The key to the Oilers bringing the Stanley Cup back to Edmonton

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In the ever-present debate between Oilers and Leafs fans, the year “1967” is often mentioned.

But that old word has been replaced, at least temporarily, by “1942.”

The only team in NHL history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Finals and win it was the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs. This might be one of the few things that Syl Apps and Connor McDavid have in common.

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The 2024 edition of the world’s toughest tournament is now down to a single Game 7, when the Oilers staged a stunning comeback from 3-0 down to the Florida Panthers.

Now, it’s “winner takes all.” But what do the Oilers have to do to reach the ultimate goal?

That and much more in this edition…

9 things

9. I was so glad to be back in Edmonton this week, listening to the buzz around this Stanley Cup run and meeting some media colleagues. This was especially impressive to me as I was walking 104^th The Ice District project from Ave. to Rogers Place has shown all about how it has transformed both the hockey club and Edmonton’s downtown. Would Game 6 even have happened without it?

8. Regardless of what happens in Game 7 on Monday night, Kris Knoblauch is one of the best stories of the year. A new NHL coach comes in from the bottom with his team and leads them to the last game of the Stanley Cup Final. Don’t you think the New York Rangers owner is upset that his own management group misjudged this guy? I mean…you had him and you let him go.

7. Speaking of which, will we see a lineup change for the Oilers in Game 7? I’ve been one of those people who says when Evander Kane gets healthy enough to be Evander Kane again, you put him back. But I admit I’m adamant in my stance. On one hand, I firmly believe a healthy Kane makes you better. But on the other hand things have been pretty good for the Oilers. Ryan McLeod scored on Friday. Dylan Holloway was +2. Derek Ryan scored on 78% of his draws, etc. Do you dare mess with success?

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6. In the first two rounds of the Edmonton Oilers playoff run I think Leon Draisaitl would have been the club’s best shot at Conn Smythe. Evan Bouchard has also been mentioned. And in the final round, Connor McDavid’s name has jumped to the top of the list (win or lose on Monday, he’s the overwhelming favorite). But if the club is able to come back completely and win it all, doesn’t Stuart Skinner at least get some consideration? Skinner is 10-0 in Games 4-7 of these playoffs, his GAA is 1.50, his SV% is .940. Are you in Game 7 without him?

5. The coach’s challenge for the 2-1 goal on Friday night was the turning point of that game. I’ll admit it was by a slim margin. But who cares how close it was? That’s largely irrelevant. Those who didn’t like that call have forgotten one important fact. Offside is one of the most obvious calls that exist in the game. Many Canadians learn the rule when it’s on 5: did the guy advance the puck into the zone or not? Well…yes, in this case he did. Nowhere does it say “but it doesn’t matter if it’s a little offside”. I’ll add this: Kris Knoblauch needed some big, blunt people to make that call. And had way too much faith in his PK units.

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4. I have a lot of respect for the work of hockey writer Frank Seravalli. First of all, Frank is willing to work hard to work at such a high level. Really good people work at this. But Saravalli also has this valuable gift of being able to see things for what they are, not how the general public sees them. For example, I’ve written in this space about how great the acquisition of Adam Henrique was. Henrique is very smart and capable in all three zones and in all situations. And as Frank pointed out on Friday, Henrique has scored two goals in this Stanley Cup Final. And both were winning goals. That’s why the club bought him. Ken Holland faced some criticism for his deadline day work. But the main thing is that Holland’s bet on Henrique has already paid off handsomely.

3. Special offensive players can see things that you and I can’t. Their instincts are present at a higher level. They have a unique perspective. That’s why any worthwhile coach will sacrifice a little defense for a player who is great at the hardest thing in the game: scoring. While you want them to be well-rounded performers, you shouldn’t try to turn them into Rod Langway or Doug Jarvis. I mean that with all due respect to both of those guys. Each of them are fantastic players with outstanding legacies. And you need those kinds of players on a team to win. But that type of player is also pretty easy to find. What makes truly talented guys such precious gems? The thing they’re best at is also the hardest. That’s what makes them special. That leads me to Evan Bouchard and Leon Draisaitl.

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2. One of the very few complaints I have with Evan Bouchard is how much or how intensely he defends. I can honestly not take mistakes for the reasons stated in the previous paragraph. Hockey is a game of mistakes. But Evan Bouchard’s intensity level has gone up several notches this postseason. It shows in the spectacular play we are now seeing from him in his own zone. Bouchard is also pushing people, the most recent example being the hit on Stenlund on Friday. We weren’t sure we would ever see that. And Bouchard’s officiating speaks for itself. As for Leon Draisaitl, he had a fantastic two-way effort on Friday. Two plays stand out. One is the clear, spectacular saucer pass to Warren Foegele on a 1-0 goal. Now that’s a perfect example of the guy mentioned above (Leon) being great at even the most difficult things. Yet I also admire the less flashy Leon Draisaitl on Ryan McLeod’s empty netter. Draisaitl won the race to the puck and then took the hit along the wall in his zone to make a defensive play that helped win the game.

1. The last time the Edmonton Oilers had a chance to win the Stanley Cup was in Game 7 of the Finals in 2006. I lived in Edmonton back then. So, like you, I understand that this kind of thing can only come around every 18 years. Rarely does a special team win two Cups in a row. But it’s very hard to do more than that in today’s salary cap era. So, as the great Stevie Winwood once sang, “Whenever you get the chance, take it.” It’s the chance of a lifetime that most of these athletes dreamed of as kids when they skated on backyard rinks. It’s something many of us dreamed of as kids, too. These players have spent their entire professional careers not just trying to achieve those dreams, but working to achieve them. As a result, I expect the Oilers to play their best game of the season on Monday. But I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Florida does as well. Both clubs understand how close and how far they are from their ultimate hockey goals.

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Is there a favorite in Game 7? I’m not sure there is one. Edmonton is moving on to the Major Leagues. And that could easily seem like fate. But I don’t believe that momentum is a big deal in the playoffs. There are so many twists and turns in any one game. There’s so much you don’t have control over. If the Oilers don’t get on the ice Monday night and set the momentum, it doesn’t matter if they’ve won their last three elimination games. They’ll be in big trouble. But if they set the momentum, I’m not sure Florida can beat them in that game.

One thing I do believe in, however, is confidence. Confidence leads to success. And that will more than likely be the big differentiating factor for both teams in Game 7. Confidence can also change from one night to the next. And the Oilers have displayed plenty of that over the last three games.

All the players on both sides will be saying the right things on Monday.

The Edmonton Oilers look confident and loose when doing so.

But the Panthers, on the other hand? Look, they’re rocked.

Drop the puck.

Now on Threads @kleavins. Also, find me on Twitter @KurtLeavins, on Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey and on Mastodon at [email protected]. This article is not generated by AI.

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