Canada’s Stanley Cup drought continues.
The Edmonton Oilers fell short of a comeback for the ages, losing Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final 2-1 to the Florida Panthers, which earned its first Cup — and redeemed its runners-up finish from last season.
Thousands of people filled downtown Edmonton to watch the game, hopeful for an Oilers victory. Lineups to get into watch parties snaked around buildings, fans, clad in orange and blue. The Edmonton Police Service even asked the public to stay away from the Rogers Place area unless they were attending a watch party, because the fan parks reached capacity.
“It’s a storybook ending,” said Connor Stojan ahead of Game 7. He left Grande Prairie, Alta., at 6 a.m., and drove roughly 460 kilometres to watch the Oilers from Ice District.
“We were bad at the start of the year but pulled it together, and bad at the start of the series but we’re pulling it together now. It’s only right for us to win in seven. It’s going to be awesome.”
The Edmonton Oilers were one win away from the ultimate comeback and becoming the first Canadian team since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens to hoist the Cup.
The Florida Panthers pounced early, winning the final’s first three games, but the Oilers stormed back, stringing several strong performances together to knot the best-of-seven series 3-3. But Florida ended the skid in Game 7.
Kade Gartner and his father boarded a red-eye flight to South Florida Sunday to watch Game 7 in person — and potentially witness a bold prediction Gartner made in high school come true.
In 2017, while attending Archbishop Jordan High School in Sherwood Park, Alta., just east of Edmonton, Gartner’s quote in the school’s yearbook read, “NHL 2024 Stanley Cup champions: Edmonton Oilers. You heard it here first.”
It was calculated, said Gartner, now 24 years old. He recognized the Oilers were becoming competitive, and predicted phenom Connor McDavid’s maturation and how the team would build around him.
“I was just waiting for this year to come by,” he said.
Matthew Tkachuk, one of Florida’s alternate captains, described the series Sunday as “very even” thus far.
“Most teams, when you lose three in a playoff series, you don’t have a chance at another game. Somehow, both of us have an opportunity, still,” Tkachuk said.
“This is probably the biggest game in the NHL in however many years, so our fans will be jacked up for it and we can’t wait.”
The Oilers, meanwhile, tried to join the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs as the only teams to fall behind 3-0 in the final and lift the Cup. Instead, they join the 1945 Detroit Red Wings as the only teams to lose the first three games, come back in the series, then lose Game 7.
Edmonton last won a title in 1990.
On Sunday, Oilers alternate captain Leon Draisaitl acknowledged the team was aware of the historical context surrounding its recent win streak — but the job wasn’t finished.
“We have to focus on winning one hockey game on the road and play our best,” Draisaitl said. “Everything else — all the stories — will take care of itself after.”
The Oilers’ 50/50 raffle, the largest in pro sports, reached more than $19 million as of 8:25 p.m. MT Monday. The playoff bonus jackpot was more than $7.5 million.
The main jackpot draw will occur after the final; the draw for the bonus jackpot is June 26 at 11:59 a.m. MT.
Players on both teams spoke to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final being something hockey players dream of growing up, playing in the street.
“Now it’s reality,” said the Oilers’ Corey Perry, who has played multiple finals and lifted the Cup in 2007.
“I don’t think our mindset changes. It can’t, because we’ve done some good things — but we haven’t done anything great yet.”
Various Oilers players stepped up hugely during the comeback, including hometown goaltender Stuart Skinner. In Edmonton, his family gleefully watched the youngest of nine make it to the pinnacle of hockey competition.
“It was always a family dream for anyone to go touch the Stanley Cup and hoist it,” said Scott Skinner, an older brother, last week.
“The excitement in this house — and the cheering and the support — has just been tremendous.”
Enthusiasm within Oilers Nation has reached a fever pitch. Fans celebrated for hours after Edmonton’s 5-1 win in Game 6 on Friday, eager for a potential title.
On Sunday, while sitting at a restaurant patio on Whyte Avenue, Ethan Jansen recalled listening to the 2006 Oilers run on the radio. That Edmonton team — the last to make it to the final — pushed the Carolina Hurricanes to Game 7, but lost 3-1.
“I can’t believe it has been 18 years, so it’s super exciting,” Jansen said.
“The mood last week was tougher, we were battling back. But now, the mood couldn’t be higher.”
- What would a Stanley Cup win for the Oilers mean to you? Tell us about it in an email to ask@cbc.ca.
