Latest news with #SamNavarro-Imagn
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Ice hockey-Canada's Stanley Cup dry spell stretches to 32 years as Edmonton flops in Finals
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; The Edmonton Oilers look on from the bench in the final minutes of game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images NEW YORK (Reuters) -The Florida Panthers extended Canada's agonizing Stanley Cup drought to 32 years with a 5-1 win over Edmonton in Game Six on Tuesday, a second straight Finals defeat for the Oilers which left their fans devastated and players searching for answers. It was the eighth time a Canadian team reached the Finals but fell short since the Montreal Canadiens won the NHL championship in 1993. It was also the second Finals in a row that the Panthers beat the Oilers, who became the first team to lose back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals since the Boston Bruins in 1977-1978. Oilers captain Connor McDavid, arguably the best player in the league, said his team had given everything in the best-of-seven series. "Nobody quit, nobody threw the towel in," he added. "They're a heck of a team. They're Stanley Cup champions back-to-back for a reason. "Never really able to generate any momentum up the ice. We kept trying the same thing over and over again, banging our heads against the wall," he told reporters. "Still a lot of confidence and belief. I don't think people thought we were going to make it this far - we obviously believed. Came up just short again," added McDavid, who last year won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs. From "the Great One" Wayne Gretzky to Mark "the Moose" Messier and "Mr. Hockey" himself, Gordie Howe, the proud sons of the Great White North have created ice hockey lore to last generations. The Canadian men's and women's teams have won 14 Olympic gold medals between them, yet the country's NHL sides continually fail to get their hands on the trophy. The Oilers had home advantage in the series despite an injury-plagued season but that mattered little to the Panthers, who won seven of their last eight games on the road. Goaltender Stuart Skinner, who got the nod over Calvin Pickard for Game Six, said the Oilers had to find out what went wrong. "We need to learn from this right away, right now. Letting it happen two times in a row is devastating," he said. Prime Minister Mark Carney struck an optimistic tone on social media, as he rallied his compatriots to keep faith. "Proud of the Oilers' grit. Proud of the guys for getting us to this moment. Heads high," Carney wrote. "Next year." (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Ice hockey-Matthews headlines US team as NHL stars return to Olympics
FILE PHOTO: May 16, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) shoots and scores against the Florida Panthers during the third period in game six of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images/File Photo REUTERS NEW YORK - Auston Matthews will lead the American charge at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games next year, as USA Hockey named the first six players to their roster on Monday with NHL stars able to compete on the Olympic stage for the first time since 2014. Players from the top-flight North American league were expected to compete at the 2022 Beijing Games but NHL executives elected not to send players weeks before the Olympics began due to schedule disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Hockey League said it would release its talent this time around, clearing the way for the sport's biggest stars to take the Olympic stage. Matthews, the most prolific scorer in the league since joining in 2016, will ditch his Toronto Maple Leafs blue for the stars and stripes, while Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will play alongside brother Matthew Tkachuk, whose Florida Panthers are one win away from a second straight Stanley Cup. The Vancouver Canucks captain and ruthless defenceman Quinn Hughes was also named to the U.S. first six, along with the Boston Bruins' Charlie McAvoy and the Vegas Golden Knights' Jack Eichel. "We've seen the unprecedented success of our U.S. teams on the international stage this past season and we need to keep our foot on the gas," the U.S. Olympic men's team general manager Bill Guerin said in a statement. "The players we've named today represent excellence. They're committed to the mission in front of us and excited about the opportunity to represent our country in the Olympics." The United States is set to name the rest of the team in early January for the Olympic ice hockey tournament that begins on February 11 in Milan. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Ice hockey-Matthews headlines US team as NHL stars return to Olympics
FILE PHOTO: May 16, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) shoots and scores against the Florida Panthers during the third period in game six of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images/File Photo NEW YORK (Reuters) -Auston Matthews will lead the American charge at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games next year, as USA Hockey named the first six players to their roster on Monday with NHL stars able to compete on the Olympic stage for the first time since 2014. Players from the top-flight North American league were expected to compete at the 2022 Beijing Games but NHL executives elected not to send players weeks before the Olympics began due to schedule disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Hockey League said it would release its talent this time around, clearing the way for the sport's biggest stars to take the Olympic stage. Matthews, the most prolific scorer in the league since joining in 2016, will ditch his Toronto Maple Leafs blue for the stars and stripes, while Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will play alongside brother Matthew Tkachuk, whose Florida Panthers are one win away from a second straight Stanley Cup. The Vancouver Canucks captain and ruthless defenceman Quinn Hughes was also named to the U.S. first six, along with the Boston Bruins' Charlie McAvoy and the Vegas Golden Knights' Jack Eichel. "We've seen the unprecedented success of our U.S. teams on the international stage this past season and we need to keep our foot on the gas," the U.S. Olympic men's team general manager Bill Guerin said in a statement. "The players we've named today represent excellence. They're committed to the mission in front of us and excited about the opportunity to represent our country in the Olympics." The United States is set to name the rest of the team in early January for the Olympic ice hockey tournament that begins on February 11 in Milan. (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Whys And Wherefores Of The Stanley Cup Final
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images HERE'S ARE 5 REASONS WHY FLORIDA WILL WIN: 1. You never should bet against the Champs. 2. Coach Paul Maurice knows the Oilers inside-out, and will have a winning blueprint in place on Wednesday. 3. Panthers GM Bill Zito added two seasoned aces, defenseman Seth Jones and forward Brad Marchand; perfect fits. Advertisement 4. Sergei Bobrovsky is one of the best clutch goalies in captivity – or even out of captivity. 5. The Panthers deliver some of the toughest, meanest winning playoff hockey. HERE ARE 5 REASONS WHY EDMONTON WILL WIN: 1. Connor McDavid. 2. Leon Draisaitl. 3. Home ice advantage. 4. The super motivation of finally winning; after losing the Final last year. 5. Edmonton boasts the most underrated, sage young coach – Kris Knoblauch. (Don't tell anyone but he has the Cats all figured out.)
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What Blueshirts Fans Need To Know About The Stanley Cup Final
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images 1. There are many theories about picking the Cup winner. The easiest to remember is this: NEVER BET AGAINST THE CHAMPS! 2. Florida's assets are innumerable. A. Size; B. Savvy; C. Coach; D. Been-There-Done-That; E. Balance; F. New Adds – Jones, Marchand; G. Bobrovsky. Advertisement 3. Florida's biggest debits: The Panthers don't have McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins. Rangers Blunder That Could Win The Cup For Edmonton Rangers Blunder That Could Win The Cup For Edmonton 1. When Chris Drury canned Gerard Gallant, the Rangers had GG's successor all lined up in Hartford. His name was – and still is – Kris Knoblauch. 4. Oil Goalkeeper Stu Skinner has lifted his game to its highest level. At age 25, he's 11 years younger than Bob. That's in Edmonton's favor in the long run. 5. Like the Oilers of 1983 – losing to the Islanders – this Edmonton team has learned from last season's playoff loss. 6. The Maven's Rule is that no NHL team can win two Cups in succession anymore. I believe that the rule will be invoked in this series. Advertisement 7. Zach Hyman will be missed on the ice but not in the minds of his teammates. The "LET'S WIN THIS ONE FOR ZACH!" will be super motivation for the challengers. 8. The Oilers defense once was Sieve Town, Alberta. GM Stan Bowman has wisely beefed up the backline enough to match the Panthers. 9. Onetime New Jersey Devils playoff hero Adam Henrique is my choice as the Edmonton "sleeper star." 10. The "Big If" for the Oil is whether or not they wilt under the heavy-hitting Champs.
