Florida Panthers recognize Edmonton Oilers' angst in Stanley Cup ...

The Florida Panthers understand all too well the emotions of the Edmonton Oilers coming into Monday’s game at Rogers Place.

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After all, it is the first time the two teams have met since Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, where one goal determined the difference between the Panthers hoisting hockey’s holiest of grails in front of the home crowd, and the Oilers making the longest return flight home in the history of the finals.

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Chances are, it was also the quietest flight.

And the Oilers weren’t much more talkative leading into Monday’s rematch either.

Asked how he felt his team was playing as they were set to face Florida for the first time since that fateful day in June, Oilers captain Connor McDavid dodged the meat of the issue.

“We’re playing well. I don’t know what else … yeah,” McDavid said. “We’re playing well, a lot of good things going on. Special teams are starting to pick up, getting great goaltending.”

While there is no wrong answer, it’s likely not the response McDavid truly wanted to give.

Matthew Tkachuk remembers being in that exact situation one year earlier, facing the Vegas Golden Knights for the first time since losing 9-3 in Game 5 of the previous Stanley Cup Final.

Of course, being another year removed from it while sitting on the right side of the fence this time, the Panthers forward was able to offer a more honest rundown of the type of feelings involved.

“Yeah, I was pretty angry playing against Vegas for the first time last year,” Tkachuk said. “There is nothing you can do about the year before, obviously, but they took away your dream, basically. So, I remember that was a very hard-fought game, to say the least, against Vegas last year.

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“So, I expect tonight will be a very, very, very intense game with a lot of physicality. They’ve got a lot of speed and skill, but I’m sure this one’s going to be a pretty intense one.”

Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice gestures during the third period against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., on June 10, 2024. Photo by Elsa /Getty Images

And a welcome one, as far as Panthers head coach Paul Maurice was concerned after his team limped into Edmonton on the heels of back-to-back shutout losses against the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames.

“Eighty-two games, it can be a bit of a grind,” he said of the regular season. “And finding that energy every night is a challenge. The good teams find it, but also they’ve got some structure and they’ve got good players, so they win enough games.

“But these games aren’t the same as the others, I don’t think. We’ll talk about the fact we don’t like our last two games, they’ll talk about the fact they’re playing great right now. But these games are different. The intensity level in any team that we’ve played in the playoffs the last two years has just been higher for both teams.”

Just maybe a bit higher for the ones who found themselves on the losing end in the later rounds.

It’s not the most ridiculous notion to suggest a rivalry has spawned between the Oilers and Panthers, despite the 4,800 kilometres separating the two cities

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“I don’t think it’s silly, we played them however many months ago seven times in a row, you’re going to form a rivalry, for sure,” McDavid said. “Obviously, it wasn’t that long ago. That being said, it’s a new year, a lot of turnover on both teams.”

But for those who sat in stunned silence in the visitors’ dressing room at Amerant Bank Arena after that game on June 24, 2024, no amount of regular-season rematches can wash away that memory.

“I think it will always be there,” said Oilers forward Zach Hyman. “You have moments in your career, highs and lows that kind of make up your entire career, that will be one that sticks out, obviously.

“It will always be there, but brand-new year, we’re in a great spot and you’ve always got to look forward.”

Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch looks on during the first period against the Florida Panthers in Game One of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 08, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. Photo by Elsa /Getty Images

To Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch, the rematch represents just another challenge as his team takes steps toward returning to the playoffs and taking another run at the ultimate goal.

“You look at our two-week stretch here with all the key games, whether we’re playing Minnesota, who was first in the NHL; Vegas, who we’ve got a rivalry with and has been playing really well atop the division; or tonight’s game against Florida, who’s the Stanley Cup-winning team, we’ve got a lot of games to get excited about and are a good test for us,” he said.

“Obviously, last year with the way it ended, there is some bitterness. We would have liked to do some things differently and have that last game, but I think it’s good to have these type of games to look forward to.”

E-mail: [email protected]

On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge

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