The Stanley Cup Finals Are Here: Canada’s Last Hope vs America’s Last Resort

After springing out to an early lead with a flawless quarterfinal, I have been humbled by the last couple rounds, including losing my Cup-favorite Dallas Stars last week. Meanwhile, Ian has bounced back from a troll-heavy first round to go two-for-two in the conference final, tying with Keith, who overall has been correct — and this may shock you — in half of his picks.

Canada’s last hope in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is the Edmonton Oilers, who face off against the Florida Panthers in the conference finals. Both teams are coming off of impressive performances in the previous rounds, and the series is sure to be close.

The Oilers are led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who are two of the best players in the NHL. McDavid is a dynamic centerman who can create scoring chances for himself and his teammates, while Draisaitl is a powerful winger who can finish those chances. The Oilers also have a strong supporting cast, including Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard, and Stuart Skinner.

The Panthers are a well-rounded team with a lot of depth. They are led by Aleksander Barkov, who is a Selke Trophy candidate at center, and Aaron Ekblad, who is a Norris Trophy candidate on defense. The Panthers also have a lot of offensive firepower, with Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, and Matthew Tkachuk all capable of putting up big numbers.

The series is expected to be close, and it could go either way. The Oilers have the two best players in the series, but the Panthers have a deeper team and are playing at home. Ultimately, the Oilers’ experience in the playoffs could be the difference, and they should be able to advance to the Stanley Cup Final with a win in Game 6.

Edmonton in 6.