Some of Shelina Gwaduri’s earliest memories involve gathering around the family TV to watch the Edmonton Oilers play. She recalls attending a game with her older brother, Karim, where they met superstar Wayne Gretzky, the team’s captain at the time.
“Since I was born, the Oilers have been part of my life,” said the 43-year-old, who now resides in Vancouver. Tragically, her brother passed away four years ago, and now she wears his Oilers jersey for every game, including during their remarkable comeback against the Florida Panthers in this year’s Stanley Cup finals.
The Oilers are just one win away from clinching the Stanley Cup, set to face Florida on Monday in a best-of-seven series. A victory would mark the first championship for a Canadian NHL team since 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens triumphed over the Los Angeles Kings, and would be the Oilers’ first since 1990.
This situation is particularly historic: no team has come back from a 3-0 deficit to tie a series in the Stanley Cup final since 1945. The Oilers are only the third team in NHL history to achieve this feat, with the Toronto Maple Leafs being the only team to overcome such a deficit and win the Cup.
Fans like Gwaduri believe an Oilers win would be a significant milestone in the team’s illustrious history, especially given that it was once home to Gretzky, often considered the greatest hockey player ever. The team’s success in the 1980s earned Edmonton the nickname “City of Champions.” A championship would also be a source of pride for Canada, where fans have been eagerly waiting for the Stanley Cup to return to hockey’s birthplace.
Gwaduri noted that even her husband, a devoted fan of their rival team, the Vancouver Canucks, is excited about the Oilers’ potential victory. “It’s uniting us all in the excitement of ‘Oh my god, is this actually happening?’” she said.
Historically, the Edmonton Oilers have faced a long stretch of challenges. After reaching the Stanley Cup finals in 2006 with hopes of securing a sixth title, they suffered a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, entering a period known as “The Decade of Darkness.”
However, in 2015, they signed Connor McDavid, a 19-year-old hockey prodigy. Daniel Nugent-Bowman, who covers the team for The Athletic, described McDavid as a generational talent, known for his remarkable speed and skill. “If he retired today, he would be in the Hall of Fame as one of the greatest,” Nugent-Bowman said.
It took nine years after McDavid’s signing for the Oilers to once again contend for the Cup. “This journey hasn’t happened overnight,” he emphasized. The team’s dramatic comeback against the Panthers adds to the anticipation for Monday’s game.
Travis Sengaus, a fan of the rival Calgary Flames, expressed excitement for Edmonton’s success, recalling other historic sports comebacks, such as the Boston Red Sox’s victory over the New York Yankees in 2004 and LeBron James’ Cavaliers winning the NBA championship in 2016 after being down.
The Florida Panthers also have a compelling story as a relatively new franchise, established 31 years ago, the same year a Canadian team last won the Cup. They came close last year but lost in the finals to the Vegas Golden Knights. Ice hockey’s popularity in Florida has grown recently, partly due to the success of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Ahead of Monday’s matchup, Panthers coach Paul Maurice stated he is unfazed by previous games, while Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch expressed enjoyment of the experience, regardless of the outcome.
The series is being passionately followed by tens of thousands of fans in Edmonton, known for its harsh winters and resilient spirit. Spencer Bennett, a teacher in the area, shared that his school streamed Game 6 during graduation, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
Nugent-Bowman, who was present at the arena, remarked on the extraordinary noise level. “Hockey means everything to Edmonton,” he said, noting that younger fans may not recall the glory days of Gretzky.
For Gwaduri, a win would reaffirm Edmonton’s identity as the “City of Champions.” She plans to watch the final game with her husband, children, and extended family.
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