The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers will give fans the last glimpse of NHL hockey until October as they face off in the Stanley Cup Finals. It may be a hard pill to swallow for Montreal Canadiens fans, as it's another year without seeing the bleu, blanc, et rouge in the Finals. However, you can watch with memories of the 2021 Stanley Cup run in your head or watch to see former Habs Brett Kulak and Nick Cousins try to win their first title.
The Edmonton Oilers had a long and tumultuous run to the Stanley Cup Final. It started at the beginning of the season when they were 32nd in the league, leading them to fire head coach Jay Woodcroft. The Oilers became the best team in the NHL after hiring Kris Knoblauch, leading them to a first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Kings. The Oilers dethroned the Kings for the third-straight season, then won the All-Canadian matchup with the Canucks in Round 2. They looked in trouble against the West-leading Stars in the Conference Final but rebounded to win three straight games and advance. The Oilers will hope that Stuart Skinner can hold up to the Panthers' offensive depth if they want to win their sixth Stanley Cup.
The Florida Panthers haven't been tested this playoffs, falling behind just once when they lost Game 1 of the Conference Semi-Finals to the Boston Bruins. They disposed of the Lightning in five games, then came back to defeat the Bruins in six games. Igor Shesterkin gave them everything they could handle in the Conference Finals, but the Panthers still beat them in six games. The Panthers seem poised to avenge their Stanley Cup Final loss from last season if they can keep the Oilers high-octane attack at bay.
Oilers-Panthers Stanley Cup Final Schedule: Full List of Games, TV & Results
- Game 1: Oilers at Panthers -- June 8, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)
- Game 2: Oilers at Panthers -- June 10, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)
- Game 3: Panthers at Oilers -- June 13, 8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)
- Game 4: Panthers at Oilers -- June 15, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)
- Game 5 (If Necessary): Oilers at Panthers -- June 18, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)
- Game 6 (If Necessary): Panthers at Oilers -- June 21, 8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)
- Game 7 (If Necessary): Oilers at Panthers -- June 24, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)
Will the Edmonton Oilers become the first Canadian team since the Montreal Canadiens in 1993 to win the Stanley Cup? Or will the Florida Panthers finish their story from last season and win their elusive first title?