The puck has yet to drop on game one of the Stanley Cup Final, and the Edmonton Oilers have already avoided their biggest mistake—underestimating the Florida Panthers.
OK, who would be foolish enough to assume that the reigning cup champs, three-time Stanley Cup Finalists, and most annoying team in the NHL would be worth underestimating?
Perhaps the same team with cause to do so.
The Edmonton Oilers are 12-4 through three rounds of the 2025 playoffs, in the Stanley Cup Finals for the second year in a row, and an all-around better team than they were the first go around.
“Nothing against our defence last year, (but) there’s a little bit of a changeover,” explained Kris Knoblauch on the Oilers roster changes from this season to last. “The way these guys are playing right now, and the personnel that we have, we like that.”
They like defence that blocks more shots than gives GA, banks more shutouts than crushing defeats, and lays more hits than giveaways.
They also like depth that scores, familiarity up and down the lineup, and offence that creates highlight reel chances while shutting them down.
It’s almost hard not to overestimate yourselves with such a record.
Alas, reality must set in.
“A lot of credit to Florida; they might have even gotten better,” said Knoblauch to the peripheral balloon that was Oilers Nation’s hope. “For a team to get there three years in a row, that’s not by accident.
“They beat a pretty good team in Carolina, and I think we have a chance, but we’re going to have to be at our best to give ourselves that opportunity.”
More beating the Dallas Stars in five, less going 0-2 against the Los Angeles Kings.
More coming back from an own-goal against the Vegas Golden Knights, less giving up an own-goal.
Perhaps more keeping the emotions in a straight line, less over/under-estimating anyone.
“You’re playing a very competitive seven game series, and there’s a lot of changes that need to be made, whether it’s getting somebody in fresh, changing your lines, but probably most importantly, just being able to reset after after a game, no matter how that game went,” explained Knoblauch. “Whether it was a 6-0 win or loss, we’ve done a good job of just putting that behind us.
“We’ve had some heartbreaking losses this playoffs, and maybe in the past, it might have gotten to our guys. You look at our games against LA, game three against Vegas—those can be crushing losses, but I think our guys have done a heck of a job being able to put it aside, getting ready for the next day.”
And that is wins and losses. Even if it means putting aside a heckuva playoff series against the Stars, so as not to have too much confidence against the one team you might need it for most.
All gas, no breaks, as the Panthers have been described. They’re dirty, mean, and scarier once you’ve already lost to them.
Not enough confidence could prove to be the problem, wouldn’t you say?
“We are familiar with (them), they haven’t changed their identity,” answered Knoblauch. “They still play the same system, same style. I think it helps us get prepared to play them.
“As for wanting to win more because they beat us last year. I don’t think that’s the case. I think it’s just that we get to this point; no matter who we’re playing, we’re 100% wanting to win it.”
But have they regulated their expectations and mindset just enough?
“I can’t say that. Ask me, after.”
Edmonton Oilers expected lines:
RNH – McDavid – Perry
Kane – Draisaitl – Kapanen
Frederic – Henrique – Brown
Podkolzin – Janmark – Arvidsson
Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Kulak
Walman – Klingberg
S. Skinner
Pickard
Connor Brown has been labelled as a game-time decision. While he’s likely to play, Jeff Skinner is expected to play if Brown cannot.
