The Edmonton Oilers on Thursday defeated the Dallas Stars 6-3 to book their place in the Stanley Cup Finals, setting up a repeat of last year’s NHL showpiece against reigning champions the Florida Panthers.
The Oilers, bidding to become the first Canadian team to win the NHL’s championship series since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens, head to Florida for Game 1 of the best-of-seven series set for Wednesday.
Florida, who are to play in the NHL showpiece for the third straight season, won last year’s title 4-3 to extend Canada’s decades-long Stanley Cup drought.
Photo: AFP
Connor McDavid led Edmonton back to the championship series on Thursday with a breakaway goal and an assist as the Oilers staged an early onslaught in Dallas to set up victory.
Corey Perry, Mattias Janmark, Jeff Skinner, Evander Kane and Kasperi Kapanen also found the net for Edmonton.
McDavid said Edmonton would relish the chance to face Florida again after last year’s agonizing near-miss.
Photo: AFP
“They’re a heck of a team. Obviously it’s their third finals, they’re a special group and we’re a special group,” McDavid said. “It’s gonna be fun, couldn’t ask for a better opportunity than to come up against the team that beat us last year.”
Photo: AFP