Excitement mounts for Edmonton Oilers fans ahead of Stanley Cup final Game 7

June 24, 2024 Canuck

Lineups to get into watch parties for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final snaked around buildings in Edmonton’s core Monday as Oilers fans, clad in orange and blue, could not contain their excitement.

The Edmonton Police Service is asking the public to stay away from the Rogers Place area unless they are attending a watch party, because the fan parks have reached capacity.

Among the crowd is Connor Stojan, who left Grande Prairie, Alta., at 6 a.m., and drove roughly 460 kilometres to watch the Oilers from Ice District, as the team makes its final push for the Cup against the Florida Panthers.

“It’s a storybook ending,” Stojan said. “We were bad at the start of the year but pulled it together, and bad at the start of the series but we’re pulling it together now. It’s only right for us to win in seven. It’s going to be awesome.”

The Edmonton Oilers are one win away from the ultimate comeback and ending Canada’s Cup drought, while the Florida Panthers are hoping to lift the trophy for the first time.

The Florida Panthers pounced early, winning the final’s first three games, but the Oilers stormed back, stringing several strong performances together to knot the best-of-seven series 3-3.

A mass of people wearing blue-and-orange are packed in front of police officers wearing reflective yellow vests, outside of an arena. — A crowd builds up outside of Gate 3 into the Ice District before Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers on Monday. (Timon Johnson/CBC)

Kade Gartner and his father boarded a red-eye flight to South Florida Sunday to watch Game 7 in person — and potentially witness a bold prediction Gartner made in high school come true.

In 2017, while attending Archbishop Jordan High School in Sherwood Park, Alta., just east of Edmonton, Gartner’s quote in the school’s yearbook read, “NHL 2024 Stanley Cup champions: Edmonton Oilers. You heard it here first.”

It was calculated, said Gartner, now 24 years old. He recognized the Oilers were becoming competitive, and predicted phenom Connor McDavid’s maturation and how the team would build around him.

“I was just waiting for this year to come by,” he said.

Either way, the Game 7 victor will make history.

A crowd of people wearing blue-and-orange fill a street. Police officers, wearing reflective vests, form a barrier in front of the people. — Edmonton Oilers fans line up to watch the game as police try to control the crowd in Edmonton on Monday. The Edmonton Oilers are taking on the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup final. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)

The Panthers, appearing in the final for the third time, are hunting for the franchise’s first Stanley Cup — and redemption after finishing as the NHL runners-up last year.

Matthew Tkachuk, one of Florida’s alternate captains, described the series Sunday as “very even” thus far.

“Most teams, when you lose three in a playoff series, you don’t have a chance at another game. Somehow, both of us have an opportunity, still,” Tkachuk said.

“This is probably the biggest game in the NHL in however many years, so our fans will be jacked up for it and we can’t wait.”

The Oilers, meanwhile, are trying to join the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs as the only teams to fall behind 3-0 in the final and lift the Cup. The 1945 Detroit Red Wings also forced a Game 7 after losing the first three games, but were unable to complete the comeback.

A man with long brown hair is putting on blue and white facepaint, while holding up his phone. He is wearing a white and blue hockey jersey. — Edmonton Oilers fan Ethan Bussey paints his face in the Ice District before Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers on Monday, June 24, 2024. (Timon Johnson/CBC)

Edmonton could win its first Cup since 1990 and become the first Canadian NHL team to hoist the trophy since 1993.

On Sunday, Oilers alternate captain Leon Draisaitl acknowledged the team is aware of the historical context surrounding the recent win streak — but the job isn’t finished.

“We have to focus on winning one hockey game on the road and play our best,” Draisaitl said. “Everything else — all the stories — will take care of itself after.”

Players on both teams spoke to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final being something hockey players dream of growing up, playing in the street.

A man with a drum raised and another man appear to dance on a street with palm trees in the back. — Edmonton Oilers fans cheer before the Oilers take on the Florida Panthers during Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup finals in Sunrise, Fla., on Monday. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

“Now it’s reality,” said the Oilers’ Corey Perry, who has played multiple finals and lifted the Cup in 2007.

“I don’t think our mindset changes. It can’t, because we’ve done some good things — but we haven’t done anything great yet.”

Various Oilers players have stepped up hugely in the past several games, including hometown goaltender Stuart Skinner. In Edmonton, his family has gleefully watched the youngest of nine make it to the pinnacle of hockey competition.

“It was always a family dream for anyone to go touch the Stanley Cup and hoist it,” said Scott Skinner, an older brother.

“The excitement in this house — and the cheering and the support — has just been tremendous.”

Enthusiasm within Oilers Nation has also reached a fever pitch. Fans celebrated for hours after Edmonton’s 5-1 win in Game 6 on Friday, eager for a potential title.

A man with orange hair wearing orange and blue makes a sign with his hands in a crowd with palm trees in the background. — Edmonton Oilers fans gather to support the team in South Florida. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

On Sunday, while sitting at a restaurant patio on Whyte Avenue, Ethan Jansen recalled listening to the 2006 Oilers run on the radio. That Edmonton team — the last to make it to the final — pushed the Carolina Hurricanes to Game 7, but lost 3-1.

“I can’t believe it has been 18 years, so it’s super exciting,” Jansen said.

“The mood last week was tougher, we were battling back. But now, the mood couldn’t be higher.”

What would a Stanley Cup win for the Oilers mean to you? Tell us about it in an email to ask@cbc.ca.

Puck-drop for Game 7 is set for 6 p.m. MT Monday. CBC will be broadcasting the game.

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Excitement mounts for Edmonton Oilers fans ahead of Stanley Cup final Game 7

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