Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
In a heartbreaking loss, the Edmonton Oilers bid to end one of the best results in sports history fell one win short.
On Monday night in Sunrise, Fla., the Florida Panthers beat the Oilers 2-1 to claim the 2024 Stanley Cup Championship.
The Panthers took the lead 4:27 into the game.
Shortly after failing to convert on a power play, Carter Verhaeghe deflected a shot past goalkeeper Stuart Skinner.
The Oilers answered just over two minutes later. Cody Ceci sent a stretch pass to Mattias Janmark, who went in alone and beat the side of blocker Sergei Bobrovsky for his fourth of the playoffs.
Panthers center Sam Reinhart scored the only goal of the second period to pull Florida ahead. His shot from the right wing beat Skinner’s short side, with 4:49 to go in the frame.
The Oilers had a couple of chances with seven minutes left in the third.
Edmonton Oiler Zach Hyman looks on as his teammates react after their 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game Seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024.
Elsa/Getty Images
Evan Bouchard released a one-time loanee but Bobrovsky moved to his right to make the save. With Bobrovsky down, Zach Hyman got a poke at the puck but couldn’t muscle it home. With three minutes to go, Connor McDavid sent a deflected effort just over the net.
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The Oilers couldn’t muster a chance after removing Skinner for an extra attacker. Bobrovsky finished with 23 saves. Skinner made 19.
Connor McDavid won the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player in the playoffs.
He had 42 points in the postseason, the fourth most of all time. McDavid is the first player from a losing team to win the Conn Smythe since 2003.
Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) drops Florida Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen (27) against the boards as he turns with the puck during second period Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Sunrise, Fla., Monday, June 24, 2024.
Nathan Denette/ Canadian Press
The Oilers had forced a seventh game after trailing 3-0 in the series – just the tenth time in NHL history that a best-of-seven has gone the distance after one team went up 3-0 .
Four teams have completed the playoffs and the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs remain the only team to reach the final.
This is the Panthers first Stanley Cup title. The Oilers were seeking their sixth and first since 1990. The 1993 Montreal Canadiens remain the last Canadian team to win the Cup.
The Oilers were no strangers to rallying from deep this season. They started the regular season with just two wins in their first 12 games. They improved to 3-9-1 with a win over Seattle
November 11, but that wasn’t enough to save head coach Jay Woodcroft’s job. He was fired the next day and replaced by Kris Knoblauch.
Under Knoblauch, the Oilers posted a 16-game winning streak between December 21 and January 27.
To reach the Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers eliminated Los Angeles in five games, Vancouver in seven, and Dallas in six. They trailed 2-1 against Vancouver and Dallas.
This was the Oilers first appearance in the Finals since 2006. They lost that series in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes.
— This is a breaking news story. More to come…
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(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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