Latest news with #Presidents'Cup-winning
Ottawa Citizen
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Edmonton Oilers never expected to dominate here in Stanley Cup Final
Article content But there is nothing easy about the NHL playoffs, especially this best-of-7 series between the last team standing in each conference. Article content Article content This is, after all, hockey's Holy Grail, which is routinely described as the hardest trophy to win in all of professional sports. Article content Article content The concept is straightforward enough. All you've got to do is come up with four wins faster than your opponent. Article content Article content Oh, but the games are played with one, maybe two days' rest in between. And did we mention the series comes after having to earn 12 wins across three previous rounds that have to feel every bit as gruelling at the time? Article content It's a grind. And if your team's not up to the task, don't worry, you'll find out right away. Article content That's what makes this particular Stanley Cup Final so intriguing, as a rematch of last year's championship round that went right down to the wire, with three straight wins by one team followed by three straight wins by the other, only being decided by one goal's worth of difference in Game 7. Article content And after it took almost eight-and-a-half periods over the first two games to decide nothing, as the two teams entered Game 3 on Monday in Sunrise, Fla., with the series every bit as even at 1-1 as it was when it began, there is nothing to suggest it won't go the distance again this time around. Article content Article content The Oilers and Panthers are as evenly matched as you could hope the top two teams on the season would be. The only drawback to the whole thing is the result of Game 3 almost doesn't matter — not nearly as much as Game 4 on Thursday (6 p.m., CBC, Sportsnet) — because for every punch from one side, there has been a clear and decisive counterpunch from the other. Article content Article content And that goes for game to game, and within the game. Article content 'It's the Stanley Cup Finals,' said Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse. 'You're not going to walk through a Stanley Cup Final. You're not going to walk through a team at this point of the year. Article content 'The team we're playing against, it's their third final in a row and they're here for a reason. And for us, we know that we are very capable, when we are at the top of our game, of being the dominant team on the ice.' Article content Like the Oilers did over the past two rounds, going 4-1 against both the Pacific Division-winning Vegas Golden Knights and a Dallas Stars squad that knocked off the Presidents' Cup-winning Winnipeg Jets.
Calgary Herald
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Edmonton Oilers never expected to dominate here in Stanley Cup Final
Article content If winning the Stanley Cup was easy, everyone would be walking around with all sorts of bling on their fingers. Article content But there is nothing easy about the NHL playoffs, especially this best-of-7 series between the last team standing in each conference. Article content Article content This is, after all, hockey's Holy Grail, which is routinely described as the hardest trophy to win in all of professional sports. Article content Article content The concept is straightforward enough. All you've got to do is come up with four wins faster than your opponent. Article content Article content Oh, but the games are played with one, maybe two days' rest in between. And did we mention the series comes after having to earn 12 wins across three previous rounds that have to feel every bit as gruelling at the time? Article content It's a grind. And if your team's not up to the task, don't worry, you'll find out right away. Article content That's what makes this particular Stanley Cup Final so intriguing, as a rematch of last year's championship round that went right down to the wire, with three straight wins by one team followed by three straight wins by the other, only being decided by one goal's worth of difference in Game 7. Article content And after it took almost eight-and-a-half periods over the first two games to decide nothing, as the two teams entered Game 3 on Monday in Sunrise, Fla., with the series every bit as even at 1-1 as it was when it began, there is nothing to suggest it won't go the distance again this time around. Article content Article content The Oilers and Panthers are as evenly matched as you could hope the top two teams on the season would be. The only drawback to the whole thing is the result of Game 3 almost doesn't matter — not nearly as much as Game 4 on Thursday (6 p.m., CBC, Sportsnet) — because for every punch from one side, there has been a clear and decisive counterpunch from the other. Article content Article content And that goes for game to game, and within the game. Article content 'It's the Stanley Cup Finals,' said Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse. 'You're not going to walk through a Stanley Cup Final. You're not going to walk through a team at this point of the year. Article content 'The team we're playing against, it's their third final in a row and they're here for a reason. And for us, we know that we are very capable, when we are at the top of our game, of being the dominant team on the ice.' Article content Like the Oilers did over the past two rounds, going 4-1 against both the Pacific Division-winning Vegas Golden Knights and a Dallas Stars squad that knocked off the Presidents' Cup-winning Winnipeg Jets.
Vancouver Sun
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Edmonton Oilers never expected to dominate here in Stanley Cup Final
If winning the Stanley Cup was easy, everyone would be walking around with all sorts of bling on their fingers. But there is nothing easy about the NHL playoffs, especially this best-of-7 series between the last team standing in each conference. This is, after all, hockey's Holy Grail, which is routinely described as the hardest trophy to win in all of professional sports. The concept is straightforward enough. All you've got to do is come up with four wins faster than your opponent. 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. Oh, but the games are played with one, maybe two days' rest in between. And did we mention the series comes after having to earn 12 wins across three previous rounds that have to feel every bit as gruelling at the time? It's a grind. And if your team's not up to the task, don't worry, you'll find out right away. That's what makes this particular Stanley Cup Final so intriguing, as a rematch of last year's championship round that went right down to the wire, with three straight wins by one team followed by three straight wins by the other, only being decided by one goal's worth of difference in Game 7. And after it took almost eight-and-a-half periods over the first two games to decide nothing, as the two teams entered Game 3 on Monday in Sunrise, Fla. , with the series every bit as even at 1-1 as it was when it began, there is nothing to suggest it won't go the distance again this time around. The Oilers and Panthers are as evenly matched as you could hope the top two teams on the season would be. The only drawback to the whole thing is the result of Game 3 almost doesn't matter — not nearly as much as Game 4 on Thursday (6 p.m., CBC, Sportsnet) — because for every punch from one side, there has been a clear and decisive counterpunch from the other. And that goes for game to game, and within the game. 'It's the Stanley Cup Finals,' said Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse. 'You're not going to walk through a Stanley Cup Final. You're not going to walk through a team at this point of the year. 'The team we're playing against, it's their third final in a row and they're here for a reason. And for us, we know that we are very capable, when we are at the top of our game, of being the dominant team on the ice.' Like the Oilers did over the past two rounds, going 4-1 against both the Pacific Division-winning Vegas Golden Knights and a Dallas Stars squad that knocked off the Presidents' Cup-winning Winnipeg Jets. Prior to the Stanley Cup Final, those were the only two games the Oilers lost since falling behind 0-2 to the Los Angeles Kings, before regrouping and putting together a six-game win streak. With their backup goaltender in net, of all things. In all, the Oilers went an impressive 12-4 to reach the final round. And the Panthers weren't much farther behind, going 12-5 while knocking off their state rival Tampa Bay Lightning in five games before getting into a seven-game slugfest with a surging Toronto Maple Leafs squad, and then cruising to win over the Carolina Hurricanes in five games. To expect either side to manhandle the other here in Round 4 would be to deny the deliciousness of seeing how the timeless and universal plotline plays out when the unstoppable force meets the immovable object. 'With that said, they're going to have their pushes and it's the way that we're able to weather those and take the momentum,' Nurse said. 'And maybe grab the momentum a little bit earlier and swing it back our way.' In and out: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sat out Sunday's practice and was listed day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. He did, however, participate in Monday's morning skate with the team. 'Ryan will be a game-time decision,' offered head coach Kris Knoblauch. 'He'll take warmup and we will decide from there.' Jeff Skinner was prepared to enter the lineup in his place. The Oilers are already down one top-line forward who played the majority of the season on Connor McDavid 's wing, as Zach Hyman required surgery to repair a fractured wrist from Game 4 of the previous round against the Stars. Should Nugent-Hopkins end up missing any significant time with whatever is ailing him from Game 2 against the Panthers, that would mark both of McDavid's regular wingers out of action at the most crucial time of year. E-mail: gmoddejonge@ On X: @GerryModdejonge
Edmonton Journal
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Oilers on a suspiciously similar playoff path to last year
Article content What followed was a second-round matchup against the Pacific Division champions, just like a year ago. Except the division title was claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights, whom the Oilers dispatched in five games, and not the Vancouver Canucks. That set up a Round 3 rematch against the very same Dallas Stars who fell in six games to the Oilers in last year's Western Conference final, after Dallas put away the Presidents' Cup-winning Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, winning their series 4-2. And while that series is set to begin Wednesday (6 p.m., Sportsnet, CBC), there was already at least a 50-per-cent chance a Florida-based opponent would be facing the winner of the west, with the Carolina Hurricanes awaiting Sunday's deciding Game 7 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the defending-champion Panthers. So, the Oilers wanted another shot at Round 4 after coming oh-so close to the ultimate goal of hoisting this city's first Stanley Cup since 1991? All they've got to do is hold up their end of the bargain for one more series, as they prepare to play in the Western Conference final for the third time in four years.
National Post
03-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Round 2 Preview: Oilers in another medieval matchup vs. Golden Knights
Article content With the Kings deposed, our tale turns to the next chapter where Connor McDavid and his band of merry men must now face a host of evil Knights. Article content Article content But not just any knights. Ones in shining armour basked in the golden glow of the sun after claiming the top prize in all the Pacific following an 82-battle campaign. Article content This, brave adventurers, is Round 2 of the NHL playoffs. A land where not everyone expected the Edmonton Oilers to reach. Article content The heralds weren't exactly blowing brazen trumpets in their march to the post-season, after limping their way down the playoff stretch with warrior after warrior falling to injury. Article content But such is the way for those who live and die by the sword, as the Oilers gathered themselves up and rallied to come back from an 0-2 series deficit against Los Angeles to send the Kings packing in Round 1 for the fourth year in a row. Article content What is to become of our heroes is anyone's guess, as they march their way toward the border of Round 2, where the Vegas Golden Knights await. Article content PLAYOFF PAST Article content You don't have to read too far into the scrolls of history to find when these two teams last met in the playoffs. Article content In fact, this will only be the second time it's happened. Vegas vanquished the Oilers in six games when they first met in 2022-23, on the way to claiming the young franchise's first Stanley Cup banner. Article content In their quest to add a second one, following a disappointing Round 1 ousting in seven games at the hands of the Dallas Stars last year, their paths cross once again with the Oilers, who are coming off a defeat by the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Article content BY THE NUMBERS Article content Vegas finished with a record of 50-22-10 to sit first in the Pacific Division and third overall with 110 points, behind the Presidents' Cup-winning Winnipeg Jets and the Eastern Conference champion Washington Capitals. Article content It was the fifth time the Golden Knights won their division — something the Oilers haven't done since 1987. Article content They defeated the Minnesota Wild, who held the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, 4-2 in their opening-round matchup and hit Round 2 on a three-game win streak. Article content The Oilers ended up 48-29-5 to finish third in the Pacific and ninth overall, marking the first time they didn't finish second in their division since reaching the qualifying round of the 2019-20 season (during the COVID-19 interruption).
