When it mattered most, the Edmonton Oilers were able to rely on the two aspects that could have turned against them: the power play and their goaltender Stuart Skinner. And thus complete their unexpected quest to move from the bottom of the rankings… to the Stanley Cup final.
In Game 6 of the Western Final, the Oilers scored twice with a man advantage in a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars. They therefore reach the Stanley Cup final, where they will meet the Florida Panthers.
The Oilers struck quickly and hard – after 4:17 of play – thanks to a gem from Connor McDavid who took everyone’s pants off with a maneuver in front of the net of which only he has the secret. Zach Hyman made it 2-0 before the end of the first period with an unstoppable shot. At that point, the Oilers led 2-0 on the big board… despite only three shots on the clock.
McDavid thus became the sixth player to amass 30 or more points in the playoffs more than once. Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Mario Lemieux and Nikita Kucherov preceded him. Hyman dominates with 14 goals since the start of the playoffs. Evan Bouchard had two assists for the Oilers.
“Connor McDavid does things the Connor McDavid way,” Skinner told Sportsnet after the game.
Added Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl: “There’s only one player in the world who can make things like this happen. »
The Dallas Stars tried everything to get back into the lead and, on equal terms, they dictated the pace of the match, with the 35-10 disparity in shots on goal as a witness. Pick and shovel, Mason Marchment made it 2-1 in the middle of the third period, to assure the Edmonton public a not quite ideal end to the match for heart problems.
PHOTO JASON FRANSON, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Mason Marchment (27) and Matt Duchene (95)
“When the siren went, I’ve never heard a louder noise,” McDavid said during the postgame celebration, as Edmonton fans chanted “We want the Cup” over and over again.
“It’s a special place to play, honestly. There is so much history. And those supporters, it was great to hear their support. »
With this victory, the Oilers proved those who feared that their power play operating at a rate of almost 35% in the playoffs could become their worst enemy at a time when penalties are, let’s say, less constant. Especially since the numerical advantage had drawn blanks in the first four games of the series.
At the same time, the mustachioed Skinner confirmed that he is a new man since the two-game mental break given to him by coach Kris Knoblaugh. His 34 sometimes disheveled saves made the difference.
PHOTO JASON FRANSON, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Jamie Benn (14), Stuart Skinner (74) and Cody Ceci (5)
This will therefore be a first Stanley Cup final for the man who is considered by many to be the best active player, Connor McDavid. It will also be a first appearance in the final for the Oilers since their 2006 failure against the Carolina Hurricanes.
For the record, it will also be a seventh opportunity for a Canadian team to break the American hegemony over the Stanley Cup which has lasted since 1993. And in closing, let us highlight the return to normal to see Corey Perry in the Stanley Cup final; he will make his comeback after participations in 2020 (Dallas), 2021 (Montreal) and 2022 (Tampa Bay).
The great awakening
Against all odds, the Oilers have just achieved something extraordinary: reaching the final after finding themselves 10 points from a playoff spot during the season. Heading into the November 24 games, the Oilers were 5-12-1, 10 points behind Seattle and St. Louis for the final playoff spot in the West.
PHOTO JASON FRANSON, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Edmonton Oilers stand with the Campbell Conference Bowl after beating the Dallas Stars in game 6 of the Western Conference finals of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in Edmonton on Sunday June 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Those times are long gone.
A few weeks after Kris Knoblauch took over as coach from Jay Woodcroft, the Oilers went on an eight-game winning streak to slowly climb the standings.
From that eight-game winning streak, the Oilers – who went on a 16-game winning streak shortly after – were the best team in the NHL. Between this streak and the end of the schedule, they showed a record of 44-15-5, in addition to leading the league in goals (239) and goal differential (+76).
Edmonton is only the third team in NHL history to make the Finals after being 10 or more points out of a playoff spot, the others being Toronto in 1958-59 and St. Louis in 2018- 2019. The Blues won the Cup that season, it must be remembered.
The final will begin on Saturday evening at Sunrise. The Panthers were swept in the Cup final in 1996 by Colorado, then lost in five games in 2023 to the Golden Knights.
Just like the Panthers on Saturday night, the Oilers did not touch the conference championship trophy during the post-game celebration. “We are not finished. It’s just a step in the right direction for us,” recalled Mattias Ekholm.
With The Canadian Press