Introduction to the Stanley Cup Final Rematch
A year ago when the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers met in the Stanley Cup Final, they were polar opposites in everything from climate, market, and franchise history to deep-run experience and toughness. Since Florida won that series in seven games for its first championship, much has changed to make these opponents much more alike.
Changes in the Teams
The Panthers have added talent and skill, and the Oilers have gotten older and become harder to play against. Those changes set the stage for an compelling rematch. Game 1 is Wednesday night in Edmonton. “These are the two nastiest teams left,” 2003 Cup winner Mike Rupp said. “They don’t seem to get rattled, they play with a lot of intensity — sometimes they cross the line. They just defend well. There’s a lot of things that they’re different than one another about, but at the core of it, they’re pretty similar to each other.”
Comparing the Two Teams
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl haven’t gone anywhere, but they’ve also been through the heartbreak of forcing Game 7 against the Panthers and falling short of the goal they’ve been hunting over the past decade together. With Trent Frederic, Jeff Skinner, John Klingberg, and Jake Walman, the Oilers are bigger and more seasoned for this. “They’re meaner,” said retired defenseman Jason Demers, who like Rupp is now an NHL Network analyst. “They have a little bite to their game — a lot more bite than last year where they were a little bit more speedy.”
The Ongoing Evolution of the Panthers
Florida can be speedy, opportunistic, and dangerous — and has been over the past few postseasons — winning 10 of 11 series since coach Paul Maurice took over and winger Matthew Tkachuk arrived after a trade from Calgary. The Panthers are in the final for a third consecutive year, losing to Vegas in 2023 only after Tkachuk, defenseman Aaron Ekblad, and others were banged up to the point that they had nothing left in the tank. They were the underdog back then. With one successful Cup run complete and with Seth Jones and Brad Marchand added to the core led by Tkachuk and captain Aleksander Barkov, they now look unstoppable.
The Physical Aspect of the Game
It also could be physical. The Oilers lost hard-nosed winger Zach Hyman to a long-term injury late in the series against the Stars, but they are more prepared now to play the rough-and-tumble style Florida has won with. The fact that it’s a rematch in the final — the NHL’s first since Pittsburgh beat Detroit in the second of their back-to-backs in 2009 — only spices things up. There have only been four rematches in the Final since 1968. “I don’t think there’ll be any weeding out or wading into that series,” Demers said. “I think it’s going to be gun shot, explosions right off the bat.”
Lessons Learned from Previous Encounters
Going down two games to none last year led to McDavid’s profanity-laced outburst in the locker room, a moment caught on cameras that wasn’t quite enough to turn around the series. The memory of going down 3-0, clawing back to cross the continent again for a Game 7 and not winning is still fresh in his mind. The Oilers have been through that trip to the final and feel the pain now, something the Panthers endured before winning. Now it’s time to see if they learn the same lesson and change the result. “Edmonton now, I think they needed to experience last year to get to where they’re at now and they’re kind of unflappable,” Rupp said. “I think that’s a weapon for them.”
Conclusion
The stage is set for a thrilling rematch between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final. Both teams have evolved significantly since their last meeting, with the Panthers adding talent and the Oilers becoming more seasoned and physically imposing. The series promises to be intense and physical, with both teams looking to capitalize on their strengths and the lessons learned from their previous encounter.
FAQs
- Q: When is the rematch between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers?
- A: The rematch starts with Game 1 on Wednesday night in Edmonton.
- Q: What has changed about the Edmonton Oilers since last year’s Stanley Cup Final?
- A: The Oilers have added players like Trent Frederic, Jeff Skinner, John Klingberg, and Jake Walman, making them bigger and more seasoned.
- Q: How have the Florida Panthers evolved since their championship win?
- A: The Panthers have added talent and skill, with players like Seth Jones and Brad Marchand joining their core, making them look unstoppable.
- Q: What can be expected from the series in terms of physicality?
- A: The series is expected to be physical, with both teams capable of playing a rough-and-tumble style.
- Q: Is this the first Stanley Cup Final rematch in recent history?
- A: Yes, it’s the NHL’s first rematch in the Final since Pittsburgh beat Detroit in the second of their back-to-backs in 2009.
