Florida Panthers defeat Edmonton Oilers to win Stanley Cup
In a heartbreaking defeat, the Edmonton Oilers’ bid to pull off one of the greatest comebacks in sports history fell one win short.
On Monday night in Sunrise, Fla., the Florida Panthers beat the Oilers 2-1 to claim the 2024 Stanley Cup Championship.
“I thought they were the better team in the first period. I thought they came out with a little more urgency,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said.
“They won a lot of puck races. We defended well but in the second and third period we found our game. I thought we played really well and couldn’t capitalize on our opportunities, especially in the third period where we had a couple glorious chances.
“It was a game that could’ve gone either way.”
“We gave it everything,” Edmonton’s Zach Hyman said. “It would’ve been nice to get a bounce. I thought we played well.
“It’s the Stanley Cup Final—Game 7 — and two really good teams.”
The Panthers took the lead 4:27 into the game.
Shortly after failing to convert on a power play, Carter Verhaeghe deflected a shot past goaltender Stuart Skinner.
The Oilers replied just over two minutes later. Cody Ceci sent a stretch pass to Mattias Janmark, who went in alone and beat Sergei Bobrovsky blocker side for his fourth of the playoffs.
Panthers center Sam Reinhart scored the only goal of the second period to pull Florida ahead. His shot from the right wing and beat Skinner short side, with 4:49 to go in the frame.
The Oilers had a couple of chances with seven minutes left in third.
“We knew it was going to be tight,” captain Connor McDavid said. “Game 7 for the Cup, you knew it was going to be a real tight game and it was going to come down to one thing here and there.”
“We were an inch away from going ahead 2-1 right before they go ahead 2-1.
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