The 2023–2024 NHL Stanley Cup Final matchup is finally here, and NHL fans are ready to roll.
The NHL Conference Finals had some of the most entertaining hockey of these playoffs, with the New York Rangers matching up in the Eastern Conference with the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers matching up with the Dallas Stars in the West.
Before we get into the final two teams that will battle for the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Final matchup, here is a look back at the Eastern and Western Conference finals.
Eastern Conference Final: M1 New York Rangers vs A1 Florida Panthers
Game 1
In the Eastern Conference, the Florida Panthers took game one with a score of 3-0, shutting the Rangers out at Madison Square Garden.
Game 2
In game two, an unlikely hero plays an unlikely role in scoring an overtime winner named Barclay Goodrow. Heading into Sunrise, Florida, we are tied 1-1.
Game 3
Game 3 was grind and battle, but the likes of Barclay Goodrow once again scored two goals in this game on top of a player who, by many NHL fans, has been called a “bust.” Alexis Lafreniere showed why he was picked number one in the 2020 NHL draft by scoring a ridiculous toe-drag goal in game 3 to put the Rangers up for two.
In the third period, however, the Florida Panthers took over that game. Despite being down two goals with the chance of going down in the series 2-1, the Florida Panthers did not let their foot off the gas. goals from Captain Alexander Barkov and defenseman Gustav Forsling brought this game to a 4-4 score heading into overtime.
And in overtime, off of Face Off, the puck goes to the point, a shot goes towards the net, and Alexander Wennberg tips it, giving the Rangers, who were getting outplayed most of the game, a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4
Game 4 was a lot closer, as the Florida Panthers are looking to tie things up at two apiece. The Rangers open the scoring in the first period with Alexis Lafreniere continuing his run and scoring another beautiful goal to lead 1-0.
The second period saw the Florida Panthers take the lead by scoring two goals from Sam Bennett, who has been very good for the Panthers in the playoffs, and Sam Reinhart, who has been the leading goal scorer. The Rangers tied things up at 2 in the third, going back to another overtime.
In the early stages of overtime, the Florida Panthers get a power play, which they take to their advantage, and a great bumper play from Barkov over to Reinhart in the slot scores top shelf to tie the series at 2.
Game 5
With the series tied 2-2, the Florida Panthers would look to take a 3-2 series lead with a chance to close out the series back home in Florida.
With the game tied at 1-1 in the third period, Forsling, who has been discussed a lot in this series, takes the lead off the backhand to make it 2-1 Florida. They would score again later in the period to take a 3-1 lead.
The Rangers scored a goal late to make it 3-2, but it wasn’t enough and now the Florida Panthers have the opportunity to close out this series at home.
Game 6
With the opportunity to head back to their second straight Stanley Cup final, the Florida Panthers did not play around. All game, they dominated, with the Rangers scoring a beautiful first goal off of a Rangers turnover, with Evan Rodriguez feeding Bennett in the slot for an absolute missile of a slap shot to take a 1-0 lead.
A scoreless second saw an intense third period where former Ranger Vladimir Tarasenko would score to give the Panthers an insurance marker for a second straight Stanley Cup Final appearance.
The Rangers once again scored another late goal to bring it within one but similarly to game 5, it was not enough and the Florida Panthers are heading back for the second straight year in a row to play in the Stanley Cup final.
Western Conference: C1 Dallas Stars vs P2 Edmonton Oilers
Game 1
Game one between the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars was a very intense matchup. This game went to double overtime, where Oilers captain Connor McDavid redirected the puck towards the Stars net, scoring and leading the series 1-0.
Game 2
The Dallas Stars came ready to play with the chance of going down 2-0 in the series. They looked really good in the first period, scoring first, but Edmonton responded right away. Heading into the third period tied at 1, the stars took a step further and outplayed the Oilers, scoring two big goals to tie the series up at one going to Edmonton.
Game 3
In game 3, the Edmonton Oilers came out strong, scoring two goals in 10 minutes and leading the game 2-0 heading into the second period. And from there, things took a wrong turn. Stars forward Jason Robertson had the playoff game of his life, scoring a hat trick and being the centerpiece of the Stars comeback in game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead in Edmonton.
Game 4
Things did not look good for Edmonton in game 4, as the Dallas Stars scored two goals quickly to take a 2-0 lead in the game. The Oilers responded with their own two goals to tie things up at two heading into the second period. and in the second period, it was all the Edmonton Oilers.
A short-handed goal from fourth-line winger Mattias Janmark Quickly followed with a goal from Leon Draisital and the Oilers would score these goals in a minute. This series is all tied up at 2, going back to Dallas.
Game 5
The Edmonton Oilers had the opportunity to take a 3-2 series lead and close it out in Edmonton the following game. Oilers veteran Ryan Nugent-Hopkins knew the stakes were high and played his heart out as he scored two power-play goals to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead. The Oilers would then score a third insurance marker to make it 3-0.
Dallas would end up getting a goal late in the third, but it wasn’t enough to hold back the Oilers, and now they go back to Edmonton with the chance to close the series out in game 6, leading the series 3-2.
Game 6
For the first time since 2006, the Oilers have an opportunity to go to the Stanley Cup final. in the first period, they get a power play and McDavid scores an unbelievable goal to put the Oilers up in the first.
Zach Hyman, who has been on a scoring tear, gets his 14th of the playoffs on another Oilers power-play, giving them a 2-0 lead heading into the second period. The Dallas Stars kept the pressure on Edmonton being the better team in the second period but Stewart Skinner made incredible saves to keep the Oilers lead.
The Dallas Stars would get one with 10 minutes left to go, and all the pressure was on them trying to score a goal but in the end, the Edmonton Oilers held off the Dallas Stars and punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup final.
Stanley Cup Final Matchup
The Florida Panthers, for the second straight year, are in the Stanley Cup Final once again, looking to avenge last year’s loss by winning the Stanley Cup. The Panthers went through the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Boston Bruins, and the New York Rangers to get to the Stanley Cup final. To say that was a difficult task is an understatement, as the Florida Panthers showed adversity and strength by beating three of the Eastern Conference’s best teams.
The Edmonton Oilers are in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006 and are the first Canadian team since 2021 to have a chance at winning the Stanley Cup. The Oilers easily went through the LA Kings, played a tough series with the Vancouver Canucks winning in game 7, and edged out the Dallas Stars in a very close game 6.
This series between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers will be electric.
Who will win the Stanley Cup?
A1 Florida Panthers vs P2 Edmonton Oilers
Prediction: Oilers in 6
It has been 31 years since a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup (Montreal Canadiens 1992–93). The Florida Panthers are a strong team, but with most of Canada behind them, the Edmonton Oilers will beat the Florida Panthers and win the Stanley Cup in six games.
The Oilers will have a tough task as this Panthers team is going to be the toughest they’ve faced in the playoffs, but with the likes of McDavid, Draisital, Hyman, and Bouchard playing their best hockey, the Oilers will win this series, and bring the Stanley Cup back home to Canada.
