers when they tell you it doesn't matter who they're playing, this is all about finishing the job. 'Quite honestly, it doesn't matter,' said defenceman Darnell Nurse. 'When you're in this position you just want to give yourself an opportunity to compete for a Stanley Cup. It so happens it's going to be a rematch. They're a really good team, they present a big challenge, but we have a lot of belief in our group. 'It's a resilient group that has a lot of belief in each other and we earned ourselves an opportunity to go back to the Stanley Cup Finals. There is a hunger in knowing what's coming and the opportunity that's ahead. We're all excited to get the next series going.' E-mail: rtychkowski@ 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
Reuters
a day ago
- General
- Reuters
Oilers D Mattias Ekholm expected to return for Game 5 vs. Stars
Defenseman Mattias Ekholm will return to the lineup for the Edmonton Oilers in Thursday's potential Western Conference finals-clinching Game 5 against the Dallas Stars. Out since April 11 with an undisclosed injury, Ekholm missed the first two rounds of the playoffs for the Oilers, who beat the Los Angeles Kings in six games and the Vegas Golden Knights in five before grabbing a 3-1 lead over the Stars. Ekholm was with the top defensive unit during Thursday's morning skate. "Here's a guy that's been playing big minutes for us since he's pretty much came to Edmonton," Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters Thursday. "Playing a shut-down role, playing a penalty-kill role, power play, whatever. For him to come back and feeling great, it's a great addition to our team." Of his injury, Ekholm said that "it feels really good," but that he is still "making sure I'm in a good spot where I can not just play but withstand some blows." He attempted to return twice over the past few weeks only to aggravate his injury. Ekholm scored a career-high 11 goals last season and helped Edmonton rally from a 3-0 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Final, which the Oilers ultimately lost to the Florida Panthers. His 2024-25 campaign was cut short with nine goals, while his 22:11 of average ice time per game ranked third on the team. --Field Level Media
