The NHL’s biggest showdown is about to get personal, as the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers gear up for a Stanley Cup Final rematch that’s been 12 months in the making.
This isn’t just another playoff series. It’s a chance for Connor McDavid and the Oilers to settle an old score after last year’s heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Panthers, when they nearly pulled off an incredible comeback from being down 3-0.
"It’s not very often do you see a rematch in pro sports in the Final," Matthew Tkachuk of the Panthers said on The Pat McAfee Show. "I think that it’s the two best teams in the league. And, to be honest, I think it’s pretty clear that we’re the two best."
History shows these revenge stories can have happy endings. Just ask Wayne Gretzky or Sidney Crosby.
Back in 1983, Gretzky’s Oilers got swept by the New York Islanders in their first Cup Final appearance. The next year? They turned the tables and beat those same Islanders to claim their first championship.
Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins wrote a similar story. After falling to Detroit in the 2008 Final, they came back the very next year to beat the Red Wings in seven games.
The Oilers have been absolutely dominant this postseason. After dropping their first two games to LA, they’ve gone on an incredible 12-2 run through the Western Conference.
"Going 12-2 is incredible in the regular season. It’s almost unheard of in the playoffs," Tkachuk admitted. "They’re playing the best hockey of the year so far for them."
Both teams finished third in their divisions this season – Edmonton at 48-29-5 and Florida at 47-31-4. Those three extra points mean the Oilers get home ice advantage this time around.
Game 1 kicks off Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET in Edmonton, with Game 2 following on Friday. For the Oilers, who had to climb out of that 3-0 hole last year, getting off to a strong start could make all the difference.
The Panthers aren’t backing down though. As Tkachuk put it: "We’re gonna take that underdog mindset and mentality and go up there and try to do what we did last year."
