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Edmonton Oilers run at Stanley Cup history dies with Game 7 defeat
After twice rising from the dead this year, the Oilers let history slip through their outstretched fingers Monday in a heartbreaking 2-1 Game 7 defeat
A season defined by stunning comebacks, unbreakable resilience and unshakable belief ends with the Edmonton Oilers digging one last hole that they couldn’t escape.
They got their fingers over the edge and almost pulled themselves out, but the Florida Panthers stomped their hands and sealed their fate, handing them a crushing 2-1 Game 7 defeat Monday in Sunrise.
After twice rising from the dead this year — from 31st place in the standings and from 3-0 down in the Stanley Cup Final — the Oilers let history slip through their outstretched fingers.
“Obviously it wasn’t meant to be,” said Leon Draisaitl, his face showing the emotion after the most painful loss of his career. “I don’t know what to say right now. It’s heartbreaking. We were right there. We battled all the way to the end.
“We were one period, maybe one shot, away from winning the thing and now you have to go through 82 regular season games again.”
It would have been the most incredible National Hockey League triumph of all time. Instead, while Matthew Tkachuk and the Panthers celebrated at centre ice, the Oilers and everyone in Edmonton struggled to process the result.
