Latest news with #Oilers'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Connor McDavid Doesn't Hesitate Pointing Oilers' Mistake in Stanley Cup Loss
Connor McDavid Doesn't Hesitate Pointing Oilers' Mistake in Stanley Cup Loss originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Edmonton Oilers ran out of answers in the Stanley Cup Final, and team captain Connor McDavid had to watch another team celebrate for the second year in a row. Advertisement Following a 5–1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 6, McDavid pointed to his team's inability to adapt offensively as a key reason for their second straight finals defeat to the same team. The Panthers suffocated the Oilers on Tuesday, limited them to 29 shots over three periods, and only allowed one goal with the scoreboard already reading 5-0 in favor of Florida. The back-to-back champions scored twice in the opening frame and never looked back, led by four goals from Sam Reinhart and one by Matthew Tkachuk, as well as an extraordinary 28-save game by Sergei Bobrovsky. "Their forecheck was great, they tilted the rink," McDavid said. "They were able to stay on top of us all over the place, and we were never really able to generate any momentum up the ice. Advertisement "We kept trying the same thing over and over again, banging our heads against the wall. Credit to them, they played well." McDavid finished the series with just one goal and seven points and was held without a point in Game 6. Oilers' center Connor McDavid (97) had a forgettable Game 6 in the Stanley Cup Miron-Imagn Images Vasily Podkolzin scored Edmonton's lone goal with just over four minutes left in regulation, but McDavid pushed back against the possible perception that the Oilers stopped trying at any point through Game 6. "We lost to a really good team," McDavid said. "Nobody quit, nobody threw the towel in, but they're a heck of a team. They're Stanley Cup champions back-to-back for a reason." Advertisement The Oilers now face another offseason of questions, but oddsmakers and the very own McDavid still believe in a group that has made back-to-back trips to the finals. "Still a lot of confidence and belief," McDavid said. "We obviously believed. Came up just short again." Related: NHL Makes Historic Connor McDavid Announcement Amid Stanley Cup Final Related: Panthers Not the Favorites in Initial 2026 Stanley Cup Odds This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Connor McDavid's wife speaks out as Oilers suffer another devastating Stanley Cup Final heartbreak
Oilers' Stanley Cup dreams shattered again—Connor McDavid's wife shares heartfelt reaction (Instagram) The Edmonton Oilers came heartbreakingly close to NHL glory, only to see their dreams dashed yet again at the final hurdle. For the second consecutive season, the Florida Panthers stood in their way—this time sealing the Stanley Cup with a commanding 5-1 win in Game 6. The loss was more than just a scoreline; it was a deeply emotional moment for a team that had poured everything into this run. Back-to-back Stanley Cup defeats: Connor McDavid's wife responds to Oilers' crushing end The final whistle in Sunrise, Florida, saw Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl visibly emotional on the bench, clearly feeling the weight of another missed opportunity. The traditional handshake line that followed couldn't mask the disappointment of falling short, despite the effort that had brought them so close. Oilers lose Stanley Cup final to Panthers for 2nd year McDavid offered an honest assessment of the defeat: 'Obviously, their forecheck was great. They tilted the rink. They were able to kind of stay on top of us all over the place. Never really able to generate any momentum up the ice. Kept trying the same things over and over again, banging our heads against the wall. Credit to them. They played well.' After grabbing a promising Game 1 win, the Oilers appeared ready to flip the script from last year's disappointment. But the momentum quickly shifted. Four losses in five games extinguished their hopes, despite the heightened expectations around McDavid, who many hoped would mirror the second-year triumphs of Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby. Statistically, McDavid's performance has raised eyebrows. With just one goal in 13 Stanley Cup Final appearances, questions are beginning to surface. While his skill and drive remain unquestioned, production at the highest stage is now a growing concern. Connor McDavid's Wife Reacts to Oilers' Stanley Cup Final Loss (Instagram) Off the ice, McDavid's wife, Lauren Kyle, kept her response short but heartfelt, reposting the Oilers' thank-you message to fans with two supportive emojis—an unspoken show of solidarity during a tough moment. There's no questioning McDavid's drive. 'The first time I talked to Connor, I went to see him in the summer after I started,' Oilers GM Stan Bowman revealed. 'He talked about… 'I just want to win the Cup.' That was it. He didn't talk about anything else.' This summer, the Oilers will face tough decisions. From tweaking the roster to evaluating leadership dynamics, there's no easy fix—but if McDavid's singular focus is any indication, Edmonton isn't done chasing the dream just yet. Also Read: NHL Trade Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs eye Sam Bennett as potential Mitch Marner replacement in free agency shake-up Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
When did Sportsnet's Hockey Night In Canada lose its way?
Article content 6. Too many bodies. Having six (and sometimes seven) competing talking heads during pre-games and intermission is drastic overkill. The result is that the sum of the parts is thus far less dynamic than some of the individuals. It also mutes the potential star power of those on the panel hired to provide just that. Article content 7. Back to the TNT-HNIC comparison. Not that pre-game interviews are often revealing, but prior to Game 6 the American broadcaster did a better setup job with rinkside comments from the key face of each team — the Oilers' Connor McDavid and the Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk. Article content 8. Chemistry. I'm of the belief that there are enough engaging voices on the Hockey Night crew, but the key to making them shine is to have them work with each other. On-air chemistry shouts authenticity to the viewer and the show aches for this. Article content 9. Entertainment value. As one seasoned observer of the telecasts put it to me, none of the on-air group are a disaster (though some are better than others) but there is a blandness to the group. Analysis is important, but when it comes across as overdone and scripted, it's begging viewers to turn to the baseball game at intermission. Article content Article content 10. Give us some banter. For all its faults, especially towards the end, the back-and-forth between MacLean and Don Cherry on Coach's Corner was appointment viewing. I'm not sure if anything does that in the current iteration. Over on TNT, meanwhile, you get to hear Wayne Gretzky giving it to Bissonnette or the panel goading Barkley into telling viewers why he jokingly detests Seth Jones because of his NBA-playing father Popeye. Article content 11. Inane analysis. Not a slight on Jennifer Botterill specifically, but when five commentators are asked to come up with three or four talking points per intermission, it's a reach. Case in point: After 40 minutes on Tuesday, with all but the final score inevitable, Botterill said 'Can the Oilers find a way to come back? Absolutely.' If the former Canadian Olympian really believed that, she might have been the only one in the building. Article content Article content 12. Kelly Hrudey could be better used. If anyone gets lost in the drone of competing voices, it might be him. On a more focussed show, for example, a host would have grilled him more on the struggles of Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, a huge story line throughout and again in Game 6. Hrudey offered some of that in the second intermission, but we wanted more. Article content 13. Speaking of more … As previously noted in this space, the one potential impact voice is Kevin Bieksa, the former hard-nosed defenceman who dishes hard-nosed commentary. Let him loose. And maybe bring in the always-opinionated Nick Kypreos for the odd cameo. Article content 14. Take a breath. When there are so many talking heads scrambling to get in as many words as possible, information overload mutes the impact. Too often, the show needs to breathe. Article content 15. Chris Cuthbert. No, the veteran play-by-play man isn't a fault — he's the opposite. From Sidney Crosby's Golden Goal to now, he has been the voice of so many iconic Canadian hockey moments and continues to be so just as the late, great Bob Cole was in his day. Now it's incumbent for Cuthbert to have a better produced show around him. Article content
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Stuart Skinner will start for Edmonton Oilers in elimination game against Florida Panthers
Much ado about nothing, that saga about who'll be in net for the Edmonton Oilers. Article content It was always going to be Stu Skinner for Game 6 despite all the subterfuge from Oiler coach Kris Knoblauch, who is usually more firm and forthright. Article content All this talk Monday from Knoblauch, saying he was taking input from a long list, including his players, everybody offering up an opinion, short of owner Daryl Katz, was, frankly, idle chatter. Article content Article content Even though Calvin Pickard has been a warm and fuzzy playoff story with his seven wins, winning six straight at one point until Tomas Hertl fell on his leg in the Vegas second-round series, he is still the backup. Skinner got the Oilers to Game 7 last June, losing 2-1 to Sergei Bobrovsky. Article content Article content He got the hook in Game 4 here, but only because the Oilers were awful in the first 20 minutes, and Knoblauch wanted to wake up his team, so he tapped Pickard on the shoulder, and he was outstanding for 51 minutes in the Oilers' rally and OT win. Article content But Pickard lost Game 5 at Rogers Place in one of the Oilers' worst playoff games of this Cup run, when they once again fell behind early to the Panthers and chased the game and lost 5-2. Pickard was beaten four times on 18 shots. So, again, they were always returning to Skinner in the elimination game because he's their guy. Article content 'He's played in a lot of high-pressure games and played well,' said Knoblauch. 'You look at the amount of elimination games he's been in. There was six last year and in every single game he was solid or put in spectacular performances.' Article content So, it's Stu vs Bob with the Stanley Cup in the house here. Article content 'Definitely feels good and I have the confidence of my teammates,' said a calm, composed and often self-deprecating Skinner, who refreshingly always talks on Oiler game mornings, unlike so many goalies. Article content 'We went to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals last year, and Stu was amazing. There's just a trust factor there; we have full belief in him. We know that he can get the job done for us and we're looking forward to getting back home (for a Game 7),' said Draisaitl, who finished the big rally to tie the series 2-2 when Pickard took over.
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Stuart Skinner will start for Edmonton Oilers in elimination game against Florida Panthers
Much ado about nothing, that saga about who'll be in net for the Edmonton Oilers . It was always going to be Stu Skinner for Game 6 despite all the subterfuge from Oiler coach Kris Knoblauch, who is usually more firm and forthright. All this talk Monday from Knoblauch, saying he was taking input from a long list, including his players, everybody offering up an opinion, short of owner Daryl Katz, was, frankly, idle chatter. Even though Calvin Pickard has been a warm and fuzzy playoff story with his seven wins, winning six straight at one point until Tomas Hertl fell on his leg in the Vegas second-round series, he is still the backup. Skinner got the Oilers to Game 7 last June, losing 2-1 to Sergei Bobrovsky. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. He got the hook in Game 4 here, but only because the Oilers were awful in the first 20 minutes, and Knoblauch wanted to wake up his team, so he tapped Pickard on the shoulder, and he was outstanding for 51 minutes in the Oilers' rally and OT win. But Pickard lost Game 5 at Rogers Place in one of the Oilers' worst playoff games of this Cup run, when they once again fell behind early to the Panthers and chased the game and lost 5-2. Pickard was beaten four times on 18 shots. So, again, they were always returning to Skinner in the elimination game because he's their guy. 'He's played in a lot of high-pressure games and played well,' said Knoblauch. 'You look at the amount of elimination games he's been in. There was six last year and in every single game he was solid or put in spectacular performances.' So, it's Stu vs Bob with the Stanley Cup in the house here. 'Definitely feels good and I have the confidence of my teammates,' said a calm, composed and often self-deprecating Skinner, who refreshingly always talks on Oiler game mornings, unlike so many goalies. Good times or bad. He was there answering question after question at a media session Tuesday as Leon Draisaitl, who got the OT game-winner in Game 4, sat beside him at the podium. And Draisaitl had no trouble pumping Skinner's tires. 'We went to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals last year, and Stu was amazing. There's just a trust factor there; we have full belief in him. We know that he can get the job done for us and we're looking forward to getting back home (for a Game 7),' said Draisaitl, who finished the big rally to tie the series 2-2 when Pickard took over. Draisaitl certainly felt for Skinner that night in Florida, with Skinner giving up three goals in the first 20 minutes but also making 14 stops before taking a seat on the bench for Pickard. 'It was us that let him down,' said Draisaitl. 'I'm not a goalie, but it doesn't seem fair (to get the hook).' While Bobrovsky has played every single minute of the 22 Panthers' games, the Oilers have used both Skinner and Pickard these playoffs and both have seven wins. It's not the traditional ride-one-guy scenario, but Skinner's OK with it. 'For sure I want to be the guy who's in all the time,' said Skinner. 'I wish I could help them every single night. It is hard watching from the bench but I have to stick to my job. It's (goalie decisions) is over my pay grade. Whenever they tell me I'm going in the net, I'm definitely not going to say no.' He got pulled in Game 4 but, again it wasn't his fault the Oilers were so bad, early. 'Might sound weird, but I felt I played well, but sometimes that (getting yanked) happens. It's life. As a goalie, sometimes it's hard,' said Skinner, looking back at that night with a shrug. 'The process is to try and shake it off as quickly as I can. I wasn't able to right away. I was a little frustrated, but a new day comes and you get back to work. In this league, there's not much time, especially in the finals, to sulk and feel bad for yourself,' said While Knoblauch talked Monday of consulting with lots of people before making his goalie decision, including players, he certainly wasn't going to poll, say, the defencemen as to who they wanted. 'It's not a point-blank 'who do you think our starter should be tomorrow night?'. That would be putting the players in a difficult position,' he said. 'You see who the players have confidence in, it's their body language. It's more conversations with the coaching staff and the general manager (Stan Bowman)' Skinner was in such a good mood Tuesday morning he chuckled at a question about Florida backup goalie Vitek Vanecek's ongoing staredown in the neutral zone in pre-game warmups. 'When I wasn't playing Game 5, I went up to him and said 'well, you certainly got me,'' said Skinner. 'It's all fun and games. He was laughing along with me.' Elimination games are no laughing matter, though. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins once again missed a full skate because he's nursing an undisclosed injury, but Knoblauch says he will definitely play. Probably on left wing with Connor McDavid and Corey Perry. While Skinner's back in, same story with defenceman John Klingberg and winger Kasperi Kapanen. Klingberg, who sat out Game 5, will take Troy Stecher's spot in the lineup, and he'll partner with Jake Walman. And Kapanen, who got the OT goal to eliminate Vegas in round two but was scratched for Game 5 for Viktor Arvidsson, will play on right side with Draisaitl and Evander Kane. Only in hockey can you sit for a playoff game one night and play with one of the world's best, Draisaitl, the next. 'John's played some really good playoff hockey. There wasn't much hesitation in having him play,' said Knoblauch, who went the same route with Kapanen, who's in for Arvidsson. 'Kasperi brings a lot of energy. He can get in on the forecheck. When he's dialled in he's a really good hockey player, like the play he made on the tying goal in the third period in Game 4 to Walman. Or a bunch of hits or being out in penalty kill,' he said. This 'n that: A bit of gamesmanship at the morning skate from the Florida side. While the Panthers were using one sheet at the Baptist Health Iceplex, their winger Carter Verhaeghe was firing pucks into the empty net off passes from assistant coach Jamie Kompon on the Oilers' designated ice. A few Oilers players wanted an early start but had to wait until Verhaeghe left and Kompon was telling them they could resurface the ice. They said forget it.
