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New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Connor McDavid is out to solidify his legacy — and deny the Panthers a dynasty — in Stanley Cup Final
History has a way of repeating itself in sports in a manner that sometimes defies logic. Even when it comes to the Stanley Cup, the NHL's championship trophy that is widely regarded as the toughest to win in all of sports, there are telling patterns. How else can you explain the eerily similar tales that two of the league's generational talents share regarding their journey to hoisting their first Stanley Cup? Wayne Gretzky and the Oilers lost his first Stanley Cup Final to the Islanders in 1983. The very next year, Gretzky and the Oilers topped the Islanders on the same stage to win it all. Detroit denied Sidney Crosby and the Penguins of his first Stanley Cup in 2008. Crosby and the Penguins came all the way back the very next season to reverse the results on the Red Wings. Now, it's Connor McDavid's turn. McDavid has his second shot at claiming Lord Stanley for the first time in his 10-year NHL career, as the Oilers are set to face the Panthers in a highly anticipated Stanley Cup Final rematch beginning on Wednesday in Edmonton. It was this same core of Panthers players — Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Sergei Bobrovsky — who got in his way last time. 4 Oilers star Connor McDavid skates during the team's preparation for the Stanley Cup matchup vs. the Panthers. NHLI via Getty Images Like Gretzky and Crosby before him, McDavid will have to exorcise his demons to cement his status and capture his first Stanley Cup. McDavid, last year's Conn Smythe winner despite coming out on the losing end, falls into a highly exclusive category as one of the greatest to ever do it. He is, quite simply, the best player in the entire National Hockey League, and he has been for some time now. There will never be another McDavid, just like there will never be another Gretzky or Crosby. This is a legacy series for the 28-year-old, who is spearheading the Oilers with 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 16 games. Though McDavid strives for the same results as the sensational players before, the Panthers have their eyes on something else entirely: a dynasty. 4 Oilers star Connor McDavid looks on during practice in preparation for the Stanley Cup final matchup vs. the Panthers. NHLI via Getty Images 'I believed that it was going to be us two again,' Tkachuk, the heart and soul of Florida's roster, told reporters recently. 'I think we're the two best teams in the league. If everything would go right, it would probably be us two again in the finals. I have that confidence in our team, and they were the best team we played last year in the playoffs. I stand by that and I believed that at the time. And here we are again.' In the handshake line at the conclusion of the Panthers' seven-game victory over the Oilers last season, Tkachuk told McDavid he'd see him there again next year. Anyone who has spent time around Tkachuk knows the 27-year-old wholeheartedly believed it when he said it. 4 Connor McDavid skates up ice during Oilers' practice in preparation for the Stanley Cup final vs. the Panthers which begins on Wednesday. NHLI via Getty Images The Panthers are onto their third straight Stanley Cup Final appearance and are in the midst of their fifth consecutive postseason (not including the qualifying round in the 2020 bubble playoffs). After losing in five games to the Golden Knights in 2023, Florida was widely regarded as the Eastern Conference team to beat on its way to securing the franchise's first championship last year. The team Bill Zito has constructed has been viewed as a sort of blueprint. That's on account of the complete and utter fear the Panthers have struck into the hearts of every team they've faced in the postseason over the past few seasons. They have redefined what it means to be hard to play against. They are a force in every sense of the word. Pulling out a second Stanley Cup win in three tries would be a statement. If the Panthers manage to fend off McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and company once again, they'd become just the 10th club in NHL history to win back-to-back titles. After keeping his hands off the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl last year, however, McDavid switched it up and picked it right up this year. The work to reverse the results has already been put in motion. 'We didn't last year,' he told Sportsnet from the ice in Dallas. 'Give it a go this year.'
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
These Ontario-born and Canadian players are chasing the Stanley Cup — Here's who to watch in Oilers vs. Panthers finals
The 2025 Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers begins on Wednesday, June 4, in what will be a rematch of last postseason's epic seven-game series. The Oilers are looking to become the first Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens, and this year, there are a number of Canadian and Ontario-born players on both respective rosters who want to bring Lord Stanley to their home soil. A post shared by NHL Public Relations (@nhlpr) Here are the players on each team that will be representing their Ontario roots in the 2025 Stanley Cup final. Between both teams, there are a total of 15 Ontario natives. A post shared by NHL (@nhl) It's not just Ontario that is well represented in the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals, but Canada as well with 28 Canadians in this series. Here are the non-Ontario players representing Canada. Safe to say a number of Ontarians and Canadians alike are set to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup this time around. Game 1 goes live from Rogers Place in Edmonton on Wednesday, June 4 with an 8 p.m. puck drop. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
New York Post
02-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Panthers vs. Oilers prediction: Who will win the 2025 Stanley Cup?
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The odds could hardly be tighter for the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers are a nominal -120 favorite over the Panthers to lift Lord Stanley's mug, but this is essentially a pick 'em, a coin flip, a 50/50 matchup between familiar foes for all the marbles. When you get to this part of the playoffs, it's hard to poke holes in either team. It's quite a feat to make it this far, so you're probably doing just about everything right. But there are a couple of advantages that point to one side of this matchup. The most glaring edge is in goal, where the Panthers will feel much more comfortable with their setup than the Oilers, even if Stuart Skinner has rebounded after a disastrous start to the playoffs. Connor McDavid finally gets his chance to redeem himself against the defending champions. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Sergei Bobrovsky has been steady as she goes for the Cats for the third straight postseason, posting a .912 save percentage and a plus-8.5 Goals Saved Above Expected in 17 contests. The 36-year-old Russian is the second favorite behind Connor McDavid to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. Skinner deserves plenty of credit for his remarkable turnaround, but this is a familiar tune out of the Alberta native. He is incredibly streaky and could fall off the boil without warning. The other factor that tilts the scales toward the Cats is their journey to get to this point. This is the third trip to the Stanley Cup Final in as many years for Paul Maurice's Panthers. After losing to Vegas in 2023, the Cats outlasted the Oilers in a classic one year ago. That series saw Florida race out to a 3-0 lead, only for Edmonton to storm back and force a Game 7. The Panthers would eke out a 2-1 win in the finale, earning them their first Stanley Cup. The point is, these Panthers have seen it all. There isn't a situation that you can throw at them that they won't be able to handle. That's what makes them such an intriguing opponent for the Oilers. Edmonton has overwhelmed everybody that's been in its path this postseason, but those opponents clearly became shaken up after McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and company wrested control of their series. Edmonton lost its first two games of the Stanley Cup playoffs, only to win 12 of its next 14. Once the 18-wheeler got rolling, everyone got out of the way. Panthers are looking to repeat in 2025. Getty Images The Oilers won't find it so easy against the Panthers. If Edmonton races out to an early lead in this series, Florida won't panic. The Panthers erased a 2-0 deficit in Round 2 against the Maple Leafs, and famously wiped away a 3-1 deficit against the record-setting Bruins in Round 1 of the 2023 playoffs. And the Panthers won't fret if they're the ones who get a lead and cough it up, because they did that against the Oilers in last year's Final, and lost Game 6 against the Maple Leafs at home in Round 2 this year, only to respond with a dominant win on the road in Game 7. We know Edmonton has been superb at getting things to go their way in these playoffs, but they're coming up against a team that is masterful at finding ways to win when you know what hits the fan. Betting on the NHL? That makes the Panthers worth a bet to repeat at +110 odds. PICK: Panthers win the Stanley Cup (+110, Caesars Sportsbook) Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
Hamilton Spectator
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Edmonton Oilers are Canada's last hope for a Stanley Cup win. Here's how to watch the West final versus Dallas
After five teams qualified for this year's Stanley Cup playoffs and three advanced to the second round, Canadian hockey fans had high hopes of bringing Lord Stanley's mug back north of the 49th parallel. A few weeks later, just one Canadian team remains in the running following the elimination of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets. The Edmonton Oilers are now Canada's last hope for the country's first Stanley Cup title since the Montreal Canadiens captured it back in 1993. Edmonton comes into the Western Conference finals well-rested after beating the Vegas Golden Knights 1-0 on May 14 to win the best-of-seven conference semifinals four games to one. Edmonton will play the Dallas Stars in the conference finals, beginning Wednesday (May 21). A post shared by Sportsnet (@sportsnet) Connor McDavid leads Edmonton in playoff scoring with 17 points, according to ESPN . Leon Draisaitl is close behind with 16 points. These teams are squaring off in the conference final for the second straight year. This time, Dallas has home ice advantage. The Oilers defeated the Stars four games to two last year, earning a trip to Stanley Cup final, which Edmonton lost in seven games to Florida. The Oilers have eliminated two U.S. teams so far — the Los Angeles Kings in the first round and Vegas in the second. Sportsnet and CBC will offer TV coverage of the Western Conference best-of-seven playoff final between Edmonton and Dallas. All games are available to stream on Sportsnet+ . Game one is Wednesday, May 21, starting at 8 p.m. eastern in Dallas. Game two is May 23, also at 8 p.m. Games three and four shift to Edmonton on May 25 and 27, respectively. Game three is a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m., while game four returns to the customary 8 p.m. start time. Games five through seven, if necessary, will alternate between Dallas and Edmonton.
Edmonton Journal
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Who has the edge between Edmonton and Dallas in the Western Conference Final and why: 9 Things
Article content Article content With Dallas eliminating Winnipeg in Game Six Saturday night, the rematch is set in stone. What will the keys be to the Oilers repeating last year's triumph, and taking a second consecutive shot at Lord Stanley's mug?? That and more in this edition of… 9 Things 9. Corey Perry turned forty on Friday. It speaks to the player's ensuring skill, grit, and commitment when you consider he has scored twenty-four goals this year. Gordie Howe scored twenty-five in the 1968-69. Article content 8. Roster depth has been a common, positive theme for Edmonton in this postseason. Kasperi Kapanen's OT winner in Game Five made him the thirteenth Oilers forward to score. Will that number climb before these playoffs are done? 7. Still on depth, if you check the game sheet from Game Five look at the TOI in the overtime period. Every player touched the ice in extra time. Every. Single. Player. That is a master class in coaching: Trusting each guy at the most critical time in the most important period of the year (to date). 6. You can point to many differences in the Oilers' performance from the regular season to these playoffs. One of the biggest has been Evander Kane. He is a big game player with a unique set of skills. Some wanted to trade Kane this season. Not me. Who else does what he does, and when? 5. Two Oilers prospects are going to the Memorial Cup. Sam O'Reilly finished the OHL playoffs with twenty-two points in seventeen games for the London Knights. William Nicholl's performance in comparison was muted, eight in seventeen matches. O'Reilly was the Edmonton Oilers ' first round pick in 2024 (thirty-second overall). Nicholl was a seventh rounder. Article content 4. A few folks questioned me after a comment that I made in advance of the Vegas series. I said that the Oilers were a faster team than the Golden Knights, even though Vegas did play 'quick.' Over the final two games of the series Edmonton out chanced the Golden Knights off the rush to the tune of 22-6. This is from a Vegas team correctly applauded for its transition play out of their own end and how effectively they romp through the neutral zone. 3. Connor McDavid 's prickly answer to a perfectly fair question after Game Five raised a few eyebrows. But I think it goes back to the same source as many things we have seen in Connor's game and approach this season: The Game Seven loss to Florida last Spring. Unless you have been in a comparable situation, it might be difficult to understand what kind of a mark a defeat like that leaves. The fire to win burns even hotter. Article content Article content 2. Going into the Stanley Cup Playoffs perhaps the biggest question the Oilers must answer was whether their goaltending would stand up. Well, after a shaky start in the L.A. series both goalies have been excellent since. Calvin Pickard is on a six-game win streak. Stuart Skinner has back-to-back shutouts. In the Vegas series, the Edmonton netminders had the better Goals Saved Above Expectation in all four victories. Heading into the Western Conference Final, the healthier Skinner is the natural selection to start Game One. But as the series progresses, the team must feel great about both guys. Oilers-Stars series starts Wednesday, May 21st in Dallas. Game One will be an 8pm Eastern Time start, as will Game Two on May 23 rd. The scene will shift to Edmonton for Game Three, with a head-scratching 3pm start. Then, the balance of the games will also be 8 EST. As we surely all know by now, we have seen this movie before. And last time it ended well for Oilers fans. But these are two slightly different teams from the previous encounter. What will the differences be that may propel one club past the other. Let us break that down now: Article content Goaltending. I have just been through the Oilers' situation. Once Calvin Pickard is healthy, Edmonton has two hot hands they can go to. Jake Oettinger is one of the best keepers in the league. He is completely capable of stealing a series. Even those wearing the most Oilers-coloured of glasses would certainly admit that Dallas probably has an edge in the net. But…Edmonton has won consecutive series where that was also said about them. And they defeated Oettinger last year. So, I do not think it is quite the advantage some may. Team Defence. The Dallas Stars had the fifth best defensive squad in the NHL this past regular season. On paper they look like a tough matchup in that respect. But…along the way to the Western Conference Final, the Oilers beat both Los Angeles and Vegas, the sixth and third best defensive squads, respectively. So, like in Goal I do not think team defence is the difference maker for Dallas that some may assume that it is. Containing the Oilers will not be easy. In fact, with a little extra rest and ample motivation, I might suggest it is a tall order. Article content The Blueline. Dallas has some terrific defenders. A healthy Miro Heiskanen is a major factor. Esa Lindell is a splendid blueliner and one of the most underrated D-men in the league. We saw in the international tournament this past winter how terrific of a young defenceman Thomas Harley us. And will Cody Ceci, a guy I found that far too many Oilers faithful took for granted while he was in Edmonton is a solid presence. Dallas has the quickest, most skilled D-corps that the Oilers have faced so far. Can Mattias Ekholm return and make a difference? Advantage: Dallas. Team Offence. Dallas finished ahead of Edmonton in overall team offence in 2024-25 (the Stars were fifth, the Oilers ninth). But I see Edmonton with the best high-end offensive skill. Mikko Rantanen is a tremendous player but until he outplays Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, I will argue that he is a quarter-rung below them both. Edmonton has been getting impressive depth contributions as I have detailed earlier in this article. and in terms of team speed the Oilers are quicker, second in the league to the Avalanche. Article content Physicality. I give the Oilers the edge here. When is the last time we have been able to say that? Neither club was especially physical in the regular season. Neither even finished in the top twenty-five in terms hits. But the arrival of Evander Kane and Trent Frederic on the scene has been impactful. Edmonton has edge on all four lines. Coaching. Two great coaches. One with loads of experience. One with relatively little. Pete Deboer has a career .585 winning percentage. Kris Knoblauch, in a much smaller sample, is at .659. But Knoblauch will only be an underdog in his role so much longer. And he won this same matchup last spring. Tie. Intangibles. This is a tougher call. Dallas will have an axe to grind. Edmonton beat the Stars last year. There is a score to settle. But Dallas did not lose in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. I believe there is a deeper, even more acute purpose in Edmonton's side. Latest National Stories
