Some NHL Final Round Notes

The event, on paper at least, a stellar possibility, is still 2 nights away, but anticipation grows for the NHL final, to be contested between the defending champion Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers.

It is a rematch of last year’s final, in which Florida claimed their first crown, but only after losing 3 straight games, yielding a 7th game, in which they held on for a (2-1) win and that above cited first title.

Edmonton is a slight favorite (this time they have home advantage, but alas, each team has won all 3 series to become “Cup” finalists sans it, surely a first) in the series, as they bid to become the first Canada based team to win the NHL title, since the once great, Montreal Canadiens did so 32 years ago.

“El” Oilers (one day “re” same nicknames and titles, for now the Houston Oilers won the first two AFL titles but never won an NFL crown or made a Supe. They moved to Tennessee and as the Titans lost a truly tough one, vs the Rams in the ’99 season Supe, their lone final to date) are a little bit larger favorites in game 1, Wednesday night at home.

In previous Oilers or Panthers final round appearances (they total 10, as one was vs each other last season, the #1 winner is (9-1), the lone opener loser to still title being ’85 Edmonton vs Philadelphia. (For the record, in both ’84 and ’85 “Edm” more than seemingly benefitted from a 2-3-2 configuration also present then and not now in the NBA final, (it was the first 2-3-2 in what became many in the NBA), as both seasons they split on the road (in ’84 they won #1 at the 4 time defending champion Islanders, before getting the next 3 at home and winning them. Ditto save a game 1 loss at Philadelphia (Flyers) in ’85, as the Oilers again roared to home wins in games (3-5) to claim a second straight title.

That 2022 Cup Final marked the third straight Florida team appearance in the entity, all by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Now Florida (Panthers) in their third straight final round makes the Florida team in the NHL final streak 6.