Do You Get Déjà Vu? Panthers vs. Oilers: The Sequel No One Saw Coming (But Totally Did)
Getty Images
It's official, ladies and gentlemen: the Stanley Cup Final is here! For the second consecutive year, the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers have emerged as the top teams in their respective conferences, with the Oilers winning the Western Conference and the Panthers winning the Eastern Conference. They will now battle it out in what should be a thrilling seven-game series for the Stanley Cup.
This is the third year in a row that the defending champs, the Panthers, are sitting pretty, poised to give it their all to bring home the title for the sequel. On the other hand, the Edmonton Oilers are out for redemption, out for blood, dare I say, like a vampire? We know Edmonton captain Connor McDavid and the rest of the Oilers have a sour taste in their mouths from last year's loss and are coming into the series ready to be the first Canadian NHL team to bring Lord Stanley back over the border. The finals begin on June 4th, and it's going to be brutal!
Daily Faceoff
Back for More
The Oilers have a history of learning from their mistakes and making the most of it. In 1983, the Oilers made it to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time, where they faced the Islanders. They lost. A year later, legends Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky led the Oilers to their first Stanley Cup win, beating the Islanders and ending their four-year streak of championship wins. Edmonton did the work, learned from their mistakes, and came back with a vengeance. Could history be repeating itself? In 2025, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisalti are in a similar position. They know what it means to lose, and they know what it takes to win. Sounds like the two are following in Gretsky and Messier's footsteps.
Florida Panthers' Rats and the Rat King
Getty Images via NHL
The Florida Panthers have experienced considerable success in recent years, to the point where the tradition of Panthers fans throwing rubber rats onto the ice has made a resurgence among fans. The tradition started back in 1996 when former Panthers' captain Scott Mellanby spotted a rat in the Calgary Flames visiting locker room, grabbed a stick, and smacked that rat against a wall. Gross. Later in the game, he scored two goals, and former Panthers' goalie John Vanbiesbrouck was quoted saying, "He scored a rat trick," a pun on the term hat trick, which is when 3 goals are scored.
Vice
In March, the Florida Panthers traded for Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins. Marchand is often referred to as the "Rat King." This nickname stems from his on-ice behavior, which is known for being aggressive and sometimes bordering on rough play. He gained the name due to his tendency to deliver cheap shots and even lick his opponents. Definitely an unusual and off-putting move.
Marchand could prove to be a pivotal player in the Panthers' quest to bring Lord Stanley's Cup back to Florida. He is one of the team's key assets as they head into the finals. Playing on Florida's third line, he has been a game-changer. Watching him compete in the finals will be exciting, as Boston natives would say, "wicked."