The Edmonton Oilers knocked off the Dallas Stars 2-1 in Sunday’s Game 6 to win the Western Conference Final.
The Oilers advance to face the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final. It’s Edmonton’s first trip to the Cup Final since 2006.
Connor McDavid scored a highlight-reel goal to open the scoring before assisting on Zach Hyman’s tally later in the first period. Stuart Skinner made 34 saves.
“It feels like a dream, honestly,” McDavid told Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas. “It was a crazy one tonight. Not our best effort, but we hung in there. Found a way to get a win. (Skinner) was great, everybody played great.”
Edmonton recorded 10 shots on goal, the fewest in a conference final-clinching win ever. The Boston Bruins held the previous record, with 17 against the Washington Capitals in 1990.
The Oilers’ minus-25 shot differential in Game 6 is also the lowest by a team that won to advance to the Cup Final. The previous mark was minus-23 by the Nashville Predators in 2017 against the Anaheim Ducks.
The Panthers haven’t won the Stanley Cup in their franchise history, while Edmonton looks to win its first since 1990 and snap Canada’s 30-year drought.
“It feels good to maybe unite the country a little bit and have something to bring people together,” McDavid said. “That’s what sports is all about, is bringing people together. Hopefully, we’re doing that for Canadians across the country.”
Zach Hyman joked that one Canadian city won’t want to see the Oilers win.
“I don’t know if Toronto is cheering for us,” Hyman said. “Hockey means so much to Canada and to Canadians, and it’s been a long time since a Canadian team has won the Cup. It would mean a lot to Canadians, whether they’re Oilers fans or not, I’m sure.”
Edmonton kept its hands off the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl, matching what the Florida Panthers did Saturday with the Prince of Wales Trophy.
Corey Perry becomes the first player to make the Final with five different franchises. He won in 2006 with the Anaheim Ducks and lost in the Final with the Dallas Stars (2020), Montreal Canadiens (2021), and Tampa Bay Lightning (2022).
The Stanley Cup Final begins Saturday in Florida at 8 p.m. ET.
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