Defense wins championships
Florida 2 – Edmonton 1 (Finals Panthers 4-2) Florida scored first, their penalty killers twice stopped the Oilers from scoring shorthanded, Panthers out hit and out blocked the Oilers as goaltender Bobrovsky allowed just one goal to get past him in Florida’s initial Cup championship.
The game was exciting all night long, one of the best Finals game sevens in NHL history, Florida may have scored first but Edmonton wasted no time tying the game a few minutes later setting the stage for an edge of your seat tension filled game and ending.
Hockey fans could not have asked for a better Stanley Cup, as announcers from both ABC and CBC were all without shame as they talked up 1942 and how awesome Edmonton’s comeback is/was as they cheered on the Oilers and backhanded complimented the Panthers during the game.
After game six the Panthers were underdogs everywhere except Sunrise, Florida and the diehard, brilliantly attired, emotional and loud Oilers fans did all they could to alter the game’s outcome with their enthusiastic cheering, but no amount of watch parties or Shania Twain singing could stop Florida from winning.
Buffalo Winter Awards
Playoff’s MVP Captain Barkov earned the Selke Trophy as the heart & soul of the Panthers and it was his leadership and defensive play that helped bring the Stanley Cup to the Panthers.
Playoff’s Unsung Hero Evan Rodrigues whose unexpected and timely assists and scoring helped his team to Stanley Cup victory.
Playoff’s Feel Good Story Kyle Okposo who played for nearly two decades and struggled to give up leading his team, and fans to accept an opportunity to help a different team win a Stanley Cup.
Buffalo Winter 
One thought that stood out for me when the Florida Panthers won was remembering that a few days earlier I had read that Panthers fans were selling their game 7 tickets because they felt the inevitable was coming. Needless to say they had nothing to worry about.
Thank you Buffalo Winter for your excellent coverage of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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Your welcome P_g, it is my honor and pleasure to record NHL history as it happens.
The Edmonton fans are second to none, I mean they had thousands and thousands of people all over gathering to watch the games everywhere, not a single square inch of space was available inside or outside Rogers Place arena as faithful followers of their beloved team supported the Oilers, win or lose, for one entertaining Cup run.
On the other hand, in Sunrise, Florida during game seven you might have heard a pin drop outside their arena as there were only parked vehicles and two empty green spaces…not a fan in sight, so I am not surprised that a “fan” from down there would actually think selling their game seven ticket was a good idea.
A “hockey fan” would not have “given up” on their team, and as a Hockey Fanaticus myself I can assure you there is nothing that could have separated me from my very own Stanley Cup Game Seven ticket, no matter the circumstances.
I enjoyed these Finals immensely, but I cannot help but feel for my Northern Cousins but I also realize they still have a great team in Edmonton and could march right back to next season’s Finals.
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The public gets to watch the Stanley Cup visit all corners of both countries, undergoing all sorts of feats (it gets put to some really strange uses) and celebrations with families, friends and fans, which is cool.
Now time for the NHL Junior Entry Draft starting tomorrow evening and Free Agent Day on July 1st. Still plenty of hockey stuff to follow for hockey faithful.
Good night.
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Nice digs…
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Sweet. Nice to see you drop by Buffalo Winter’s digs.
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Me Paper_girl btw. P_g.
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