Why these Oilers are better suited for Stanley Cup Final vs. Panthers
The stock line goes something like, ‘These aren’t your grandfather’s Edmonton Oilers.’ But really, this Oilers team isn’t nearly the same as the one that played Florida in the Stanley Cup Final a year ago. So, what makes Edmonton better this time around? Mark Spector takes a look.
admin
EDMONTON — Oilers Hockey.
Up here in Northern Alberta, where the forest fires burn and you can find your tee ball in the fairway until about 11 p.m. these days, there has always been a certain connotation associated with the local side.
Was it because Glen Sather built the original National Hockey League expansion entry on a blueprint of the World Hockey Association Winnipeg Jets, with their heavy Swedish/Finnish influence? Or is it that Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have, over the years, stocked the national sports broadcasts with a certain pedigree of highlight?
Either way, McDavid wants you to know, these next two weeks might not bring you quite what you expect.
“We’re a different team than we have been in years past,” the Oilers captain said recently. “Probably not as run-and-gun as we’ve been in years past, (or) as entertaining to watch for the folks at home. We can play defence. The forwards are coming back really hard, everyone’s selling out blocking shots that time of year. That’s what it takes.
“When we defend and everyone’s bought in like that, we know we’re going to find enough offence somewhere.”
-
-
Watch the Stanley Cup Final on Sportsnet
With the Stanley Cup within reach, the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers are set to battle once again for hockey’s ultimate prize. Watch every game of the Final on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
McDavid and Draisaitl long ago had their “Yzerman Moment,” and have been solid defensive players who know what it takes to win.
But now management has built a team around those two that can play it whatever way Florida wants, and that’s something new.
Starting with a guy like Evander Kane.
He wasn’t a factor in this series last year, unable even to sit down on the bench his abdominal muscles were so messed up. This year, he’ll be whispering in Matthew Tkachuk’s ear beginning Wednesday, the same way Kane did when Edmonton fleeced Calgary in a Round 2 series in 2022.
“I think the way we’ve been looked at by a lot of people outside the room is, we’re this offensive team. We’ve started to change that narrative,” Kane said. “Obviously, we can score goals and we’re a great offensive team. But we can also lock things down. We can be hard to play against in the in the D zone. We can play a physical brand of hockey. We can play an in-your-face brand of hockey.
“Whatever game you want, we can give you.”
/* if ( "1" == true && 'undefined' !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) { var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}}; adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6373795818112&cmsid=384', so, permalink); } else { adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6373795818112&cmsid=384"; } */ adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6373795818112&cmsid=384"; /* var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes("cust_params"); var queryString=''; if(adServerUrl_result){ var gettheDUFI = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem("theRED_loc");
if(gettheDUFI){ queryString += "dufiid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; queryString += "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; var ppid = "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; }
var DUFI_IP = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem("DUFI_IP");
if(DUFI_IP){ queryString += "dufiip=" + DUFI_IP + '&'; }
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + 'cust_params=' + encodeURIComponent(queryString) ); } */
$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );
$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-283824" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6373795818112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", adserverurl: adServerUrl, section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/6373795818112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/oilers-kane-pumped-to-feel-healthy-and-get-another-crack-at-florida/" }); });
The things that don’t make Sportsnet Central are the things that beat teams like Florida, like posting shutouts in three of four playoff games, or allowing the Dallas Stars to score five goals in the final four games of their Western Conference Final series.
The stock line goes something like, ‘These aren’t your grandfather’s Edmonton Oilers.’ But really, this Oilers team isn’t nearly the same as the one that played Florida in the Stanley Cup Final a year ago.
“The makeup of the team is a bit different this year than it was last year,” said Mattias Ekholm. “I feel like we’re more experienced, and not a lot of guys had been (this) far in the playoffs before. So just to have that and to be calm with that — a little more experienced feeling around the locker room…
“It was exciting to beat Dallas, but it wasn’t ecstatic. Everybody is still in a position where we know we’ve got more work to do.”
So, what makes Edmonton better this time around — even with the loss of Zach Hyman?
/* if ( "1" == true && 'undefined' !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) { var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}}; adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6373765149112&cmsid=384', so, permalink); } else { adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6373765149112&cmsid=384"; } */ adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6373765149112&cmsid=384"; /* var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes("cust_params"); var queryString=''; if(adServerUrl_result){ var gettheDUFI = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem("theRED_loc");
if(gettheDUFI){ queryString += "dufiid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; queryString += "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; var ppid = "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; }
var DUFI_IP = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem("DUFI_IP");
if(DUFI_IP){ queryString += "dufiip=" + DUFI_IP + '&'; }
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + 'cust_params=' + encodeURIComponent(queryString) ); } */
$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );
$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-138938" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6373765149112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", adserverurl: adServerUrl, section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/6373765149112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/why-oilers-are-destined-to-end-canadas-stanley-cup-drought/" }); });
First off, this series opens in Edmonton, where the Oilers are 6-1 this spring. They average 4.71 goals per game in front of this incredibly loud and decorated crowd, losing their only game all spring when Leon Draisaitl put a puck into his own net with 0.4 seconds to play against Vegas.
(We know, Florida is 8-2 on the road and scores 4.8 goals per night. But Rogers Place is a whole different enchilada than Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, folks.)
On the blue line, when’s the last time the Oilers faced a playoff opponent who didn’t get the check mark when it came to defence corps?
Today, the eternal question mark sees Darnell Nurse playing the best hockey of his life, Evan Bouchard playing like a legit No. 1, Ekholm rested and back in the lineup, and a third pairing of Jake Walman and a rejuvenated John Klingberg that is better than the second pairing in perhaps 15 NHL cities.
Nurse is a true upgrade, playing a hard, physical game without the puck while using his legs and puck skills when he gets it. He’s been an absolute stud, playing against the opponent’s best forwards every night this spring.
“There’s a sense of calm within our group, having gone through this scenario last year,” said Nurse. “That said, we’re playing a team that this is their third time in a row doing it, so they’re going to have that sense as well.”
/* if ( "1" == true && 'undefined' !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) { var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}}; adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6373685342112&cmsid=384', so, permalink); } else { adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6373685342112&cmsid=384"; } */ adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6373685342112&cmsid=384"; /* var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes("cust_params"); var queryString=''; if(adServerUrl_result){ var gettheDUFI = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem("theRED_loc");
if(gettheDUFI){ queryString += "dufiid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; queryString += "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; var ppid = "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; }
var DUFI_IP = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem("DUFI_IP");
if(DUFI_IP){ queryString += "dufiip=" + DUFI_IP + '&'; }
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + 'cust_params=' + encodeURIComponent(queryString) ); } */
$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );
$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-514752" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6373685342112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", adserverurl: adServerUrl, section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/6373685342112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/what-should-fans-expect-from-upcoming-stanley-cup-final-rematch/" }); });
There is a balance to be struck when playing Florida.
You’ve got to match their after-the-whistle game and physically win the net front battle, or you’re dead. But if you let them, Tkachuk, Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett will drag you under like a crocodile, and now you’re playing in their element, on their terms, and you’ve lost your own game completely.
“There’s an element of physicality that we’re going to have to bring, an element of heightened competitiveness,” Nurse said. “But we don’t want to get away from the things that have made us successful through our lineup.
“Our team is adaptable, and throughout the playoffs, we’ve shown we can play all different types of ways.”
They play different ways, but with a 12-2 record since Game 3 of Round 1, an Oilers game tends to end the same way.
Now, we’ll see how the Panthers are going to change that.
