Oilers vs Panthers: Stanley Cup Rematch Sets On Wednesday/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Edmonton Oilers are back in the Stanley Cup Final for a second straight year, again facing the Florida Panthers. Led by Connor McDavid, Edmonton believes this postseason feels steadier and more focused. With balanced scoring, strong goaltending, and playoff maturity, the Oilers are chasing long-awaited redemption.
Oilers’ Cup Rematch Quest: Quick Looks
- Edmonton reaches Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row.
- Face Florida Panthers again after last year’s Game 7 defeat.
- Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl lead team with combined 51 playoff points.
- Oilers swept through playoffs with first-attempt series clinchers.
- Game 1 of the Final is Wednesday night in Edmonton.
- Team shows more maturity, balance, and consistency than last year.
- Corey Perry, age 40, scores 7 goals — most ever for a player over 39.
- Goaltending tandem of Skinner and Pickard have each tallied six playoff wins.
- Coach Knoblauch: “We spent seven months getting ready for this run.”
Deep Look: McDavid, Oilers Get Another Shot at Stanley Cup Glory Against Panthers
DALLAS — For Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, this Stanley Cup Final feels different — more measured, more mature, and more like a team destined to finish what it started.
Edmonton has officially earned its second straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, setting up a rematch with the Florida Panthers, who bested them in a tight seven-game series just last season. The Oilers punched their ticket after a dominant 6-3 win over the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final on Thursday.
“This run has felt different than last year. It’s felt very normal — steady,” said team captain McDavid, who has racked up 26 points (6 goals) this postseason. “We’re not drained. We’ve got as good a chance as they do.”
Redemption on the Line
The Oilers fell heartbreakingly short last June, pushing Florida to Game 7 before the Panthers claimed their first-ever Cup. The experience left a mark — one that has fueled Edmonton’s focus all season.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch said the team has been preparing for this opportunity since the final horn last year.
“We spent seven months getting ready for this playoff run,” Knoblauch said. “A long, tough summer, a grinding regular season — it was all about punching our card for this moment.”
The Panthers, now appearing in their third consecutive Final, defeated Carolina in five games in the Eastern Conference Final and enter the rematch with confidence and experience of their own.
A Balanced, Deep Oilers Roster
This year, Edmonton is proving to be more than just McDavid and Draisaitl. Nineteen players have scored playoff goals, and 11 have notched three or more.
Corey Perry, the 40-year-old veteran winger, has been a revelation, leading with seven goals — the most by a player over 39 in a single postseason.
“We’re mature. We’ve learned,” said Perry, now appearing in his fifth Final in six seasons. “This group has been on a mission since the end of last year.”
Goaltending, long a question mark for the Oilers, has been an unexpected strength. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have each secured six wins. Skinner reclaimed the crease in the Vegas series and delivered clutch performances, including two shutouts to close out the Golden Knights, followed by another against Dallas.
McDavid and Draisaitl Leading by Example
McDavid and Leon Draisaitl (25 points, 7 goals) remain the driving force of the team, but their leadership now seems more refined. Rather than chasing moments, they’re managing emotions and keeping the group grounded.
“We haven’t had the highs and lows this time — just steady progress,” McDavid said. “That puts us in a good position.”
Draisaitl echoed the sentiment: “We’re really a good team, and it’s not just about revenge. It’s about the Cup. That’s the focus.”
Florida Familiarity and a Different Finish?
The Panthers know Edmonton well — too well. They took the first three games in last year’s Final before the Oilers stormed back, forcing a Game 7 thriller. Now, Florida is aiming to become a modern dynasty with three straight Final appearances.
Yet the Oilers believe they’re ready. With depth scoring, elite playmakers, veteran leadership, and mental toughness, this could be the year they bring the Cup back to Edmonton for the first time since 1990.
As Perry succinctly put it:
“It doesn’t matter who you play. You’re competing for a Stanley Cup. That’s everything.”
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