The Florida Panthers (FLA) won their first-ever Stanley Cup in 2024 in a very intriguing seven-game series. Though they were up 3-0 and just one win away, a wild momentum shift saw the Edmonton Oilers (EDM) tie the series and send it to a pivotal series-deciding matchup. Ultimately, Florida defeated Edmonton 2-1 in Game 7. After losing the first three games, the Oilers initially appeared fatigued. However, they rallied with dominant performances in Games 4 through 6, turning the entire series around. Edmonton almost completed the reverse sweep in the Stanley Cup Final, which had only been done once before. Although their efforts fell ultimately short, it created a memorable series and will be one to look back on for years to come. Let’s recap what happened as we approach their 2024-25 season meeting today at 8:30 PM Eastern Standard Time!

Clearly the Two Best Teams in the NHL

Based on regular-season records, Florida was better (52-24-6, 110 pts) than Edmonton (49-27-6, 104 pts). The Panthers were the first seed coming out of the Atlantic Division, while the Oilers were the second-seeded Pacific Division team. However, I am making this observation based on their playoff runs. Both teams had similar postseason experiences, though EDM did play one more game. Each team was able to knock off the respective “best” teams from their conferences as well. Until the Stanley Cup Finals, both teams at least scored one goal per game, scoring upwards of 55 goals in total. Both teams had four blowout wins each, maintaining a goal difference above 10 as well.

Easy First Round, Tougher Second Round

Both Florida and Edmonton were able to showcase their talent throughout the playoffs. The Panthers and Oilers both had gentleman’s sweeps in the first round. 2021 champions Tampa Bay Lightning could not pull away against FLA in two one-score games and were rocked 6-1 in Game 5. While the Los Angeles Kings managed to tie their series early, goalies Cam Talbot and David Rittich could not withstand the EDM goal barrage. 22 goals went past the two of them, thus ending LAK’s chances of a third title.

Photo Cred: Miami Herald

The second round introduced some tension for both teams, as the Panthers needed six games to advance while the Oilers needed seven. The Boston Bruins, who just missed out as the top Atlantic Division team by one point, made FLA sweat with a 5-1 Game 1 victory. Two 6-goal Florida wins later, BOS had the ignominy of conceding three unanswered goals in a 3-2 Game 5 loss. While another gentleman’s sweep was avoided, the Bruins again gave up unanswered goals (two this time) to go down 4-2 in the series. Top Pacific Division team Vancouver Canucks had a back-and-forth series against their Canadian brethren, with a 3-3 tie heading into Game 7. Before that, they held the advantage in Game 6 but could not stave off a 5-goal EDM performance. Despite two third-period goals, Vancouver could not overcome a three-goal Oilers second period, losing 3-2.

Photo Cred: NHL.com

Dispatching 113 and 114-point Top Seeds

The conference finals saw Edmonton and Florida battle their respective top Conference teams, the Dallas Stars and the New York Rangers. Dallas was already creating some waves as they knocked out defending champs Vegas Golden Knights in the first round. The Colorado Avalanche were also no match for their Central Division rivals. EDM were pushed to their limits in the first three games of the matchup. They won Game 1 in double overtime after a third-period Tyler Seguin goal initially tied the game with under four minutes left. However, Games 2 and 3 ended in 3-1 and 5-3 losses. From that point on, it was all Edmonton all day, outscoring DAL 10-4 in the next wins (a 4-2 series victory). 

All the goals scored in those games came from one team in a row without interruption. Dallas’ 2-0 Game 4 lead ended in a 5-2 loss, hindered in part by a shorthanded and an empty net goal. Game 5 saw the Oilers take a 3-0 lead before Center Wyatt Johnston ensured that the Stars would not be shut out (final score: 3-1, EDM). A similar scene ensued in Game 6, as Edmonton held a 2-0 lead in a game that ended in a 2-1 win.

Photo Cred: CTV News Edmonton

On the other hand, FLA’s conference finals experience was defined by overtime three times. After a 3-0 shutout loss in Game 1, NYR centers Barclay Goodrow and Alex Wennberg sent Florida home with back-to-back overtime losses. C Vincent Trocheck had a goal and an assist in Game 2 along with two assists in Game 3 (2-1 NYR win). Before the third period in Game 3, three players each had two goals: left winger Alexis Lafreniere, Goodrow, and C Sam Reinhart (FLA). Though the Panthers did tie the game with ~13 minutes left, Wennberg stole the show at the 5:35 mark in OT (5-4 NYR win). Game 4 was Florida’s turn to flip the tables, this time winning 3-2 in OT thanks to a Reinhart power-play goal within a minute into the extra period.

Game 5 ended 3-2, this time in favor of the Panthers. Lafreniere got a goal with 50 seconds left but there wasn’t enough time to send this game to overtime. Finally, Game 6 decided the series with a 2-1 FLA win, thanks to C Sam Bennett and RW Vladimir Tarasenko. Once again, the Rangers tried to claw their way back into the game, but 1:40 was not enough time for New York to tie this game either. The Washington Capitals were swept by NYR in the first round, the only sweep in this entire NHL playoffs. The Carolina Hurricanes were able to push New York to six games after being down 3-0 to start the series. However, it was Florida that was able to end the Rangers’ reign, thus making them one of the best NHL teams.

Photo Cred: Forever Blueshirts

Finals Focus: Florida Panthers

The Panthers brought a deeper lineup that focused heavily on defense. FLA had some important highlights in the series. Early dominance: Empty-netters ended Games 1 (a 3-0 shutout) and 2 (a 4-1 win), so the Panthers were able to head north to Canada with a 2-0 lead in hand. A hard-fought 4-3 victory in Game 3 gave FLA a convincing 3-0 series lead. Effort and fight: In Game 5, alternate captain Matthew Tkachuk dove for a puck headed towards the empty net. He swept it away with his extended stick at the last second, but Connor McDavid still shot it in and iced the game for Edmonton. Even in an eventual losing effort, they still weren’t giving up. 

Aggressive nature: Florida found their dominant ways in Game 2, outshooting the Oilers 28-19. After three dominant Edmonton wins, Florida regained its confidence in Game 7. They constantly battled for loose pucks and creating chances with its deep arsenal of scorers. Impressive shot selection: Defender Niko Mikkola scored a one-timer off a beautiful drop-off pass from Center Anton Lundell in Game 2. D Oliver Ekman-Larsson went top-shelf on a slapshot into the net to pull FLA within one goal in the fifth matchup.

The Stars of the Show 

• Bobrovsky played a huge role early on in the seven-game series. He shut down all 32 of the Oilers’ shot attempts in Game 1, while only letting in a Mattias Ekholm goal in Game 2. Despite giving up two third-period goals, he made sure that the Oilers wouldn’t tie Game 3. The series was dominated by his many timely, incredible saves, especially in key situations.
• Forward Evan Rodrigues is a name that came up in a lot of situations. In Game 1, he took advantage of a well-timed pass by Bennett to find the back of the net. He blew Game 2 open with two third-period goals, including an unassisted one off his own rebound. Rodrigues tipped in a Brandon Montour shot to cut the Oilers lead to 4-2 in Game 5. He also got assists in Games 3, 5, and 7, including one where he set up his captain Alexander Barkov to fire a laser past Stuart Skinner for a 4-1 lead (Game 3).

• F Carter Verhaeghe took advantage of timely passes to find the back of the net for the Panthers. He scored the series-opening goal about four minutes into Game 1. While it ultimately did not matter, he assisted FLA’s only goal in Game 5. In the pivotal Game 7, he timed his deflection perfectly to get the puck past Skinner for Florida’s first lead since Game 3. He also provided an assist in the series-ending goal by Sam Reinhart.
• Reinhart teamed up with D Gustav Forsling to open the Game 3 scoring, tipping in a pass fired in from Forsling towards the net. With under five minutes left in the second period of Game 7, Reinhart also hit the pivotal, game-winning goal for FLA. He glided up the right side of the ice and launched a wrist shot from just inside the circle to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead. 
• Forsling, in addition to the Reinhart assist, assisted Tarasenko in a shot that was skillfully deflected in. That would be the lone Florida goal in Game 4. His defensive effort in the seventh game prevented an EDM tie as well. McDavid had the puck right in front of the net, but Forsling poked it away before a shot could be taken. With help from Montour pushing it towards Bobrovsky, who dived on the puck, the crisis was averted.

Photo Cred: Tampa Bay Times

Where the Series Could’ve Been Lost

They were forced to pull out goalie Sergei Bobrovsky in a few situations when time was running out. FLA replaced him with Anthony Stolarz in an 8-1 Game 4 loss and utilized an extra attacker in place of him in Game 5 to no avail. Game 6 also saw two empty-net goals by Edmonton force Bobrovsky back in the game after he was initially taken out for an attacker.

Finals Focus: Edmonton Oilers

Compared to FLA, Edmonton relied more on their first line, which features All-Stars like McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. There were various methods to their success. Outshooting their opponent: EDM had four instances of taking more shots than the Panthers in the seven games, with a 21-21 tie in Game 6 as well. An elite penalty-kill unit: Due to the unit, the Oilers opened their scoring in Game 5. RW Connor Brown intercepted a pass and skated down the ice by himself on a shorthanded breakaway goal. He deked his way past Bobrovsky to find the back of the net. They also prevented Florida from expanding the 2-1 lead in Game 7, though that was all that was needed in that game.

Breakaway goals: Just like the above-mentioned Brown goal, EDM showcased their speed and athleticism multiple times in the series. In Game 2, defender Mattias Ekholm skated up the ice to open the game off a Connor McDavid assist. Center Adam Henrique found a wide-open Warren Foegele at center ice, tying the game at one apiece in the second period of Game 3. Left winger Mattias Janmark added two breakaway goals in Games 4 and 7. Fan support: Oilers fans were excited for a chance to see their team in the Stanley Cup Finals after missing out in 2021-22. The work was just beginning in Game 4, but Edmonton gained confidence with a resounding home victory. Just as the team was growing hopeful, the fans were raucous throughout the series, especially in Game 6.

The Stars of the Show

• Much like his counterpart, goalie Stuart Skinner made many great saves in this incredible postseason run. While being peppered with shots his way, he still kept his team in the game. He prevented a Game 6 Panthers comeback to force Game 7. Goals were hard to come by for Florida in Games 4 and 6, and a lot of that credit goes to Skinner. He stopped a would-be equalizer with a glove save in Game 4, and the Oilers carried that momentum to score seven more goals. Skinner even assisted defender Darnell Nurse on his second goal of the series.
• Mattias Janmark, as previously mentioned, contributed two breakaway goals in addition to two Adam Henrique assists. Brown found him to start the Game 4 scoring. He even paid it forward by finding Henrique for a 2-0 lead almost four minutes later. Janmark continued both trends in Games 6 and 7 respectively. 46 seconds into the second period of the sixth match, a well-timed pass from Ekholm created a 2-on-1 EDM man advantage and a lot of open ice. Henrique and Janmark exploited the opportunity allowed by Florida. He also flew towards the Panthers net at 6:44 in the seventh game, lifting the puck over Sergei Bobrovsky for the 1-1 tie.
• Edmonton’s captain, Connor McDavid, helped assist seven goals in four games. C Ryan McLeod fired a shot from long range off a McDavid pass to bring the Oilers within one goal in Game 3. After he got into the scoring action, rifling a shot past Bobrovsky with help from Zach Hyman, he assisted three of the next four goals in Game 4. He helped Nurse get his first postseason goal of the year, as well as Center Dylan Holloway’s second goal of that fourth match. Another key assist came in the next game, where he dribbled up the ice juking past multiple Panthers defenders to set up Corey Perry. Before that assist, he got the first of his two goals exactly five minutes into the second period. 
• Hyman had a secondary assist during Nurse’s first goal of the postseason. D Evan Bouchard fired a missile toward the net for Hyman to tip in on an early second-period power play in Game 5. With that goal, the Oilers were sitting on a 2-0 lead for the second consecutive game. He also seized an open puck and sprinted towards Bobrovsky, deking out the star goaltender for a 3-0 Oilers lead in Game 6.
• McLeod had the last goal of Game 3, a 4-3 loss for his team. Despite almost five minutes left in the third period, an Edmonton comeback did not occur. However, he did put the finishing touches on Game 4, scoring the Oilers’ eighth goal of the game. EDM took advantage of Florida’s empty net tactic in Game 6, with McLeod scoring once to net Edmonton a commanding 5-1 victory and the very important 3-3 series tie.

Photo Cred: YouTube- Oilersnation (L- Hyman, C-McDavid, R- Janmark)

Where the Series Was Lost

That All-Star frontline mentioned earlier was nowhere to be found in Game 7. Despite McDavid’s contributions, he didn’t exactly tally many goals in this particular series. Draisaitl also only helped assist three goals but didn’t have any himself. 

An Unexpected Game 7

How It Happened

Only four NHL teams have ever mounted 3-0 series comebacks to win the playoff series, including once in the finals. Despite all that, the Oilers weren’t giving up, and the series was only getting started. Game 4 turned into a goal-fest, and the Canadian crowd was loving it. Their 3-0 Game 5 lead ended 5-3 as a result of that spectacular McDavid empty-net goal. Desperate to prove those games weren’t flukes, EDM managed to “drag the Cats back to Alberta” for Game 6. Edmonton was able to overcome the 3-0 series deficit with a 5-1 triumph to send the Stanley Cup Final to a deciding Game 7. They brought back all the momentum to Sunrise, Fla. for one of the most intriguing games in NHL history.

How It Ended

The Stanley Cup was in the arena for the fourth consecutive game, awaiting its new champion. Despite a miraculous comeback attempt from Edmonton, the Florida Panthers hoisted the Stanley Cup trophy for the first time. Excellent goaltending, tenacious defense, and a wide range of scorers across several lines got the job done in the end. FLA extinguished their defeat to the Vegas Golden Knights last season in their return to the finals.

Photo Cred: YouTube- NHL

Connor McDavid won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the best player in the playoffs for his efforts in both scoring and assisting goals. Ultimately, Florida secured the biggest trophy, keeping the Stanley Cup out of Canada for another year. Their aggressive nature exhausted the Oilers’ remaining top line in Game 7. They ended the series by jamming the puck against the boards and preventing Edmonton from getting a final shot on goal. This was symbolic of their nature all season long.

Who will win the Finals rematch this time in a new NHL season? Does Florida still hold on or does Edmonton get their revenge? Guess we will find out in a couple of hours!