At the start of the playoffs, I wasn’t convinced. But after watching Edmonton break Dallas this afternoon, it feels inevitable now. Sure, the Stars are only down 2–1, but I’m not sure they have it in them to come back.
Mikko Rantanen has vanished. Their usual band of stars hasn’t shown up, and Jake Oettinger hasn’t been the best goalie on the ice. I was hoping for a tighter, more competitive series — but at this point, I’m doubting Dallas can rally.
In the East, Florida broke Carolina two games ago. It would take a miracle — a literal miracle — for the Hurricanes to win four straight against the Panthers. Maybe Florida drops the next one; it’s hard to sweep a professional hockey team. But Game 5? That’s a wrap. The Panthers are the skating embodiment of a finishing move. They’re headed back to the Stanley Cup Final. Book it.
And what did we learn from last year?
Florida and Edmonton gave us a classic. The Panthers came out swinging, took command of the series, and the Oilers clawed back. Game 7 was everything we hoped for — high drama, elite talent, and one goal that made all the difference.
- 📘 Recap: Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final – Panthers 2, Oilers 1 (NHL.com)
- 🎥 Watch the highlights
Connor McDavid, even in defeat, took home the Conn Smythe — the first skater to win the trophy in a losing effort since 1976.
Sergei Bobrovsky stood tall with a Game 1 shutout and 23 saves in Game 7.
Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart sealed it with clutch goals.
And Aleksander Barkov became the first Finland-born captain to hoist the Cup.
A rematch? It’s must-watch TV.
Storylines everywhere. Legacies on the line. It’s going to be epic.
Leave a Reply