Edmonton Oilers fans stunned as Stanley Cup dream dies in Florida: ‘We came close’
Oh, rats.
Canada’s latest attempt to bring the Stanley Cup home died dramatically on the edge of the Everglades on Monday, leaving fans from Edmonton to Florida thrilled at the ride but crushed at the destination.
The Oilers fell one game short of a comeback for the ages, winning three in a row to tie the final series only to drop the deciding Game 7 to the Florida Panthers by a score of 2-1.
Thousands of fans who packed the plaza outside Edmonton’s Rogers Place stood in stunned silence watching on a big screen as Panthers players celebrated behind their net and the Florida crowd littered the ice with their trademark good-luck black plastic rats.
Some in Edmonton threw their drinks toward the big screen, a few gave hugs to those standing in sadness, others started walking out with their hands jammed in their pockets.
Inside the arena, about 16,000 also watched in dismay on the big screen as the game wound down.
“We didn’t put ourselves in the greatest position, going down 3-0,” said Taylor Yachimec.
“But we battled back. We came close in the end.”
“It’s a little bit tough to take, but it is what it is,” added Christopher Alucema.
The consolation, he said, is two months watching playoff games in the rink and on the plaza, cheering with his friend, surrounded by fans.
“It was worth every penny. I’d do it again if I had to,” Alucema said. “(It’s a) lifetime of memories I don’t think I’ll ever forget.”
“We had a good run,” said Gerard Pattenden.
“(But) it’s bringing back the old memories of ‘06. We get to the finals and we lose Game 7.
“It kind of sucks.”
Blue and orange fans were also a large and vocal contingent in the Florida rink. A rough eyeball count of tailgate parties under palm trees out front put about half in the
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