✨🔩2024 Stanley Cup Finals: Edmonton vs Florida: Panthers Stanley Cup Champions 🔩✨ (FLA Wins 4-3)

[Jimtown guy]

[FD19372]

11 minutes ago, JR Ewing said:

What Connor McDavid is doing is the stuff of legends. They're down 3-0 and the best player in the world puts his team on his back and forces game 6 with back-to-back 4 point nights.

 

He's the best hockey player I've ever seen.

 

McDavid has been absolutely great, for these entire playoffs. What he's done the last two games, though, is not just score points, but lead. He's raised his game to another level. He's been strong defensively too. He's been the best player on the ice in the last two games, and it's not even close.

[Icechipper]

Puck possession on the Perry goal was sick......

[notfondajane]

On 6/4/2024 at 6:52 PM, pilldoc said:

 

                                                                                               

 

 

Ok folks we are in the home stretch .....

 

Big shout out to @TropicalFruitGirl26 for posting all the polls this year as I attended to both family and health issues.

 

2024 STANLEY CUP FINALS

Florida Panthers (1A) vs. Edmonton Oilers (2P)

• Game 1: Oilers at Panthers -- June 8, 8 p.m. (ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)
• Game 2: Oilers at Panthers -- June 10, 8 p.m. (ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)
• Game 3: Panthers at Oilers -- June 13, 8 p.m. (ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)
• Game 4: Panthers at Oilers -- June 15, 8 p.m. (ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)
• +Game 5: Oilers at Panthers -- June 18, 8 p.m. (ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)
• +Game 6: Panthers at Oilers -- June 21, 8 p.m. (ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)
• +Game 7: Oilers at Panthers -- June 24, 8 p.m. (ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)

I hope your health problems go away soon! Hoping for a clean bill of health 

[Brewin Flames]

 

[Brewin Flames]

Bob's been swiss....

[flyercanuck]

5 hours ago, FD19372 said:

 He's been the best player on the ice in the last two games, and it's not even close.

 

FIFY.

 

Theres no one in this guys league. Ineptitude by management should not factor into how you rate someones career. If the Oilers win a cup its because of how absolutely unbelievable this guy is. His assist on the game winner was as outstanding of a play as there is. If you take Barkov AND Tkachuks points (Tkachuk FINALLY showed up 5 games into the finals), COMBINED this playoffs (Floridas top 2 scorers), they're barely ahead of McDavid. 43-42. In the finals he's outscoring them combined, 11-7. And they're UP!

 

Most points in a final is 13. Most points in playoffs is 47. 

 

He's already the playoff MVP, no matter who wins. And he's doing it against one of the best 2 way centres in the game.

Edited June 19 by flyercanuck

[Brewin Flames]

McDavid puts Oilers ‘on his back’ with 4 points in Game 5 to keep season alive

Has 42 this postseason, 4th most all time

© Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

ByNicholas J. Cotsonika

@cotsonika NHL.com Columnist

1:35 AM

SUNRISE, Fla. -- We are witnessing one of the greatest players of all time come up big in the biggest moments. Nothing less.

 

Connor McDavid is making history and keeping the Edmonton Oilers alive in the Stanley Cup Final.

 

In a 5-3 win against the Florida Panthers in Game 5 at Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday, the center became the first player to post two straight four-point performances in the Cup Final -- and each came while facing elimination.

 

The only other player with two four-point performances at any time in the Cup Final is Wayne Gretzky, who had two for the Oilers in 1985.

 

McDavid could win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs whether the Oilers win the Cup or not.

 

“When we’re against the wall, he puts us on his back and he plays,” Oilers forward Corey Perry said. “You see why he is the best player.”

 

McDavid has won five scoring titles, three MVP awards and a goal-scoring title in the regular season. But this is the first time the 27-year-old has had the chance to shine in the Cup Final.

 

He had three assists in three games when the Oilers fell behind 3-0 in the series. Then he had a goal and three assists in an 8-1 win in Game 4 and two goals and two assists in Game 5, giving him 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in the series.

 

He has 42 points (eight goals, 34 assists) in the playoffs, 10 more than anyone else.

 

Only Gretzky and Mario Lemieux have had more points in a playoff run. Gretzky had 47 (17 goals, 30 assists) for the Oilers in 1985. Lemieux had 44 (16 goals, 28 assists) for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991.

 

Gretzky also had 43 (12 goals, 31 assists) for the Oilers in 1988.

 

Asked if that was special to him, McDavid said: “Of course. I seem to be getting this question a lot, which is a good thing. Any time you’re compared or in the same realm as those two, it’s always a good thing. But I love playing in the playoffs.”

 

McDavid (1.63) has passed Lemieux (1.61) in points per game in the playoffs among players who have appeared in more than seven games. The only one ahead of him? Gretzky (1.84).

 

“Kind of expect it from him, obviously,” linemate Zach Hyman said. “You don’t want to put any extra pressure, but it’s what he does. He elevates his game at the most opportune times for us and he’s been great.”

 

What separates McDavid is how he processes the game and uses his skill at high speeds. He showed it on two plays in particular in Game 5.

 

 

EDM@FLA SCF, Gm5: McDavid increases Oilers' lead in 2nd period

 

McDavid scored his first goal at the five-minute mark of the second period when he took the puck at the top of the left circle and curled toward the net. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky froze deep in his net.

 

McDavid spotted something, fired from a sharp angle and banked the puck in off Bobrovsky.

 

“I don’t want to give away too much,” McDavid said. “There’s still hockey to be played. But coming down on that side on the goal, I’ve gone short side lots. I would say most people know that I look there. He was standing. [Hyman] is always around the net. Just tried to kind of put it there and found a way in.”

 

McDavid set up Perry for a power-play goal at 11:54 of the second period. He took the puck deep in the Edmonton zone with his head up, surveying the ice. Then he curled around one opponent at the blue line and split two more in the Florida zone.

 

“I’m in that position a lot, going back for pucks on the breakout, bringing it in the zone, so it’s something that I look at a lot, how certain guys are playing things,” McDavid said. “[Florida defenseman Niko] Mikkola’s got a really long reach and just tried to work my way through there.”

 

Finally, McDavid found Perry for a backdoor tap-in.

 

“I didn’t even yell for it,” Perry said. “He just saw me go to the net. That’s just the type of player he is.”

Unbelievable. Even for him.

 

 

EDM@FLA SCF, Gm5: Perry nets his 1st goal of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs with PPG

 

“To attack the middle like that and to pop out and slip by guys and to have the poise to then pass it over to [Perry], I mean, there’s one person in the planet that can make that play,” Oilers forward Connor Brown said. “We’ve got our backs against the wall and he’s shown composure. He’s shown why he has the reputation he has, and it’s growing.”

 

It could grow even more in Game 6 in Edmonton on Friday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS, CBC).

 

“Playoffs are the most fun time of the year,” McDavid said. “Special with this group. Special with our city, our fans. They make it so fun to go on these runs. I’m really excited to see the energy they bring on Friday night.”

 

[NHL HHOF]

 

[NHL HHOF]

 

 

 

[NHL HHOF]

 

[Math]

Punt Nurse in the Alert polar station in Nunavut for the remainder of the series and replace him by anyone who can skate backwards, and the Oilers might legitimately have a shot on the upset.

[RBGordie]

Go Edmonton! Panthers becoming an endangered species, wipe them out!

[RBGordie]

I don't see anyone posting with "favorite team" being the Panthers. I can't imagine rooting for a team full of bums like that. Crush them Edmonton!

[Math]

23 minutes ago, RBGordie said:

I don't see anyone posting with "favorite team" being the Panthers. I can't imagine rooting for a team full of bums like that. Crush them Edmonton!

 

The current fanbase is 5% of Florida fans and 95% of bandwagoners. Their barn is usually 3/4 empty during the regular season games so yeah, don't expect to have many fans around here...

 

(I know, as a Stars fan I'm maybe not the best person to pile sugar on them...)

[NHL HHOF]

2 hours ago, Math said:

Punt Nurse in the Alert polar station in Nunavut for the remainder of the series and replace him by anyone who can skate backwards, and the Oilers might legitimately have a shot on the upset.

I think Nurse is this Edmonton Oilers era version of Steve Smith.

[SaucyJack]

This Edmonton Oilers fan site summarizes how much (or little, more accurately) Leon Draisaitl has contributed in this Finals.  It acknowledges how important he’s been to get to the final round, but wonders if the Oilers can achieve the huge breakthrough of coming back from 0-3 without him doing better.

 

https://oilonwhyte.com/posts/time-for-leon-draisaitl-to-get-his-act-together-for-oilers

 

Game Six is going to be very interesting.

[NHL HHOF]

 

[NHL HHOF]

 

[Podein25]

1 hour ago, SaucyJack said:

This Edmonton Oilers fan site summarizes how much (or little, more accurately) Leon Draisaitl has contributed in this Finals.  It acknowledges how important he’s been to get to the final round, but wonders if the Oilers can achieve the huge breakthrough of coming back from 0-3 without him doing better.

 

https://oilonwhyte.com/posts/time-for-leon-draisaitl-to-get-his-act-together-for-oilers

 

Game Six is going to be very interesting.

 

He's clearly injured, likely quite seriously. 

[GratefulFlyers]

I'm still pulling for Bobrovsky to rebound and steal the Cup. We've all heard guys say playing away from home can be an advantage...we'll see. McDavid looks unstoppable now but even after getting shellshocked early, giving up another shorty etc. the Panthers nearly made OT. I like their chances in Edmonton...not so much at home in G7.

 

[Jimtown guy]

[JR Ewing]

Connor McDavid’s Stanley Cup surge blowing away fellow NHL stars: ‘Somehow, he’s found another level’

Pierre LeBrun, Chris Johnston

5–7 minutes

---

EDMONTON — Spending the early part of his offseason in Europe, the time difference has kept Sidney Crosby from watching the Stanley Cup Final play out, but it hasn’t kept him from seeing the heights Connor McDavid is reaching on the game’s grandest stage.

 

Like a number of present and past NHL stars contacted by The Athletic this week, Crosby expressed admiration for the way McDavid has performed while helping his Edmonton Oilers extend their season to Friday’s Game 6 after falling behind 3-0 to the Florida Panthers.

 

“It’s incredible what he’s doing,” said Crosby, a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins who is keeping tabs on the series by watching highlights. “Somehow, he’s found another level. In the playoffs (that’s tough to do), especially.”

 

While McDavid has long since earned the respect of his peers for his unmatched speed and elite offensive instincts, he’s shown them something extra during his first run to the Cup Final.

 

He led the charge in Edmonton’s Game 4 and 5 victories over the Panthers and became the first player in NHL history with eight points in a two-game stretch during the championship series.

 

 

Sidney Crosby on Connor McDavid’s playoff run: “It’s incredible what he’s doing.” (Justin Berl / Getty Images)

 

“I think the coolest thing I admire is how calm he’s stayed down 3-0,” Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon said. “No panic in his game, and he’s taken it to another level. Very even keel and (showing) amazing leadership for his team.”

 

“He’s a very special and fun player to watch — especially the past few games, where he’s elevated his game and driven his team to two wins with their backs against the wall,” added Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, who won a Cup alongside MacKinnon in 2022.

Steven Stamkos says he isn’t the least bit surprised by a spring where McDavid has registered 42 points and put himself within striking distance of Wayne’s Gretzky’s all-time record of 47.

 

They were among a group of NHLers that trained together north of Toronto last summer and spent a considerable amount of time in each other’s company, on the ice and off it.

 

“He even approached me to have conversations about my experiences when we won the Cup and what it took and things of that nature,” said Stamkos, a two-time champion with the Tampa Bay Lighting. “He is all about winning and the passion and drive to be the best to help his team win a Cup. It’s so impressive how competitive he is in every aspect. He always wants to win — in the gym, or scrimmages, or games.

 

“If there is a player to will his team back from a 0-3 hole, it’s him!”

 

 

Steven Stamkos said Connor McDavid came to him seeking championship advice. (Mike Carlson / Getty Images)

 

The Oilers are vying to become just the second team in NHL history to accomplish that feat in the Stanley Cup Final, following the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.

 

McDavid naturally draws most of his praise for his incredible offensive output — he’s had multi-point outings in seven of 11 games dating back to the start of the Western Conference final — but he’s also playing more than 23 minutes per night during these playoffs and helped Edmonton tilt the ice considerably during his five-on-five minutes.

 

GO DEEPER

 

Inside Connor McDavid's record-breaking playofs, by the numbers

 

“What he is doing is refusing to lose,” said former Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf, who won a Stanley Cup and two Olympic gold medals during his playing career. “He is blocking shots and doing whatever it takes to win. Watching him in years past I’m not sure you would have seen him do everything it takes to win the Cup, and we are seeing that he has learned and grown into someone who is ready to do it.”

 

Said Jonathan Toews, the three-time champion former Chicago Blackhawks captain: “He’s out of this world. It’s really hard to comprehend what he’s doing, on top of the pressure he’s under. He just keeps reaching new levels. He’s unstoppable. I find myself cheering for him it’s so impressive.”

 

Last year’s Conn Smythe winner, Jonathan Marchessault, was leaning toward Aleksander Barkov last week for his playoff MVP pick when the Panthers were up 3-0 in the series. But like so many, Marchessault has been wowed by McDavid’s consecutive four-point outings to help the Oilers stay alive.

 

“It’s pretty hard not to go with Connor now,” Marchessault told The Athletic over the phone Wednesday night. “What he’s doing right now is just unbelievable. He has so many points. He’s a factor so many times when he’s on the ice. As much as people say, ‘Let’s hit him or get him,’ you can’t. He’s too fast. He’s too agile. You can’t touch him. He’s unbelievable.

 

“And he’s not doing it against San Jose in December,” Marchessault added. “He’s doing it in June with the best two teams in the Cup Final. He’s doing it every night. And now he’s giving his team a chance to come back. Obviously, they don’t have a lot of leeway left, but they’re giving themselves a chance.”

 

So impressed is the Vegas Golden Knights forward with what he’s seen from McDavid that he believes No. 97 has set himself apart among the all-time greats.

 

“I wasn’t around for the other eras of the NHL, but he has to be the most dominant player to have ever played the game,” Marchessault said. “The game is so fast now, and the way he reacts is unbelievable. Yeah, I think win or lose, Connor should be the guy to get it.”

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5577726/2024/06/20/nhl-stars-react-connor-mcdavid/

[NHL HHOF]

Cousins to return to Panthers lineup for Game 6 of Stanley Cup Final Will replace Okposo, supply speed on 4th line with Florida 1 win from title
 

https://www.nhl.com/news/nick-cousins-gets-start-for-florida-panthers-in-game-6-stanley-cup-final

[NHL HHOF]

Has Evander Kane been playing in this round against Florida?