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Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hockey rides into offseason with full-on buzz, a threepeat bid and Olympic-size showdowns ahead
Florida Panthers fans celebrate a goal by center Sam Reinhart during the second period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Members of the Florida Panthers hockey team celebrate with fans outside the Elbo Room, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the morning after defeating Edmonton in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk pours beer into the Stanley Cup at the Elbo Room at the Elbo Room, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the morning after defeating Edmonton in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk, front. and defenseman Gustav Forsling pour beer from the Stanley Cup onto fans at the Elbo Room, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the morning after defeating Edmonton in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk, front. and defenseman Gustav Forsling pour beer from the Stanley Cup onto fans at the Elbo Room, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the morning after defeating Edmonton in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) Florida Panthers fans celebrate a goal by center Sam Reinhart during the second period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Members of the Florida Panthers hockey team celebrate with fans outside the Elbo Room, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the morning after defeating Edmonton in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk pours beer into the Stanley Cup at the Elbo Room at the Elbo Room, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the morning after defeating Edmonton in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk, front. and defenseman Gustav Forsling pour beer from the Stanley Cup onto fans at the Elbo Room, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the morning after defeating Edmonton in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) The 4 Nations Face-Off in February was meant to provide a taste of international competition a year before the Winter Olympics because it had been nearly a decade since the NHL's top players were able to represent their countries in the same tournament. Instead, the pace and quality of games captivated sellout crowds, with millions tuning in to watch. In the immediate aftermath of his team beating the U.S. i n the final in overtime, Canada general manager Doug Armstrong met up with American counterpart Bill Guerin in the hallway, shook hands and had a message that was bigger than one game. Advertisement 'He said it best: Hockey was the big winner,' Guerin recalled. 'Obviously Canada won that championship, but the sport of hockey, the game, was the big winner.' Hockey is seeing a surge in popularity and buzz, fed by the 4 Nations tournament, Alex Ovechkin's stirring run to the NHL career goals record and the Florida Panthers repeating as Stanley Cup champions to set up a threepeat bid next season. Up next are the draft and free agency, with Mitch Marner and playoff MVP Sam Bennett among the top players available, and anticipation is building for the NHL's return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014. 'For all of us, I think we're just really proud of being a part of this bigger picture and growing the game and getting it more on the forefront,' Guerin said. 'The game's never been in a better spot.' 4 Nations success Advertisement The NHL and NHLPA wanted to stage a World Cup but plans were pushed back until this year with a pared-down version involving the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland. Commissioner Gary Bettman referred to it as an appetizer, and no one knew exactly what to expect. 'We all went in hoping it was going to be a great event,' Armstrong said, 'and it ended up being better than anyone could have expected.' Canada's star-studded power play of Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Sam Reinhart connecting on a tic-tac-toe passing goal less than a minute into the opening game against Sweden served notice that the play would be at the highest level. The U.S. and Canada had three fights in the first nine seconds, and geopolitical cross-border tensions with crowds booing anthems and more put the 4 Nations in an unexpected spotlight. Fans were riveted. Advertisement The final became one of the hottest tickets in Boston sports history, and more than 9 million watched in the U.S. and nearly 11 million in Canada. Not bad for a tournament that never happened before and may never happen again. The GR8 chase Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals took center stage as he chased down Wayne Gretzky's record of 894 goals, a feat that had long seemed unapproachable. Despite missing more than a month earlier in the season because of a broken left leg, he was in striking distance by late March. Still scoring at an absurd pace at 39 years old, Ovechkin went on a tear and tied the mark at home on a Friday night that became a celebration of his career. Two days later, he got No. 895 in New York against the Islanders, with Gretzky, Bettman, his mother, wife, children and more there to congratulate him. Advertisement '(It is) the biggest accomplishment that the world of hockey has seen a very long time,' longtime teammate T.J. Oshie said. 'This record is going to be here for a while.' Ovechkin, now at 897 goals, is set to play his 21st NHL season and add to his total. Panthers repeat Florida had the 11th-most points out of the 16 teams that reached the playoffs and started each round on the road. Didn't matter. The Panthers got through Tampa Bay in five games, Toronto in seven and Carolina in six to reach the final for a third consecutive year. They then beat McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers again, this time in six to go back to back. Advertisement 'Everybody wrote us off from the start of the playoffs,' veteran winger Brad Marchand said after becoming a two-time champion. 'They had everybody beating us in every round. We just had that fire. We knew we had something special.' Matthew Tkachuk, whose arrival in the summer of 2022 along with coach Paul Maurice coincided with Florida becoming an NHL powerhouse, went as far as to use the 'D' word. 'We've got to be dynasty now,' Tkachuk said. "Three years in a row finals, two championships. This is a special group.' Retired goaltender Cory Schneider called the Panthers 'one of the best teams I think I've seen in my lifetime.' Advertisement 'They're the epitome of depth, skill, structure,' said Schneider, who worked the final as an NHL Network analyst. 'A lot of teams have good players. but it takes the attention to detail and the sacrifice to do it all the time. Teams want to play easy hockey sometimes and get their chances, but Florida does that while also committing to playing a complete brand of team hockey.' BetMGM Sportsbook lists the Oilers as a slight favorite to win next season's championship over the Panthers. The NHL hasn't had a three-peat since the New York Islanders won four in a row from 1980-83. Draft and free agency The league is having its first in-person, de-centralized draft in Los Angeles on June 27-28. The New York Islanders after winning the draft lottery have the first pick, and new general manager Mathieu Darche could pick defenseman Matthew Schaefer, an inspirational story off the ice. Advertisement With the salary cap getting the first of several big jumps thanks to record attendance and revenue (increases to $95.5 million this summer), player movement could be fast and furious. Free agency opens July 1, and teams in markets from New York and Toronto to Los Angeles, Anaheim and Utah have cap space to use. Milan-Cortina Olympics The 12 countries taking part — Russia is banned — have already unveiled the first six players on their Olympic rosters. The International Ice Hockey Federation has released the schedule of games, with the men's tournament starting Feb. 11, 'When you're growing up when you're watching as a kid, it's Stanley Cup finals and it's Team Canada,' said Reinhart, who scored four goals in Florida's Cup-clinching game the day after getting named to Canada's roster. "Those are the two things that you dream about playing for. To have that opportunity is pretty exciting.' Advertisement The NHL went to five consecutive Games from 1998-2014, then skipped 2018 and pulled out in 2022, leaving teams those years without any active league players. Milan-Cortina will be the first Olympics for players like McDavid, MacKinnon, Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel. 'Getting another opportunity to bring generations that have a Sidney Crosby and a Connor McDavid together to play internationally, it's just great for the fans and great for hockey,' Armstrong said. 'Players are so excited to be part of this. ... It's neck and neck with the Stanley Cup right now of wanting to win that event.' Tkachuk was named to the U.S. team along with brother Brady. With the two becoming household names for new fans after the fight-filled 4 Nations, it feels a little like hockey is in its Tkachuk era. Italy is the next stop on their journey. '4 Nations was good, and hopefully Olympics will be great, as well,' said Matthew after becoming a two-time Cup champion. 'I feel I've been the luckiest guy in hockey.' ___ AP NHL:
National Post
21 hours ago
- Sport
- National Post
Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup damage just the latest mishap in the trophy's storied history
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Florida Panthers Matthew Tkachuk, front. and Gustav Forsling pour beer from the Stanley Cup onto fans at the Elbo Room, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the morning after defeating Edmonton in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Cup was damaged the night before. Photo by Joe Cavaretta / AP Some hockey fans are understandably bent out of shape over the Florida Panthers damaging the Stanley Cup this week, but the coveted trophy has been through worse. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors It's been sunk to the bottom of a swimming pool. It's been used in the baptism of several infants and at least one baby has pooped in it. It's even been dropped — or maybe it was tossed — from a second-storey balcony overlooking a rock star's whiskey-shaped pool. 'It happens every year, the bowl gets damaged — basically it gets 'out of round' if you know what I mean,' Cup keeper Phil Pritchard told a Washington Capitals blogger in 2018. Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again 'It is nobody's fault; it just happens every year. It has become part of the lore of sports' greatest trophy.' The Stanley Cup has once again sustained some damage from the recipients. 🤕 (📸: Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) — TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 18, 2025 Here are just a small handful of the known stories about what the silver and nickel trophy has endured through its 131 years. At some point after knocking off the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 on Tuesday night, the Panthers managed to crack the trophy's bowl and dent the base before even leaving the arena, as evidenced by photos being circulated on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the Hockey Hall of Fame told the Associated Press it will be repaired in time for Sunday's victory parade in Sunrise, Fla. It wouldn't be the first time the Cup has been damaged almost immediately after it was awarded. As the Colorado Avalanche gathered on the ice for a team photo to celebrate their 2022 championship, Nicholas Aube-Kubel stumbled and dropped the Cup as he skated into the dogpile, leaving a noticeable dent on the base. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Just a year before, the Tampa Bay Lightning damaged it at some point prior to or during a boat parade to celebrate a second-straight title. Because the Stanley Cup spends 24 hours with each player and staff member of the winning team, how the damage occurred is usually a mystery or the stuff of anecdotal legend. But while visiting St. John's with the Boston Bruins' Michael Ryder in the summer of 2011, cameras captured the trophy taking a tumble from a table. Three years earlier, a few days after the Detroit Red Wings claimed the Cup, it was dented after falling off a table at the restaurant owned by defenceman Chris Chelios. The Panthers were the last team to take the hockey's holy grail swimming when they took it to Fort Lauderdale Beach after last year's defeat of the Oilers in the final. At points during their revelry, players hoisting the Cup were diving into waves. Pritchard, in an email to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, expressed concern about possible erosion but said they 'managed to clean it as good as possible and dry it off.' Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk later admitted it wasn't ideal. 'I think somebody said that's not technically allowed, but I said it was too late,' Tkachuk said Thursday. 'It already happened.' Other famous dips include the time it ended up at the bottom of Mario Lemieux's pool following their 1991 win, tossed there from a 20-foot high waterfall by defenceman Phil Bourque. 'We had to dive in,' Bryan Trottier recounted on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast in 2022, 'Troy Loney and I dive and get the Cup out of the Pool. It was very tarnished the next day.' The most famous pool story occurred eight years later as the Dallas Stars celebrated the organization's first championship. While partying at the home of Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, the Stars celebrity superfan said Guy Carboneau tossed the Cup to teammate Craig Ludwig from a balcony above his pool — that was shaped like a bottle of Crown Royal whisky — only for it to hit the pool deck and fall in the chlorinated water. Carboneau disputed that version of events in a 2022 interview with D Magazine in Texas, saying it was an accident as he tried to hand it off to Ludwig. 'If I really wanted to throw the Cup, I would have thrown the Cup. But that was not my intention.' Ludwig, who admitted in the same article that they were all fairly drunk by this point, couldn't be sure what happened. The first known and reported instance of an infant being baptized in Lord Stanley's Cup came in 1996 when the Avalanche's Sylvain Lefebvre used it for his daughter's He was followed in 2008 by the Red Wings' Tomas Holmstrom, whose niece was welcomed into the Christian faith in the bowl from which countless beers and bottles of champagne have been slurped. The Pittsburgh Penguins' Josh Archibald had his three-week-old baptized in 2017, and the Avalanche's Jack Johnson used it for all three of his kids on his day with the trophy in 2022. In 2008, Kris Draper admitted to the Toronto Star that his newborn daughter 'pooped in the Cup.' 'That was something. We had a pretty good laugh,' said Draper, who cleaned it out and 'still drank out of it that night.'
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Panthers Cup win worth studying
Opinion It's that time of year, when the marathon that is the regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs gives way to a two-week sprint that attacks the present and addresses the future. With Lord Stanley's silver chalice awarded to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday after they dispatched the Edmonton Oilers in a much-anticipated rematch, teams around the NHL are preparing for the 2025 NHL draft and the free-agent frenzy that quickly follows. Before those two big events on the calendar arrive, the deep dives looking under the hood at how the Panthers captured consecutive titles will be happening in the other 31 markets, including Winnipeg. Each title run is different, but there are some common themes for the Panthers, whose unwavering commitment to playing suffocating defence is the gold standard when it comes to post-season play. Now, keeping this star-studded band together is going to be incredibly challenging for Panthers general manager Bill Zito, especially when you consider the list of pending unrestricted free agents includes Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett, runner-up Brad Marchand and top-pairing defenceman Aaron Ekblad just to name a few (more of this later). Zito has shown his creativity on numerous occasions since taking over the job and you can bet he'll be making his pitch to keep as many of the talented players together, while adding some additional hungry folks to round out the roster, just like Glen Sather did when he was running the Oilers during the dynastic years in the 1980s. These Panthers, who have US$19 million in cap space available with 16 players under contract, are a juggernaut and if you expect them to just fade into the sunset, you haven't been paying close enough attention. Among the core players still under contract for multiple seasons include All-World goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, captain Aleksander Barkov, high-scoring forwards Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe, complementary checkers/scorers like Evan Rodrigues, Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen and defencemen Gustav Forsling, Seth Jones and Niko Mikkola. No matter what happens in free agency, that's an outstanding group to build around. Speaking of building, it's worth noting that the 2024-25 Panthers featured four homegrown talents among the 23 players to appear in these playoffs — all of whom were chosen in the first round. Ekblad (first overall, 2014), Barkov (second overall, 2013) and Lundell (12th overall, 2020) had an outstanding playoff, while Mackie Samoskevich (24th overall, 2021) got into four playoff games this spring. A total of 11 players were signed in free agency and seven were acquired in trades (including Bennett, Marchand, Tkachuk and Reinhart, who had four goals in the clincher). One of the best D-men of the playoffs, Gustav Forsling, was claimed off waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes, before growing into a player that has made life difficult for Oilers captain Connor McDavid during the past two playoff meetings. It's worth noting the Panthers' roster featured 14 returnees that also had won the Stanley Cup in 2024, while Marchand (2011 with the Boston Bruins) and forward Nico Sturm (2022 with the Colorado Avalanche) brought additional championship pedigree in separate deadline deals. While it's true that Zito doesn't encounter some of the impediments the Jets run into when it comes to no-trade clauses and attracting top-end free agents, here are three lessons Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and company can borrow from the Panthers as the the off-season ramps up: There's no denying the impact that the Panthers top players had throughout the playoffs, punctuated by the final series, but when your third line provides outstanding defensive play to go along with 57 points, you know you've got the formula for success. Marchand (10 goals, 20 points), Luostarinen (five goals, 19 points — all of which came at even strength) and Lundell (six goals, 18 points) were the undisputed best third line of the post-season. The trio of Adam Lowry, Mason Appleton and Nino Niederreiter were definitely in the conversation for a good chunk of the regular season before things tailed off on the offensive side. The future of Appleton, a pending UFA, is up in the air but the Jets already prioritize the importance of having a third line that delivers in all three zones. The Panthers got at least one point from 21 of the 22 skaters that appeared in the playoffs, while 11 of them were in double digits — and six of those had between 20 and 23 points. The Jets had plenty of depth scoring during the regular season, but could have used a bit more during the playoffs. Depth also applies to defence, where former Jets Nate Schmidt (three goals, 11 points in 23 games) and Dmitry Kulikov made up a solid third pairing. The Jets had 10 different D-men suit up during the regular season and eight in the playoffs, so they know the value of having capable blue-liners on call. Securing additional depth up front and on the back end will be a priority for the Jets. In any other playoff, Bobrovsky could have been a runaway winner for the Conn Smythe. Although he's only concerned with the bigger silver trophy, Bobrovsky now has two Stanley Cups to go along with his two Vezinas (2012-13, 2016-17). As for growing into the goalie you want between the pipes when the lights are shining brightest, Bobrovsky wasn't an overnight sensation — even with his flashy resumé. NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS Seeing what Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has done into his mid-30s is another example that the development path isn't always linear. NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS Seeing what Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has done into his mid-30s is another example that the development path isn't always linear. During his first six trips to the playoffs when he made at least one start, Bobrovsky had only one outstanding showing and that was in 2019, when the Columbus Blue Jackets pulled off one of the greatest upsets in NHL history, sweeping the Lightning after they had won the Presidents' Trophy. Bobrovsky and his teammates bowed out in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round, but he finished with a save percentage of .925 and a goals-against average of 2.41 in his 10 starts that spring. In 2021, Bobrovsky lost the starting job down the stretch to Alex Lyon but regained his form and helped spark the comeback against the Bruins before leading the team to the Cup final before losing to the Vegas Golden Knights. Bobrovsky has been tremendous the past two springs, earning each of the 32 wins required to get to the top of the mountain. So, while there has been plenty of chatter about Hart Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck needing to elevate his game in the playoffs, seeing what Bobrovsky has done into his mid-30s is another example that the development path isn't always linear. It's up to Hellebuyck to deliver, but to suggest he can't reach that level because he hasn't by the age of 32 is simply a bad take. One of the narratives out there is that winning the Presidents' Trophy doesn't matter and that's just not true. It's been a lengthy dry spell since the Chicago Blackhawks finished first overall before winning their second of three Stanley Cups in 2013, there's no doubt about that. And while it's accurate that regular-season success doesn't necessarily translate to playoff results, the Panthers showed recently that it's part of the process of learning what it takes. Florida was first overall in 2022, then refined the way they played after former Jets head coach Paul Maurice took over behind the bench. A coaching change isn't always required either, since the Lightning were first overall in 2019 before winning consecutive Cups under Jon Cooper in 2020 and 2021. Jared Bednar guided the Avalanche to the Presidents' Trophy in 2021 and they won it all in 2021. Going back a bit further, the Washington Capitals finished first overall in 2016 and 2017 before capturing the Cup in 2018. The Jets are in the process of becoming more playoff ready and allowing the fewest goals in the NHL during the regular season is an important part of that. Strides have been taken in terms of play without the puck, but while Jets head coach Scott Arniel can find plenty of examples when it comes to growth, the Panthers commitment level is unmatched right now. They boast the perfect combination of skill and will and can also make life difficult on their opponent through physical play. The Jets are on the right path and the template for success has been augmented and improved, but the next steps forward that are required are big ones. X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Ken WiebeReporter Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken. Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Game over: Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup dreams die again in Florida
Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers and Gustav Forsling #42 of the Florida Panthers watch a loose puck during the second period in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. Photo by Bruce Bennett / Getty Images In any other era, in almost any other year, this Edmonton Oilers team is good enough to win a Stanley Cup. Good enough, even, to be a two-time champion solidifying its place in NHL history. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account But not in this era. Not during the Florida Panthers' reign. For the second year in a row, with the dreams of a city and its seasoned No.1 contender hanging in the balance, it all came crashing down at Amerant Bank Arena, where the Oilers were once again left to accept their place as the second best team in hockey. Florida's convincing 5-1 victory in Game 6 closed out the series 4-2 and forced the Oilers to spend another night in a tear-stained dressing room listening to the Panthers and their fans celebrate another Stanley Cup title. That the Oilers lost twice to one of the best teams in the last 30 years, a potential dynasty in the making, does nothing to ease a collective heartbreak they promised themselves would never happen again. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Year-old wounds stat still haven't healed since last June are torn open again. It hurts when your Stanley Cup window is being used by somebody better. But the Panthers are better and they've proven it twice now. Florida's last three wins in this series were by scores of 6-1, 5-2 and 5-1, and they were up 3-0 before Edmonton made a once-in-a-century comeback in Game 4. They scored 28 goals on Edmonton in six games. So there's not a lot of grey area here. Florida's top guys were better than Edmonton's top guys, Florida's depth destroyed Edmonton's depth and Florida's goaltending was better than Edmonton's goaltending. It was a clean kill. The Oilers came out with a sense of urgency that delivered some big hits and generated some good scoring chances, but two too many defensive zone mistakes put them in another terrible spot. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Gaffes from Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard allowed Sam Reinhart to score on the ensuing breakaway at 4:36. Then Bouchard and Connor McDavid combined on Matthew Tkachuk's goal at 19:13. Just like that, the Oilers were down 2-0 again at the first intermission again. This makes deficits of 2-0, 3-0, 2-0 and 2-0 in the first periods of the last four games and six-straight games allowing two or more goals against in the opening 20 minutes — the first time that's ever happened in Stanley Cup Final history. Head coach Kris Knoblauch waited about three shifts before putting McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together on the top line and they were minus two by the first intermission. He took the whip to his top line in the second period, playing them almost every second shift (McDavid played 16 of the first 40 minutes) but Florida's ability to shut opponents down left Edmonton's superstars frustrated and without answers. The situation went from bleak to grim when Stuart Skinner served up a horrendous rebound that Aleksander Barkov banked in off Reinhart's skate to make it 3-0 after two periods. And that was it. A couple of empty-netters for Reinhart gave him four goals on the night and turned the lights out on Edmonton's season. E-mail: rtychkowski@ Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs NHL Columnists Editorial Cartoons
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Panthers vs. Oilers: How Florida, Edmonton can win Game 6 of Stanley Cup Final
Panthers vs. Oilers: How Florida, Edmonton can win Game 6 of Stanley Cup Final Show Caption Hide Caption NHL rescue dogs, all available for adoption, compete in the 2025 Stanley Pup 32 adorable rescue puppies representing each NHL team will compete in the 2025 Stanley Pup, airing June 6 on TruTV and Sportsnet! The Florida Panthers can wrap up their second consecutive Stanley Cup title with a home victory on Tuesday, June 17. The Edmonton Oilers will try to force a Game 7 for the second season in a row. The Panthers won Game 5 on June 14 to break a 2-2 tie in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final. Teams that have done that have won the championship 19 of the previous 26 times. If the Panthers win Game 6, they'll celebrate again in front of their home fans. If the Oilers win, Game 7 will be on Friday, June 20 in Edmonton, Alberta. Here's a look at what each team needs to do to win Game 6: How Florida Panthers can win Game 6 Repeat Game 5 performance: The Panthers put on a defensive gem in Game 5, holding the high-flying Oilers to three shots in the first period and 21 shots overall. The Oilers didn't score in the 5-2 Panthers win until the third period when they were down 3-0. Get the early lead: They've outscored the Oilers 7-0 in the first period over the last three games. It didn't help them in Game 4 as Edmonton staged a major rally. But it's easier for the Panthers to play their style when they have the lead. Take advantage of the last line change: The Panthers are best when rolling lines. But they should try to get center Aleksander Barkov and defenseman Gustav Forsling out against Connor McDavid when possible, especially when the Oilers use McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together. How Edmonton Oilers can win Game 6 Remember last year: The Oilers, who fell behind 3-0 in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, dug down and won three consecutive games before losing in Game 7. They only have to win two in a row this year for their first title since 1990. They have it in them. Stay out of the penalty box: The Oilers were short-handed four times in the first period of Game 3 and three times in the first period of Game 4. They gave up a combined three power-play goals. They were more disciplined in Game 5. Key an eye on Brad Marchand: The 37-year-old has been spectacular in the Panthers' wins. He had two breakaway goals in Game 2, including in overtime. He scored 56 seconds into Game 3. He scored twice in Game 5, splitting the Oilers defense off a faceoff win at center ice for his first goal. He scored his second goal after a high-skilled move around defenseman Jake Walman. Stanley Cup Final schedule Panthers lead series 3-2 All times Eastern; (x-if necessary) How to stream Stanley Cup Final Stanley Cup Final games can be streamed on Sling TV and Max.
