The Edmonton Oilers are the last Canadian NHL franchise still standing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets’ heartcrushing eliminations in the Second Round. While gearing up for the Western Conference Final, Leon Draisaitl dropped a slight dig amid a sincere comment on the expectations set by the fans in The Great White North.
The Oilers are the last hope remaining for a Canadian side to hoist its first Stanley Cup since the 1992-93 NHL season, when the Canadiens, unironically, conquered their 23rd championship, further cementing their throne at the top of the pyramid.
Edmonton is hoping to rewrite the history books and bounce back after last year’s Stanley Cup Final loss to the Florida Panthers. The Oilers are just four wins away from a second consecutive Final appearance—tantalizingly close to glory, yet still a big stride away.
The stakes are sky-high for Draisaitl and the Oilers, but the roster in Edmonton fully embraces the pressure, as the German star noted. Other teams in Canada’s market don’t have that trait, as Draisaitl hinted with his latest comments, seemingly aiming at Toronto and Winnipeg’s eliminations.
“Of course, the pressure is higher here [in Canada]. The media, fans, and the expectations—it’s just the way it is,” Draisaitl told reporters. “It’s a hockey country, it starts with hockey and it ends with hockey in this country. I don’t know if teams feel that they get under pressure with that, I’m not the right person to answer that, but we can handle it. We’re excited to get back to playing and put our best.”
Painful ending
Toronto and Winnipeg entered the postseason with sky-high expectations, yet neither managed to get past the second round—a familiar theme for both franchises. The Jets, winners of the Presidents’ Trophy in the regular season, saw their Stanley Cup dreams shattered by the Stars, remaining still one of the Cup-less franchises in NHL history.
As for the Leafs, their championship drought continues, with their last title dating back to 1967. The pressure on the team’s core has seemingly exposed severe cracks in its roster’s foundation, and changes now feel imminent.
Keeping up with ‘The Moose’
Draisaitl and the Oilers will have their hands full when the Western Conference Final against the Stars gets underway on May 21 at American Airlines Center. While Edmonton boasts no shortage of firepower with McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, and others, the team must focus on neutralizing Dallas’ seemingly unstoppable stars—particularly Mikko Rantanen, who has stolen the spotlight in the NHL postseason.
“He’s a perennial 100-point guy, scored 50 goals, he’s a great player who we’ll need to keep an eye out in this series,” Connor McDavid warned his teammates, per NHL.com. “It’s going to be tough, but we’re excited for the challenge as we always are.”
Frantic series
The Stars and Oilers will see each other’s faces for the second time in as many years during the Western Conference Final, with a ticket to the Stanley Cup Final on the line, and the prospect of hoisting immortality looming over.
Edmonton is on the hunt for its sixth Stanley Cup—its second since Wayne Gretzky’s departure—and McDavid’s first, as he looks to write the most glorious chapter of his career in Oil Country. His legendary tenure in Alberta has already been a success, but it’s still missing the cherry on top.
The Stars, on the other hand, are hoping to conquer their second Cup in franchise history, repeating their success from the 1998-99 NHL season. With Peter DeBoer at the helm, and his widely acclaimed 9-0 record in Game 7s, confidence is higher than ever in Dallas for the Stars to finally bring the Cup back home.
SURVEY Who will the best player in the Oilers-Stars series?
Who will the best player in the Oilers-Stars series?
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Schedule
- Game 1 at Dallas on May 21 at 8p.m. EST
- Game 2 at Dallas on May 23 at 8p.m. EST
- Game 3 at Edmonton on May 25 at 3p.m. EST
- Game 4 at Edmonton on May 27 at 8p.m. EST
- Game 5 at Dallas on May 29 at 8p.m. EST (if neccesary)
- Game 6 at Edmonton on May 31 at 8p.m. EST (if neccesary)
- Game 7 at Dallas on June 2 at 8p.m. EST (if neccesary)