Author: Buffalo Winter

Florida Earns Series Split

Panthers 5 – Oilers 4 (2OT) (SCF tied 1-1) The Panthers are reaping rewards from their acquisition of center Brad Marchand who scored shorthanded and the game winning goal in overtime to assist Florida in earning the road victory and series split.

A disappointing effort from the Oilers who scored only once with six man-advantages and could not keep pace with the Panthers who laid 60 hits on the Oilers who countered that with about half as many with 39 hits of their own.

It is a seven-game series and Edmonton will skate into the Sunshine State win one or two games to come back home either up or tied in the series, as the Oilers will respond with stronger special team efforts… or all might be lost.

On a very cool note, Perry Kane and Kevin Marchand who were teammates in the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League during 1981 were both able to witness their son’s Evander and Brad score during the same Stanley Cup Finals game last night.

GAME THREE Monday Night 8pm

Oilers Overcome in Overtime

Oilers 4 – Panthers 3 (OT) (SCF 1-0 Edmonton) Edmonton hosted a terrific Game 1 beginning with the singer performing both Nation’s Anthems while in the middle of a seating section and after only a couple of stanzas of “Oh Canada”, the singer stopped and those fans in attendance finished singing the Canadian National Anthem all the way through.

Since the NHL’s expansions have created a 32-team league it is rare indeed when two teams meet each other in the Stanley Cup Finals in consecutive years and this is the first time in 40 seasons that there has been a rematch.

The Oilers have now scored first in their last nine games and with Edmonton Center Draisaitl scoring the game’s first goal just 66 seconds into the game, the Oilers with their fans were coming on loud and strong in the first period.

Too quickly the officials reviewed a coach’s challenge in the first period and botched the call as the NHL’s narrative is that an “inadvertent trip” caused the goaltender interference, so it was not penalized and the goal counted, then the unthinkable happened as Florida scored on the ensuing powerplay for the two-goal advantage.

Video highlights the Florida player caused the goaltender interference with reckless skating, the Edmonton defenseman was not the reason for the interference, imho as well as last night’s announcers who said as much before the official’s declared a “good goal”.

Although an “inadvertent high stick” is always a penalty, one has to wonder where the NHL draws the line (rhetorical) on what “inadvertent” penalty deserves two minutes or not.

Fortunately for the Oilers they scored the next three goals including the game winner with approximately a half a minute remaining in the first overtime session for the win and the 1-0 series lead.

GAME TWO 8pm Friday Night downtown Edmonton

Florida Panthers versus Edmonton Oilers

Here along the Lake The first time my boys (Buffalo Sabres) went to the Stanley Cup Finals it was May 1975, and I was a 13-year-old Hockey Fanaticus who was in heaven because the Sabres were in the Finals.

I can relate to all the 13-year-old fans in the city of Edmonton and those across British Columbia to PEI, with their hope that this is the year, last season just making it to the Finals was awesome, but now it is all on the line to become part of NHL Stanley Cup history and to be forever known as “Stanley Cup Champions”.

To all the 13-year-old Panthers fans, you still get to hang on to last season’s Cup, you are Cup Champions forever forward no matter what happens during this series.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

Panthers vs Oilers 8pm (SCF Game 1) Buffalo Winter’s official prognostication: Edmonton wins the Cup in 6 games.

Oilers Stun Stars

Oilers 6 – Stars 3 (en) (SC SF 4-1) Edmonton wasted no time taking control of game five as they scored three goals in the first eight minutes of the game with the third goal scored by former Sabres sniper Center Jeff Skinner (1G 1A) in just his second playoff game, hopefully HC Knoblauch can keep his skilled veteran in their lineup.

Goaltending is the issue with Dallas as they pulled their number one netminder after he let in two goals on Edmonton’s first two SOG in the first period, neither goaltender has anything to brag about with both starters have difficulty earning a .900% save percentage or higher unless they post a shutout.

Stanley Cup Finals Game One

Florida Panthers versus Edmonton Oilers Wednesday, June 4th, 8pm

Third Consecutive SC SF Series Victory

Panthers 5 – Hurricanes 3 (en) (SC SF 4-1 Florida) They did not get swept, but Carolina won just one semi-finals game in their last four appearances, and you know it was bad when a 30-something fourth line center who had not scored in the previous 14 playoff games this season scores the tying goal only 30 seconds after Florida scored on the power play.

Credit where credit is due, the defending champion Florida Panthers have 10 players with at least 10 points, an outstanding goaltender, a quiet perseverance that returned them for a third consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

Oilers vs Stars 8pm (SC SF 3-1 Edmonton)