2023-24 NHL Season

[Doc Holliday]

I honestly can’t believe what i’m seeing & tip my hat off to the Oilers for coming back three games down & literally dominating the Panthers over the past three games! It seems the Panthers are shell-shocked & have no answers to get the momentum back!

I figured the Oilers might win one game & it would be a quick series. I also didn’t really give a damn who’d win & didn’t have much interest earlier on to watch this series. However the Oilers are shocking the hockey world & have turned a somewhat boring series (after the first three games) into a great one! Possibly epic if they end up winning the Cup! Now they have me on board their bandwagon & i want them to bring the Cup back to Canada on Monday evening! Go Oilers!

 

[Chouin95]

Alberta Strong! Let’s go Oilers!

 

[EagerBeaver]

I am also shocked at what has happened. After watching Florida get peppered with 18 goals in 3 games you have to question whether this isn't going to be an epic, all time collapse for the history books. They are going home, but Paul Maurice is under enormous pressure now to figure out how to reverse momentum. It's been the opposite of what we saw against Rangers, Bruins and first 3 games with Florida unable to keep Edmonton in their own end. And I think that has a lot to do with the disappearance of Florida's offense as well.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Per ESPN, Edmonton is the first team to score 5 plus goals in 3 straight games of a Stanley Cup Finals since the Mario Lemieux-led Penguins did it in 1991.They are the first team to rally to tie from 3-0 down since the 1945 Detroit Red Wings, and could be the first team to win the Stanley Cup Finals after trailing 3-0 since the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1942. The 1942 Leafs are, in fact, the only team in NHL History to come back from down 3-0 to win 4-3 in the Stanley Cup finals.

This is very, very serious history that is being flirted with here.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Another thing that should give Paul Maurice an upset stomach as he prepares for game 7 is that if you look at the stats for Florida last night, they are not bad. They actually outhit Edmonton 43-21. Shots and faceoffs pretty even. The only stat Edmonton won big was blocked shots, 22-11. Yet despite very solid team stats, Florida still lost 5-1. Someone needs to get Paul Maurice some Pepto Bismol.

 

[gaby]

.....and what about KRIS KNOBLAUCH??? who???? OILERS coach.......lolllll......never seen a so cooool coach ......very impressive and in perfect control ... .and SKINNER is on the party too........devient un héros...lol....il met les PANTHERS et BOB KO.....GO OILERS for an historic game Monday.

 

[EagerBeaver]

I was going to mention that Knoblauch seems to have figured out the chink in Florida's armor, and that's what is creating pressure on Maurice to make some kind of adjustment to stop this onslaught. But K squared needs to finish the deal in Florida. It's shaping up as an epic game 7. Either way we are going to have a new Stanley Cup Champion that has been severely tested in these finals.

 

[Doc Holliday]

If Florida does totally collapse & ends up wasting this great opportunity to win the Cup i wonder where they’ll go from here. They have many players who’ll be free agents once this season ends & this includes 50-goal scorer Sam Reinhart. Will they bring back Paul Maurice? So many questions. But on the bright side they could still win & be part of NHL history whether they win or lose.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Here is the Wiki summary for the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals in which the Toronto Maple Leafs lost the first 3 to the Detroit Red Wings, then swept the next 4 games to become the first team in North American sports history to rally from down 3-0 to win a championship series, 4-3. It's never been done in a baseball World Series, or an NBA Finals, although Boston did do it in the 2004 ALCS vs. the Yankees. Toronto and Detroit each had 4 Hall of Fame Players:

1942 Stanley Cup Final - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[EagerBeaver]

Hap Day, the victorious coach of the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, sounds like he was a funny guy. Maybe the Leo Durocher of old time NHL hockey.

Coach Day, who had played for the Leafs in their last win in 1932, deadpanned after winning the 1942 Stanley Cup, "We won it the hard way." He was asked if he had any doubts during the series, and replied "I had my doubts right up until that final bell rang."

 

[EagerBeaver]

Tkachuk on Bobrovsky Struggles: "Not His Fault"

Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has day off from practice

On the next-to-last day of the NHL season, Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky wasn't on the ice for practice.

www.espn.com

In the past 3 games Bobrovsky has a 5.06 GAA, and a .793 save %

 

[gaby]

...far from the CONN SMYTHE....lolll...et pourtant il n'y a pas si longtemps je le lui attribuais les yeux fermés.....les temps/momentum ont bien changé....and i feel good about it....relollll

 

[EagerBeaver]

Speaking of Conn Smythe.....will this guy step up tonight, and tie or break Gretzky's record for points in the Stanley Cup Finals?

 

[EagerBeaver]

The Athletic is calling this the most anticipated Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 ever:

Ranking every Stanley Cup Final in the cap era, and why Oilers-Panthers is already No. 1

Between Florida's historic collapse and Connor McDavid's utter dominance, this year's Cup Final has been captivating. Bring on Game 7!

www.nytimes.com

 

[gaby]

Speaking of Conn Smythe.....will this guy step up tonight, and tie or break Gretzky's record for points in the Stanley Cup Finals?
View attachment 74166

He will step up for sure....BUT needs 5 pts to match WAYNE......serious business.....lolll......enjoy .

 

[EagerBeaver]

Actually McDavid, with 11 points, just needs 2 points to tie Gretzky's record of 13 points in the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals:

McDavid climbing toward Gretzky's territory, record in Stanley Cup Final | NHL.com

Oilers captain 2 points from Great One's scoring mark with Edmonton 1 win from forcing Game 7

www.nhl.com

Very doable to tie or break that record!

 

[EagerBeaver]

Win or lose tonight, Sammy Reinhardt figures to be one of the hottest free agents on the market. This article discusses his would be suitors. The Panthers are favored to re-sign, but watch out for UHC and the Kraken:

6 Offseason Free-Agent Landing Spots for Sam Reinhart

The Florida Panthers were already set to have an active offseason before relinquishing their 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final to the Edmonton Oilers.…

syndication.bleacherreport.com

 

[gaby]

1-1 after one....on a un match.....beaucoup d'intensité ça va de soi.....l'une des 2 équipes va écrire l'histoire...c'est sûr....GO OILERS....enjoy.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Panthers 2-1...Florida looking rejuvenated!

 

[Cap'tain Fantastic]

Florida back to their true nature!
Intense 3rd ahead, not that the first 2 were not!