With the Toronto Maple Leafs doing what they do best — collapse — the Edmonton Oilers are once again Canada’s last hope in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Leafs had a 2-0 series lead against the Florida Panthers and still couldn’t close the deal. Florida responded with three straight wins, Toronto managed to take Game 6 to force a decisive final matchup, and then fell flat in Game 7, getting steamrolled 6-1 on home ice. It was another heartbreak for a franchise and fan base that’s gotten far too familiar with disappointment.
The Winnipeg Jets didn’t fare much better. They were eliminated in six games by the Dallas Stars. For the Jets, it was their inability to win on the road that proved fatal. They dropped every game in Dallas, and when they finally lost one at home, there was no way back. Despite a strong regular season, the Jets bowed out quietly, leaving the national spotlight on a familiar face: the Edmonton Oilers.
So here we are again. The Oilers are Canada’s last team standing — and frankly, it feels right.
With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the charge, this team has looked every bit like a contender. The power play continues to be deadly, the defensive play has tightened up, and players like Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evan Bouchard have all stepped up when it counts. Stuart Skinner has shown resilience in net, and head coach Kris Knoblauch has pushed the right buttons at key moments.
Now, the path to the Stanley Cup Final runs through the Dallas Stars — the same team that just knocked out Winnipeg. Game 1 kicks off Wednesday in Dallas, and while the Stars are a formidable opponent, the Oilers have momentum and belief on their side. They’ve faced adversity and answered the bell time and time again.
What makes this run even more special is what it means beyond just Alberta. With Toronto and Winnipeg eliminated, fans across Canada are once again rallying behind the Oilers — even some Leafs fans who are tired of the wait and just want to see the Cup return north of the border. The last Canadian team to win it all? Montreal in 1993. It’s been over 30 years. That’s long enough.
This team is built differently. This team has unfinished business. And now, they have a country behind them.
The Oilers aren’t just chasing a Stanley Cup — they’re chasing history.
Let’s go.