#the florida panthers still won the stanley cup

[cryinginthedeep]

matthew tkachuk - all your life, did you know, you'd be picked like a rose?

something..something...tying your skates like your dad used to but also, outgrowing the shoes you're expected to fill

[senditcolton]

honestly, one of my favorite things about being on here is seeing who’s adopting what team as the playoffs continue.

[dadvans]

no one still in the running for the stanley cup has won in over 10 years, and only one first seed team remains. reminder that the kraken just beat previous stanley cup winner, overcoming ZERO PERCENT ODDS, and wild card team florida panthers beat the presidents trophy winner that broke several league records in scoring and wins this year.

[tkachuktkaching]

Tkachuk to be full participant at start of Panthers training camp

Forward ‘feeling great’ after fracturing sternum during Stanley Cup Final

LAS VEGAS -- Matthew Tkachuk will be a full participant when the Florida Panthers begin training camp Sept. 21.

The forward said at the NHL North American Player Media Tour on Tuesday during an interview for a future episode of the "NHL @TheRink" podcast that he is healthy more than three months after sustaining a fractured sternum in the first period of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights on June 8.

"I am feeling great," Tkachuk said. "It's been a very short summer, the way I want it to be every year going forward. The worst timing for the injury, obviously, Stanley Cup Final, but in a weird way I had time after where I wasn't missing X amount of months of game action, so I had the summer to get ready. I definitely improved on some things. The injury allowed me to work on some parts of fitness and conditioning and that is in the best form right now possible, and I just improved on some strength, which was my goal."

Tkachuk returned in the third period of Game 3 and scored the tying goal with 2:13 remaining. The Panthers won 3-2 in overtime.

He said he was given permission by team doctors to play through the pain in Game 4. He skated 16:40 and had four shots on goal in a 3-2 loss that put Florida down 3-1 in the best-of-7 series. Tkachuk did not play Game 5, which Vegas won 9-3 to win the Stanley Cup.

"I think I realized I was in the most pain when we won that Game 3," Tkachuk said. "I missed a big portion of it, came back and we won it in overtime. After the game, I'm walking around and normally you have the high spirits after a win, especially in the playoffs. It doesn't matter what you're going through, you're on top of the world. And I was pumped, but I still knew that half of my body felt like it was [in pain]. I knew something wasn't right.

“I didn't know what it was at the time. We did all my tests the next day, then I came back and basically with doctor's orders was given the opportunity to do everything I could to play just one game. [I] did it. I would have done it all over again if I had the chance."

Tkachuk said he wasn't worried about long-term effects of the break in his sternum, knowing that would heal, but there were some internal issues that that led to some scary moments.

"I'll try to keep it short, but there's all the blood vessels and stuff and that was the scary part at the time and that was the most concerning part in my health at the time," Tkachuk said. "But right now, it's good."

He was able to play Game 4 despite not even being able to get out of bed without assistance from his brother, Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk.

"I'm not going to lie, that was the craziest thing I've ever kind of been a part of," Brady said Tuesday, also for a future episode of the "NHL @TheRink" podcast. "I just flew in for the game because I wanted to see a Stanley Cup Final game and he came back from the rink in the morning and just looked awful. He was like, 'I’ve got to go take a nap.' And then he calls me at 3:30 and I'm downstairs. He says, 'Can you come up here?' We were just mucking it up and then he's like, 'Alright, I need you to help me up.' I'm like, 'You're joking.' He's like, 'No, I legit can't get up. I just sneezed and I thought I died.'

“He was going through some serious pain and just to see him be able to find a way to just play in that game and have the mindset of treating this as my last game, do whatever it takes, try to get a win and put ourselves in a better position going into Game 5, I was so proud of him. The way he played, trying to work around it, not many people can do, especially at the pain level he was at."

Tkachuk finished last season tied for sixth in the NHL with 109 points (40 goals, 69 assists) in 79 games. He led the Panthers and was tied for third in the NHL in playoff scoring with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 20 games.

Florida is not expected to have defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour on the ice for the start of training camp; each has been rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery. Tkachuk said they may not be back until around Christmas.

[carnagechicken]

the Florida Panthers won the Stanley cup

and with that I have officially watched my first season of hockey.

I started as a fan of the penguins with an affection towards Flower as well. Now I’m ending the season a kraken fan, pens fan, flower fan and with more mattdrai interest than I expected.

The kraken stuff happened in mid April really suddenly, but ever since I started dabbling in hockey fandom in late 2021 I knew that becoming a kraken fan was going to happen eventually, a matter of when not if. Those beautiful jerseys, my love of cephalopods, and the team’s newness were strong draws but I still needed to have a special little guy to seal the deal. I discovered Adam Larsson in late march (thanks @angry-geno-is-score your fics* are brilliant<3) and what do you know that’s kraken hockey baby!

They’re probably going to be my main team next season. Still love the pens, their narratives are exquisite, but my brain wants kraken more.

(The mattdrai is a playoffs discovery that I fear I’ll never recover from. Leon’s disdain for the media and Matthew’s understanding that hockey is supposed to be theatre entertainment is *chef’s kiss*)

And with that here is a list, in no particular order, of some of notable things I saw this season,

: Tristan Jarry goalie goal!!! There was so much to like about this, the bench reaction, EK shaking Jars vigorously, Lars Eller going for a head boop and missing and then going for another one with more force, Ned trying to get Jars to skate over to do a fist bump line at the bench, Jars looking so bashful at the attention. :When Bryan Rust had that mustache and it was….kinda working. : Jeff Carter, the team Old Man that season, scoring like 3 breakaways and 2 short handed goals. : that shootout that went for 12 rounds (thank you Ned). : when Tanger got on all fours and started rocking back and forth in the locker room during Sully’s pre game speech (seriously wtf). : when Rusty scored in OT, had it waved off, and like ten seconds later scored again in a cooler way. : Sully becoming a grandpa<3. : when Jeff was a healthy scratch (the only time) and when he was asked about it was basically like ‘whatever, it doesn’t bother me, I just work here’. This was when I really started to like him btw. : Flower getting to 1000 games!! : Flower reaching the most wins!!! : kreider pulling out Matthew Tkachuk’s mouth guard and failing to throw it over the glass. : Florida beating Boston *again*. : that game were Sid got so pissed he screamed ‘no! No!’ at a ref so loud you could hear him over the crowd. He then proceeded to tell the ref ‘you fucked up’ :when Erik Karlsson made a mistake that sent the game to ot, scored in ot and then fell to his knees in relief. : that 10 to 2 victory over the sharks that was also Sid’s 1200 game. : sid scoring a goal off his ass. It had to happen one day : the pens ot win against vancouver back in Feb. The notable thing was that I was there with my dad and sisters <3

It's the little things that make hockey so fun!

Here's to a wonderful 24/25 season!

(*Seriously, if you haven't already, read Serenity in Those Deep Waters by @angry-geno-is-score on ao3, it's *fabulously* emotional and I can't recommend it enough)

[bongaboi]

Florida Panthers: 2024 Stanley Cup Champions

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Crisis averted. The Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup champions.

"So special," Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said. "I don't think we realize what we've just accomplished just yet. Every time I look at that trophy it'll get better and better."

Carter Verhaeghe had a goal and an assist, Sam Reinhart scored, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves for the Panthers, who defeated the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday.

The Panthers, who joined the NHL for the 1993-94 season, won their first Stanley Cup championship in their fourth chance to get it in this series. They lost the previous three games after taking a 3-0 lead and were in jeopardy of becoming the first team since 1942 to lose four straight potential clinching games in the Stanley Cup Final.

"To become a true champion you have to overcome adversity, and that was the moment you have to get together and get the job done," Bobrovsky said. "We weren't afraid to make a mistake. We played with freedom. We attacked."

Florida coach Paul Maurice finally won a Stanley Cup championship after coaching the most games in NHL history before his first title with 1,985 (1,848 in the regular season, 137 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs). He also improved to 5-0 in Game 7 for his NHL career.

Mattias Janmark scored, and Stuart Skinner made 19 saves for the Oilers. Connor McDavid, who led the NHL with 42 points (eight goals, 34 assists) in the playoffs, was held off the score sheet. So was Leon Draisaitl, who was limited to no goals and three assists in the Final.

McDavid still won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. He is the sixth player to win it while playing for the losing team and the first since goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 2003. Anaheim lost the Cup Final to the New Jersey Devils in seven games.

"It goes back the character of the group that we showed all year long," said McDavid, the Edmonton captain. "We showed all year long that we could fight back even in the most dire situations. It's obviously tough to be down three and it's tough to win four in a row against a team like that, but we were right there."

It was the first time since 1945 that a Stanley Cup Final went the distance after a team took a 3-0 lead. That season, the Detroit Red Wings won Games 4, 5 and 6 to tie the Final before losing 2-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7.

Edmonton was trying to become the first team since the 1941-42 Maple Leafs to pull off the reverse sweep, winning Games 4-7 after losing Games 1-3. It was also trying to become the first Canada-based team to win the Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.

But the Panthers responded after being outscored 18-5 in Games 4-6 to stop the Oilers from making history in Game 7.

"It's tough to put into words right now," Draisaitl said. "You’re one period, one shot away from maybe winning the thing and now you have to go through 82 regular-season games and play well enough to get another kick at it. It's hard right now."

Bobrovsky, who allowed 12 goals on 58 shots in the three previous games (5.06 goals-against average, .793 save percentage), made five saves in the first period, nine in the second and nine more in the third.

He said getting away from the rink Sunday and not skating in the Panthers' practice allowed him to reset and refocus for Game 7.

"I was trying to cut off everything outside of myself, to just settle down, relax and focus on one shot at a time," Bobrovsky said. "I think it was a great moment that I didn't skate yesterday. The goalie coach came up with the idea to just have a rest, go away. I went home and played with my daughter. She's my motivation. She's my inspiration. Just relax, reset, come this morning for the morning skate ready to go."

The Panthers scored the first goal for the first time since Game 3.

They never trailed.

"They played with freedom and that's what I'm going to remember from this game," Maurice said. "The story gets written differently if we don't win, but under the most pressure they found the courage to play with some freedom, to make plays, to move the puck.

"They get to say, 'In Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, I was at my best.'"

Verhaeghe gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead at 4:27 of the first period, six seconds after their first power play of the game expired.

He played the puck from behind the net to Evan Rodrigues along the left wall, and Rodrigues whipped a shot from there to the net. It looked like it was going wide right, but Verhaeghe got his stick on it in front, deflecting it down and through Skinner's legs.

It was Verhaeghe's first goal since Game 1 and the first time the Panthers led since Game 3.

"The last couple games they scored so many goals off the hop, and to play with the lead, it felt good," Verhaeghe said.

The Oilers got the goal back quickly with Janmark scoring on a breakaway to make it 1-1 at 6:44.

"I thought they were the better team in the first period," Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said. "I thought they came out with a little more urgency and won a lot of puck races. I thought we defended well. I thought in the second and the third period, I thought we found our game, I thought we played well, but couldn't capitalize on our opportunities."

Instead, it was Reinhart giving Florida a 2-1 lead at 15:11 of the second period, scoring with a low, short-side shot from inside the right face-off circle.

Florida defenseman Dmitry Kulikov cleared the puck away from the Panthers crease before he fell into the net. The puck went to Verhaeghe, who moved it up to Reinhart.

Reinhart was looking for a pass as he went through the neutral zone and across the blue line, but eventually chose to shoot, and the puck squeezed through Skinner to give Florida its second lead of the game.

"You're hoping that's it, right?" Reinhart said. "I mean, there was a lot of work to do, a lot of game left, but absolutely I'm hoping that's the one."

Bobrovsky said from there he treated the rest of the game like it was overtime.

"I wasn't happy when they scored [on] a breakaway because we had a good lead," he said, "but Sam scores the second goal and I was thinking it's better to not let that go."

McDavid and Zach Hyman each had a look at what was an open net for the Oilers with just over seven minutes left in the third period, but neither could get enough of the puck.

Sam Bennett and Brandon Montour dove into the crease to help Bobrovsky keep the puck out of the net on Hyman's attempt, preserving Florida's lead at 12:56.

Skinner went to the bench for the extra skater with 1:10 left, but the Oilers couldn't get another shot attempt.

"We really believed we were going to get one," McDavid said. "I have that one in front, Zach has a whack at it, 'Bouch' (Evan Bouchard) has got all kinds of looks. We had a lot of looks, it just didn’t go."

The Panthers froze the puck in the corner for the last six seconds to win the Stanley Cup.

"The last three games before you're hoping," Reinhart said. "You're hoping you're in it and you have a chance at the end. That's a dangerous spot to be in against a team like that and it showed. That hope went away tonight, and we were able to find our game. It showed."

[naanima]

One of the interesting things about reading and listening to so much hockey media stuff is that there's a HIGH chance of them being WRONG about teams & players, or just being wrong. A list of things that I remember the hockey specialists have been wrong about in the past year or two.

Matthew Tkachuk trade & the Panthers' narrative - ALMOST everyone said it was a bad trade for Florida, that Calgary won. That they shouldn't have given up Huberdeau et al. That Tkachuk was only good bcos of the line he was playing on during his time in Calgary. Now - face of a franchise, team darling, came back from a broken sternum & now killing it now.

The Panthers are bad, they are done for, they are a wildcard, they will get swept by Boston etc 22-23. Stanley Cup Finalist 22-23, top ranking team 23-24, one of the Cup favs. And the Flames. Yeah.

The Oilers at the beginning of this season - THEY ARE DEAD, THEY ARE DONE ETC. Now - STANLEY CUP CONTENDERS!

The Flyers are gonna tank! Flyers are in a playoff spot (23-24), whether they keep it or not is another question. BUT NO one thought they would be as high as they are now.

Boston is gonna be bad in 22-23, Boston highest regular season performances 22-23. Losing their captain and some top players will mean they will slide substantially backwards. STILL one of the TOP teams 23-24.

The Devils are not ready yet 22-23, makes it to the second round of the playoffs. The Devils are HERE 23-24! Fighting for a wildcard position that's not looking too hot.

The Canucks are not great 22-23, they have so many problems. Here's hoping they make minor improvements in 23-24. The Canucks top 3 teams of the fucking league 23-24.

The Ducks are going to be a much better team! The Ducks are NOT a better team oh gods.

The Sharks will tank! OMFG the Sharks are so MUCH WORSE than tanking.

The Sens are gonna be a STANLEY CUP CONTENDING TEAM, a playoffs team at least! The Sens are not either of those things.

Duchene is bad news, a locker room cancer! Duchene fucking lighting it up in Dallas! Providing that spark for Seguin & Marchment!

Buffalo Sabres have arrived! Buffalo Sabres have NOT arrived, they have missed their appointment by years.

Red Wings - the rebuild is over! ... The rebuild is what it is.

The Blackhawks will be bad but they got Bedard and some support they will be ok-bad! The Blackhawks are the first mathematically team to be locked out of the playoffs.

The Pens will be a middling team! The Pens are shit. They are dead, there's no future for them etc etc (as a Pens fan I'm delusional in thinking we are gonna WIN the 24-25 Cup).

I feel like this is sort of the tip of the iceberg. Yeah, the hockey media gets a lot of things right. But OMFG the IMPORTANT things they fucking get wrong every season is insane. ALL the teams I mentioned could potentially have a reversal the next season. Bcos hockey is a weird and unpredictable sport a lot of the time!

When unexpected things happen hockey media try and push it into a nice thematically appealing narrative when the story shifts on them. We are all guilty of this.

For all the depressed hockey fans out there, just remember, you NEVER know, your team/player could suddenly become the story that the hockey world gets wrong!

[andrebearakovsky]

If each of the remaining playoff teams won the Cup this year, ranked by how fun it would be (for me personally)

1. Florida Panthers

I want this so bad. I adore Sasha Barkov (and Vladi Tarasenko) and I think this is a really, really good team that I would love to see win. They were so, so close last year, and I want to see them do it. I want the rat team to win their first ever Cup. And plus, could you imagine the cunty energy Matthew Tkachuk would have if he got to parade around with the Stanley Cup? Unmatched.

2. Vancouver Canucks

If the Cup goes back to Canada, I want it to be to this team. The turnaround this year was amazing, they’ve got great energy, and I’d like to see that core group win it together. And based on what happened in 2011, if they finally won their first ever Cup I think the city of Vancouver might actually go feral and tear itself apart. Plus, I need Quinn to win the Cup before Jack and Luke do for oldest sibling rights.

3. Nashville Predators

The team no one thought could do it making a gritty push and winning it all would be a great story. And it would be nice to see like Josi and Forsberg win it after coming so close a couple years ago. And the party in Nashville would be epic. And I think they’d be legally obligated to both A) go to the sphere and B) get U2 to perform at like the Cup parade if they win it.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs

While I am not necessarily rooting for them, seeing them finally break that curse would be something historic to see. They have NO Cups since the original expansion, and all the other original 6 teams have won at least one since then, so they have the longest current Cup drought despite technically having a lot of Cups. And if they’re gonna do it, they NEED to slay their personal demon (Bruins) along the way to get it done. I’m not sure if they’re strong enough, but if they can actually come back and win this round maybe that’ll give them the power to get it done. We’ll see.

5. Dallas Stars

I don’t really like this team, but they’re less annoying to me then they used to be and a good chunk of them have been there for a long time so that would be nice for them.

Okay actually I’m gonna stop lying to myself, I just want it for Joe Pavelski. I might cry if he won it tbh. But in that situation I would be rooting for Joe Pavelski and Joe Pavelski only.

6. Edmonton Oilers

While maybe it would be nice to see McDavid win it someday, I think he needs to suffer a little bit longer. MY team was halfway in the grave when they finally won it, so I think he should be too. It’s not time yet. Also this team is fucking annoying, the fan base can be fucking annoying, and the goal horn is anxiety-inducing. And you guys have like a bunch of Cups from the 80s so like. Shut up.

7. Colorado Avalanche

While not the worst of the options, it would not be the outcome I want. It’s been too soon since the last one I would just be annoyed. So many of them are still there. And they don’t even have Gabe this time, so what’s the point? They’re the only one remaining without their captain playing, and I don’t think it would be right.

8. Boston Bruins

While this is an entirely different group of Bruins from the last time they won, and while it would be cool to see Pasta win and Marchand to lift it as captain, my general hatred of Bruins and Boston sports does NOT want this to happen.

9. Carolina Hurricanes

They have a few things going for them: 1) Having the captain who won their first Cup as a player win their second Cup as the head coach would be super cool, and seeing Rod win as a coach would be cool. 2) I love Sebastian Aho and the former Caps they’ve got. But they’ve got some of the worst humans on their roster (DeAngelo and Lemieux) and they are incredibly fucking annoying, and the cons greatly outweigh the pros, so it’s a no from me dawg.

10. Vegas Golden Knights

You guys JUST fucking won it. I have exactly zero “oh it would be nice to see them win” feelings for anyone on this team. And you’re really damn annoying and I’m tired of you go away.

11. New York Rangers

I just really really really fucking hate this team, fuck you 🖕

[rjm773]

During Game 7 of this year’s Stanley Cup Final, I went around the corner to a burger and beer place that I knew had alternatives for both: a necessity for a wheat (a what?) a wheat (a what?) a wheat intolerance (oh no!) BUT not an allergy (okay, that’s good).

I met a technician about my age - a Patrick, actually, who lives a block north from me - whom I don’t think was all the way up on the game, hockey or otherwise, but he seemed to enjoy having had to move from Philadelphia to New York as a blue collar guy.

I also met a university professor of some stripe; I would assume Columbia or CCNY, but he didn’t say where he taught. He kept complimenting me on various counterpoints I brought up; I’m sure whatever I think is a righteous way to approach things will be obsolete soon enough if it isn’t already, but I wasn’t all the way here for his repeated mentions of

To wit: I thought it telling that older, alleged professor gentleman at the bar (TV’s still out at home) that his self-proclaimed large nose was not enough for Dolly Parton to have propositioned him at some hotel in LA in 1975.

After bragging about his Hollywood contacts for half an hour while talking about how much he didn’t know hockey anymore, he went on a diatribe about how much he hates it. No doubt! And yet: to proclaim Chicago White Sox fandom in order to get that baseball game on the TV over GAME 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals? That’s for another day, friend. Take a look at my life: I’m a lot like you, but not enough to cede to horrid affairs such as yours.

Anyway, you know what happened. The (fully vegan, courtesy of a current stomach situation) burger was great, and the Florida Panthers won a Cup. Here’s to a half-decade of teams that will soon be under water!

Bitter? No. Harsh, maybe. Butter! Smooth. LGR.

[blusical]

honestly anyone who's still complaining that mcdavid won the conn smythe instead of a florida panther needs to remember that the conn smythe is awarded to the Playoffs MVP. Playoffs. Not the Stanley Cup Finals Winner MVP. Not the Best Player on the Cup Winning Team MVP. The Playoffs MVP.

[imperatorrrrr]

mayhaps, you're wondering, "hey T, who are you rooting for in the 'yoffs anyhow?"

well...

Carolina Hurricanes v. New York Islanders - New York Islanders. They are an acceptable Metro team, and we can all agree the Rags suck, which is a massive plus point in my eyes. And I mean, why in the world would I ever root for the Canes. I'm a Devils fan, let's be serious for a moment.

Boston Bruins v. Toronto Maple Leafs - Boston Bruins. Look, the Bruins are in my top three most hated teams, and the Leafs are in the following tier. To me the Leafs are just Canada's Yankees. AM34 is just another Derek Jeter variant. If it wasn't made clear, I am a Mets fan, and I've been a Mets fan longer than I've been a Devils fan and I've been a Devils fan for over two decades. You'd think given that logic, I'd choose the team I hated less, which would be the Leafs, but nope. I mean, I want to pick neither. I would rather pick neither. Don't ask me to explain my brain. It is what it is.

Florida Panthers v. Tampa Bay Lightning - Florida Panthers. This is almost purely because I've been Catspilled by the Discord. Do you understand how much I viscerally disliked the Panthers up until mere months ago. I still don't actually like them, but I wouldn't be upset if they won, so there. Sigh. Thanks, I hate it. Another match up where I'd rather have neither. Another matchup of hated teams.

New York Rangers v. Washington Capitals - Washington Capitals. For one series only, I am a Caps believer. When I tell you, I dislike the Caps so heavily, so so so deeply. Its so historic. But you know what team I hate the most ever because they're cops...the Rags. So this is actually so incredibly straightforward. Anyone but the Rags is the policy here on imperatorrrrr dot tumblr dot com. The East is mostly just unwatchable for me and mostly just filled with matchups of teams I hate.

Winnipeg Jets v. Colorado Avalanche - Colorado Avalanche. This is easy. Fuck the Jets. I like the Avs.

Vancouver Canucks v. Nashville Predators - Vancouver Canucks. This is the team I am rooting for to go all the way. This is the team I have transferred all of my Devils emotions onto. This is the team that I have chosen. Fun fact tho! I actually wouldn't be entirely mad about the Preds making it either, but the Nuckies are my playoff team. They're also like my third favorite team, so.

Dallas Stars v. Vegas Golden Knights - Dallas Stars. Like I think I'm in the pipeline to become a full fledged Stars fan, but I'm not completely there yet, ya feel? In the meantime tho, definitely rooting for them against Vegas. Here's the thing, fuck Vegas right. Like fuck 'em. Here's policy numero dos here on imperatorrrrr dot tumblr dot come: anyone but the Knights.

Edmonton Oilers v. Los Angeles Kings - Los Angeles Kings. Another lesser of two evils situation here. Kings dislike is historic as in 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs historic right. Oilers hatred is more visceral? More of the moment? I'm softening on my Kings historic dislike. I mean look at me, I'm rooting for the Avs. Do you understand that any Devils fan worth their salt in the early 2000s absolutely did not like the Avs? And look at me now! So yeah, this is mostly I don't want the Oils to win, so the Kings it is! Oh, here's a west coast matchup of hated teams. Some variety in the mix!

there you have it folks! a rooting summary for Round One for those interested!

[5gdiginews]

Stanley Cup Final: How to Watch Panthers vs. Oilers Game 6 Tonight

2024 Stanley Cup Finals After the Edmonton Oilers won their second game in a row against the Florida Panthers, it’s back to Alberta tonight for Game 6. The Cats still lead the series 3-2 and are looking to win their third in a row. Puck drop from Rogers Place is scheduled for 8pm ET. Watch Game 6 on Sling TV The Oilers beat the Panthers 5-3 at Amerant Bank Arena to force a Game 6. Connor McDavid…

[thenhlteaissuperhot]

Who do you think will win the cup this year?

These playoffs, it's genuinely hard to surely predict anything. I believe in Carolina, they have a lot of (still considerably) young talented guys who deserve to win the Cup, but then, you never know these days, especially when you play a series with the Panthers.

I have never been and probably never be a fan of Vegas, so if they end up winning, it will be a meh result for me, since I am a primarily Bruins fan, you can probably imagine that Florida right now also isn't my personal favorite, though I would definitely applaud them for being a wild card to Stanley Cup winners, and Dallas is a team, I wouldn't be mad if they won, but once again, no special connection to them - perhaps only seeing Seguin and Been win it would be a temporary heart-warming experience.

[atlanticcanada]

'A long time to wait': Maritime Leafs' fans have Stanley Cup dreams after playoff series win

When John Tavares scored in overtime to eliminate the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday night and clinch the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first playoff series win since 2004, it was a moment for fans nearly 20 years in the making.

"19 years just to see that one round," said Leafs super-fan Donnie Rideout of Glace Bay, N.S. "That's a long time to wait.”

He's been a life-long Leafs fanatic.

Inside his home, he has a “fan cave” to prove it.

Rideout was 11 years old when the team last won it all -- in 1967.

"It meant the Stanley Cup, and watching my idol Dave Keon hold that. I still remember it now,” Rideout said.

"It just proves the old theory in life that just because you win in the regular season, doesn't mean you're going to win in the playoffs,” said Nicky Bonnar, Rideout’s neighbour across the street.

Look no further than Bonnar’s Boston Bruins, who after a record-setting regular season are out following a stunning first-round loss to the Florida Panthers.

"It's pretty wide open,” Bonnar said. “I guess if you were a wishing man you would like to see Toronto playing Edmonton — all-Canadian. I don't really care one way or the other."

It's been 30 years since a Canadian team lifted Lord Stanley — when the 1993 Montreal Canadiens defeated the Los Angeles Kings to win that year’s Cup.

With the Bruins and defending champion Colorado Avalanche eliminated, some are already wondering whether the Leafs — or Edmonton Oilers — can break the Canadian curse.

"I think that's the year Patrick Roy won ten games in overtime,” Bonnar said. “If that's the case, there's no Patrick Roy's left in this one."

The Leafs can't look too far ahead.

The team’s second round was set to start Tuesday night against the same Panthers team that beat the Bruins.

Still, diehard fans like Rideout can't help but hope.

"To know all these people that have never, ever seen a cup all these years and have been rooting for Toronto all these years — it would be unreal to see it,” Rideout said.

With the 2023 cup now truly up for grabs, maybe this is the year Toronto finally holds that parade.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/K9ZyIOe

[welllpthisishappening]

Hey, question! Are you rooting for any team to get the cup? Or do you hate them all? And if you want them all to lose have you got any reason why? Or a list why you want ‘em to win? Or you aren’t really paying that much attention cause since your team’s not there you can’t be bother to care?

Hello there, anon! I constantly have thoughts about hockey, and now have roof-top access where we live, so basically I've just been watching hockey games outside for the better part of the last week, or so. With that in mind, I a b s o l u t e l y have a list of who I want to win, mostly in order. Remember, you asked for this:

Colorado Avalanche

This is my friend Gabe. That's literally my tag for him. He just had a kid who is now the perfect size to sit in the Stanley Cup. So I'm going to need that to happen. Also, everyone on the Avs is pretty fun. I'm starting to have feelings for Tyson Jost despite being super annoyed with the pronunciation of his last name.

Carolina Hurricanes

LOOK AT THIS! LOOK! AT! IT! Hockey boys are so dumb! Pure chaos! He just yells at his teammate! As part of the pregame routine! Also, Brady Skjei is still really good looking. So.

Boston Bruins

I like David Pastrnak. That's it. That's literally the only reason.

Florida Panthers

Oh, mama don't you cry! USA hockey is do or die! The Panthers are absolutely not going to beat the Lightning, but Spencer Knight stood on his HEAD last night and also he's got a good name for headline puns.

Minnesota Wild

Those aren't boos, Joe! It's just my love for Mats Zuccarello transcending hockey franchises. I hope Zucc is happy.

Winnipeg Jets

Sometimes I forget how young Pierre Luc Dubois actually is and I feel like a creep, but then I notice how wide the circumference of his biceps is and I forget how young Pierre Luc Dubois is again.

Nashville Predators

Roman Josi is not as young as Pierre Luc Dubois. He's also very good looking. Like it's ridiculous how good looking Roman Josi is. We don't talk about it enough. Sorry, Devon.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Here for Ryan McDonagh and Ryan McDonagh ONLY

Las Vegas Golden Knights

insert shrug emoji here. I don't know, whatever. I think we'd get robbed a Vegas-level celebration if they won this year.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Mitch Marner is the only person on this team I can semi-stand and that's mostly because he kind of looks like a bro'y asshole and that's really my not-so-secret type.

Montreal Canadiens

STOP. TALKING. ABOUT. CAREY. PRICE. I. HATE. HIM.

Pittsburgh Penguins

I wrote a nearly 400,000 word story where the Penguins were one of the main villains. So, that should say a lot about me.

New York Islanders

I've had enough of Mat Barzal, quite frankly. He's only got one t in his name. That's weird, guys.