Looking again on first Stanley Cup Final between Oilers, Panthers

The 2025 Stanley Cup Final comes with a hefty dose of deja vu. The identical two groups, the similar goaltenders and the similar long term Hall-of-Fame superstars.

Twelve months after the Florida Panthers clinched the primary championship in franchise historical past through defeating the Oilers in seven video games, each groups are as soon as once more the remaining ones status. It’s simply the 5th time since 1968 that the Stanley Cup Final might be a rematch, and it is the first rematch because the Red Wings and Penguins confronted off two times in 2008 and ’09.

The 2024 Final was once a curler coaster of feelings because the Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead and the Oilers fought the entire as far back as pressure a Game 7 ahead of Florida in any case sealed the deal. If this 12 months’s rematch comes any place as regards to the drama of remaining 12 months, hockey enthusiasts are in for a unique deal with.

Before the puck drops on Panthers vs. Oilers, Part 2, let’s glance again on the entire highest moments and highlights from the primary conflict between those two now opponents.

Game 1: Panthers 3, Oilers 0

What took place: The Oilers ruled the play in Game 1 however the skilled Panthers did not bend. And then, with the probabilities they did get, the Panthers did not omit.

Carter Verhaeghe were given the Panthers at the board first with a target on a three-on-two. Evan Rodrigues doubled the lead early in the second one when the Oilers’ defencemen misplaced him within the slot on a dump-in play. And Eetu Luostarinen capped the scoring with an empty-net target.

Key second: Sergei Bobrovsky was once the megastar of the sport because the Oilers closely tilted the ice however could not clear up the Panthers’ goalie. Edmonton outshot Florida 32-17 and tripled them in high-danger scoring possibilities at 18-6, however Bobrovsky stopped each unmarried one.

His highest collection got here overdue within the first length when Adam Henrique and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins skated in on breakaways, however Bobrovsky’s outstretched left pad stopped them each.

What the avid gamers stated: “Best goalie in the world, in my opinion.” Anton Lundell after Bobrovsky close out the Oilers.

Game 2: Panthers 4, Oilers 1

What took place: Mattias Ekholm scored the Oilers’ first target of the sequence within the first length on a shot that simply slightly squeaked via Sergei Bobrovsky’s pad. But it will be the simplest target Edmonton scored in this travel to South Florida. Niko Mikkola tied the sport in the second one ahead of two targets from Evan Rodrigues within the 3rd length put the Panthers up for just right. Aaron Ekblad iced the sport with an empty internet target because the Panthers outshot the Oilers 28-19.

Key second: With the sport tied 1-1 within the 3rd, two Oilers stars made expensive errors that the Panthers capitalized on. First, Evan Bouchard made a susceptible clearing try within the defensive zone that landed proper on Rodrigues’s stick. Rodrigues wasted no time firing the puck previous Stuart Skinner to attain what would end up to be the sport winner. Then, later within the length, Leon Draisaitl ran over Aleksander Barkov with a excessive hit that resulted in a roughing penalty. Rodrigues scored once more on that man-advantage.

But the instant everybody will keep in mind from this recreation didn’t turn out to be public till months later, when the primary season of the documentary sequence FACEOFF: Inside the NHL debuted on Prime Video. With his workforce down 2-0 and having simplest scored one target up to now within the sequence, Connor McDavid went on an expletive-filled rant within the locker room, deploring his teammates to play higher “right f—ing now!”

McDavid would flip that keenness into effects because the sequence went alongside.

What the avid gamers stated: “We’ve got to get better. We can do better, for sure. I thought they went up a level and we didn’t match it today.” McDavid after taking place 2-0 to the Panthers within the sequence.

Game 3: Panthers 4, Oilers 3

What took place: If the Oilers had been hoping to get some momentum from the house crowd in Game 3, that was once briefly put to leisure when Sam Reinhart opened the scoring with simply over a minute to head within the first length. Warren Foegele tied issues up lower than two mins into the second one, however the recreation didn’t keep tied for lengthy because the Panthers grabbed a 4-1 lead through the tip of the center body. The Oilers scored two times within the 3rd (each assisted on through McDavid) to chop the lead down to 1, however that was once as shut as they were given. Bobrovsky made 32 saves within the win whilst Skinner stopped 19 pictures.

Key second: The recreation was once determined through one six-minute stretch in the midst of the second one length when the Panthers scored 3 times to snatch the lead for just right. First, Vladimir Tarasenko buried a target from the slot after Skinner misplayed a dump-in at the back of the online. Next, Matthew Tkachuk pounced on a turnover close to the Oilers’ internet and fed the puck to Sam Bennett for a quick-strike target. Then, in any case, Aleksander Barkov scored what proved to be the sport winner after Evan Rodrigues fed him the puck on a two-on-one.

The Oilers were given targets from Philip Broberg and Ryan McLeod within the 3rd however could not in finding another to pressure time beyond regulation.

What the avid gamers stated: “You just either have it or you don’t. And we’ve got 23 dawgs on our team that have that will.” Bennett on being up 3-0 within the sequence.

Game 4: Oilers 8, Panthers 1

What took place: The Oilers in any case discovered their offence with their backs towards the wall, scoring 8 instances in Game 4, double their output from the primary 3 video games. The scoring began early when Mattias Janmark buried a shorthanded target 3 mins into the sport. Adam Henrique doubled that lead in a while after, however Vladimir Tarasenko made it a one-goal recreation along with his 2nd target of the sequence. 

Then the Oilers truly took over. Dylan Holloway restored the two-goal lead ahead of the primary length was once over, and Connor McDavid prolonged it to 4-1 on a breakaway simply over a minute into the second one. Darnell Nurse scored subsequent, hanging the Oilers up 5-1 and chasing Sergei Bobrovsky from the sport. Anthony Stolarz got here in and he surrendered 3 extra targets, to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Holloway and Ryan McLeod, to near issues out. 

McDavid led the way in which with 4 issues within the recreation whilst Holloway had 3, together with two targets. All however 3 Oilers did not get at the scoresheet whilst Skinner made 32 saves, his maximum within the sequence.

Key second: The Oilers’ offence have been very quiet within the first 3 video games of the sequence. McDavid had 3 assists, however Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins had all did not file some extent ahead of Game 4. All 3 suffering stars in any case were given at the ranking sheet on this recreation, with Draisaitl and Hyman every gathering two assists and Nugent-Hopkins scoring a target.

Hyman’s assists got here early in the second one length at the two targets that resulted in Bobrovsky being pulled. On each targets, Hyman discovered McDavid in the midst of the ice, and the Oilers captain used his velocity to again the defence up, scoring the fourth target of the sport himself and putting in place Nurse for the 5th.

What the avid gamers stated: “It’s just one win. It doesn’t matter if you score eight or you score one. It’s just one win. Now, you want to go to Florida, do a job, and drag ‘em back to Alberta.” McDavid after the Oilers’ first win of the sequence.

Game 5: Oilers 5, Panthers 3

What took place: Connor Brown opened the scoring for the Oilers with a shorthanded target within the first length, after which Connor McDavid took over the sport in the second one. Less than two mins into the center body, McDavid arrange Evan Bouchard at the energy play and Bouchard fired certainly one of his signature slap pictures off Zach Hyman’s leg and previous Sergei Bobrovsky. Then, on the five-minute mark of the second one, McDavid beat Bobrovsky from a pointy attitude to position the Oilers up 3-0.

Matthew Tkachuk reduce the lead right down to 3-1 lower than two mins later, however McDavid made certain the Panthers couldn’t construct any momentum off that target. With the Oilers at the energy play, McDavid danced round all 4 Panthers at the ice to arrange Corey Perry for a tap-in that proved to be the winner. The Panthers reduce the result in one on targets from Evan Rodrigues and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, however McDavid, along with his fourth level of the evening, sealed the win with a target into the empty internet.

Key second: Empty-net targets infrequently make the spotlight reel, however McDavid’s did in Game 5 on account of the fantastic effort Tkachuk made to take a look at to forestall it. The play began when Hyman flipped the puck over the Panthers’ defence against the empty internet. Tkachuk and McDavid took off in a foot race after it, and Tkachuk dove headfirst and swung his persist with knock the puck away on the remaining imaginable second. That heroic save was once for naught, on the other hand, as McDavid beat the opposite Panthers to the puck and wasted no time firing it previous Tkachuk, who was once looking to block the online, to safe the victory for Edmonton.

What the avid gamers stated: “Connor doing Connor things. That’s what makes him special. He’s able to elevate his game at the most important time.” Hyman on McDavid’s 2nd four-point recreation when dealing with removal within the sequence.

Game 6: Oilers 5, Panthers 1

What took place: Connor McDavid was once held off the scoresheet in Game 6 after back-to-back four-point video games, however the Oilers nonetheless controlled to attain 5 instances to pressure a winner-take-all finale. Warren Foegele opened the scoring within the first length, with Leon Draisaitl gathering simply his 3rd level of the sequence with an outstanding help at the play. Adam Henrique and Zach Hyman then scored in the second one length to position the Oilers up 3-0 after 40.

Aleksander Barkov broke the ice for the Panthers early within the 3rd, however that will be the simplest target they’d get. Empty-net targets from Ryan McLeod and Darnell Nurse finished the scoring because the Oilers was the primary workforce because the Detroit Red Wings in 1945 to return again from down 3-0 to pressure a Game 7 within the Stanley Cup Final.

Key second: It was once printed after the sequence was once over that Draisaitl have been taking part in with rib and hand accidents that impacted his mobility at the ice. But on this recreation, he confirmed one flash of his wholesome self through putting in place Foegele at the opening target. On the play, Draisaitl corralled a unfastened puck at centre ice, made a transfer round Panthers defenceman Gustav Forsling, then feathered an excellent saucer cross to Foegele, who had a large open internet to shoot at.

What the avid gamers stated: “I really do believe in this group. And I’m sticking to those words. If anyone can do it, it’s the Oil.” Stuart Skinner at the Oilers getting back from down 3-0 to pressure Game 7.

Game 7: Panthers 2, Oilers 1

What took place: The Panthers opened the scoring for simply the 3rd time within the sequence and the primary time since Game 3 when Carter Verhaeghe tipped a puck previous Stuart Skinner seconds after the Oilers had killed a penalty. Mattias Janmark tied the sport later within the first, and the groups went into the intermission tied 1-1.

Then, with 5 mins to head in the second one length, Sam Reinhart skated in and stressed out a shot previous Skinner to attain what proved to be the Cup-clinching target. Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves for the win, permitting one or fewer targets for the primary time within the sequence since Game 2.

Connor McDavid gained the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP after scoring 42 issues, essentially the most through any person no longer named Gretzky or Lemieux in one post-season run. But McDavid didn’t pop out to just accept the trophy within the emotional aftermath of the loss.

Key second: Reinhart’s target might be remembered perpetually because the strike that delivered the Panthers the primary Stanley Cup in franchise historical past. The former No. 2 general pick out scored a career-high 57 instances within the common season however have been held reasonably in test through the Oilers, scoring simplest as soon as within the sequence heading into Game 7. But Reinhart didn’t waste the chance he were given within the finale, skating into the fitting circle and firing an excellent shot previous Skinner for the largest target of his lifestyles.

What the avid gamers stated: “I haven’t had a drink in (expletive) three months. I’ll drink anything at this point.” Reinhart after scoring the game-winner in Game 7.