Edmonton didn’t complete the sensational turnaround, Florida won the Stanley Cup. Conn Smythe Trophy as expected for Connor McDavid

Florida dominated the decisive seventh game of the Stanley Cup Final 2-1 at home and won the series 4-3. The Florida Panthers won the first Stanley Cup in franchise history in the third game of the Finals. As expected, Connor McDavid was named MVP.

Florida decided at home

The Panthers made their own way to the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. After taking a fairly clear 3-0 lead in the series, Edmonton surged to a massive finish, tying the series, especially after a sensational performance by Oilers captain Connor McDavid.

At Amerant Bank Arena, Carter Verhaeghe was the hero, as he beat Stuart Skinner in the 5th minute of the first period. And the unwritten rule that the team that scores first in the decisive seventh game usually enjoys the Stanley Cup victory was confirmed.

The Panthers defence kept the Oilers’ offensive stars at bay this time and held them to zero. The Oilers got Janmark back in the game just two minutes later. However, that was it for the Oilers in this game. The winning goal of this year’s playoffs was scored by Florida’s top regular season scorer Sam Reinhart at 35:11 after a pass from Verhaeghe.

Edmonton thus failed to complete the sensational turnaround that only Toronto managed in 1942 for the Detroit Red Wings. However, the NHL saw only the eighteenth time in its history a seven-game battle for the NHL’s Holy Grail.

Connor McDavid wins the Conn Smythe Trophy

A small band-aid for Oilers captain McDavid is winning the Conn Smythe trophy for Most Valuable Player. He managed to win it as only the sixth player in history not to win the Stanley Cup. He scored 42 points in 25 games. This is the 4th best performance in the history of the playoffs.

And with 34 assists, he broke the previous record of Wayne Gretzky, who set the previous high of 31 assists in the 1987-88 season. McDavid thus followed 4 goaltenders and the only forward Reggie Leach, who received this prestigious trophy after the final defeat in 1976.

McDavid celebrates winning the last individual trophy not already in his collection. However, he will have to wait at least one more year to win the club’s most valuable trophy. The 27-year-old forward still has many seasons ahead of him and it is only a matter of time before he gets his dream trophy.

Either way, the Oilers have stretched out the wait for the Stanley Cup, which they last celebrated in 1990, for another season. It remained just below the top in 2006 and 2024.

Source: NHL