Hearts racing as Oilers claw their way back into Stanley Cup final

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This article was published 20/06/2024 (764 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON — First, they had a pulse, as faint as it might have been.

Now? Hearts are racing around here at the rapidly-increasing possibility the Edmonton Oilers are on the cusp of a historic comeback which culminates in a Stanley Cup and snaps a 31-year Canadian championship drought.

“There’s no group that is more ready for the moment than this one here,” captain Connor McDavid told a massive swarm of media following his club’s practice on Thursday inside Rogers Place.

The Oilers appeared to be down and out after three straight losses to the Florida Panthers by a combined score of 11-4. A dominating 8-1 victory in Game 4 on home ice, followed by a hard-fought 5-3 triumph in enemy territory, has seemingly flipped the script.

That has set the stage for what should be a memorable Friday night in Edmonton, where the signs of a major event are literally everywhere you look.

“I think it’s just amazing for the city,” said Oilers goaltender and hometown product Stuart Skinner.

“I think a lot of people are having a lot of fun, just enjoying themselves. Every time you drive around all you see are Edmonton flags. Especially when it comes around game time, you hear honks, you hear people getting loud and screaming ‘Go Oilers.’ It’s just a lot of fun. It’s very enjoyable in the city.”

Edmonton’s rookie head coach, Kris Knoblauch, spoke Thursday about growing up in the tiny town of Imperial, Sask., where you always knew when a big hockey game was happening.

“Everyone’s houses, the lights were out and everyone was at one location, and it was around the hockey rink. All the cars are parked there and everyone’s there and that’s where the excitement is,” Knoblauch said.

“I guess it’s going to be kind of that feeling here in Edmonton where a lot of people are watching on TV and around the building, in the building. The excitement’s high. For us, and for our team to be a part of that, playing in that game where so many people are interested in what happens, we’re thrilled to be a part of that.”

Rogers Place will be rocking, and the downtown Ice District will once again be filled with thousands of fans hoping to party.

“Exciting to be back in Edmonton, exciting to play in front of our fans, play in this building,” said McDavid.

This is the final game of the playoffs here, regardless of the outcome. The Oilers, of course, will be trying to extend the season by three more days, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7 that would be held Monday night in Florida.

“We feel very fortunate to be in this Game 6 situation, but I know I’ve got a team full of guys who are hungry to make sure they get to play two more games and not just one,” said Knoblauch.

Should they get there, they clearly would have all the momentum in the world, while the Panthers would likely be feeling like the roof is caving in.

“Our backs are against the wall. There’s no easy way to put it. So you have to have that mindset as we’ve gone into Game 4 in, Game 5 — it has to be the exact same way,” said veteran forward Corey Perry, who is playing in his fourth Stanley Cup Final in the past five years — all with different teams.

He’s 0-3 so far with the Dallas Stars (2020), Montreal Canadiens (2021) and Tampa Bay Lightning (2022).

“We have to come out, we have to get that jump early. We’ve done that last couple of games and never looked back,” he said.

McDavid has registered an incredible eight points in the last two games, making him the Conn Smythe favourite at this point even if the Oilers don’t capture the Cup. He’s been that dominant. Of course, two more outings like that and he and his teammates will likely be skating laps Monday night holding the trophy above their heads.

“You spend your life working to get into a position like this,” McDavid said of trying to make the most of such an opportunity.

“This has always been part of the plan for our group, to be in a position like this, playing big games at home in big moments. Just another one (Friday) night.”

What makes this more remarkable is the Oilers began the year 2-9-1, falling to 32nd in the 32-team league following a Nov. 10 loss to the lowly San Jose Sharks. That turned out to be rock-bottom, with Knoblauch taking over from the fired Jay Woodcroft a couple days later.

“It’s been lovely to see. I think we’ve got a lot of guys that are just fully committed to playing in both ends of the ice, which is, to say the least, an absolute need this time of year,” Skinner said of his group bearing down.

“I’m pretty proud of the group, and we’ve got to continue to bring that.”

Edmonton has walked a tight-rope at times in these playoffs, including winning two elimination games against the Vancouver Canucks.

“I thought that second round against Vancouver was so much tension, so much pressure, so much the ‘Canadian matchup’ and all that,” said defenceman Mattias Ekholm, who has been a beast on the blue-line. “So when we got past that, it was a big boost for the whole team and kind of just playing free.”

Given all the of the above, some might suggest this is a team of destiny.

“Certainly going down three games to zero, it looked like we were done,” said Knoblauch.

“But for our guys, I think they’ve just been enjoying the moment, having fun, trying to stretch our season out as long as possible. You’ve heard a lot about the players talk about they play their best with their backs against the wall. That puts a lot of pressure on teams, and sometimes you see a lot of players clamp up, not play their best because of that extra stress. Our guys have gone through it so many times, they’re just savouring the moment.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg