As the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars on Thursday in a 6-3 Game 5 victory, they advanced to the Stanley Cup final for the second straight year. This confirms a Cup final rematch from last season between the Oilers and the Florida Panthers.
Last season’s Cup final was one for the ages. After Florida took a 3-0 series lead, Edmonton pushed back and won three games in a row, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7. The Panthers went on to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
However, the Oilers get a shot at redemption this time around, and history suggests they have a pretty good chance at being the first Canadian team to win the Cup since 1993.
The last time the NHL saw a finals rematch was in 2008 and 2009 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings.
The Red Wings got the best of the Penguins in their first matchup, winning the series in six games. In the following season, the Penguins defeated the Wings in seven games, and both teams won their respective Cups on the road.
Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby won his first Cup in their rematch against Detroit, leading the NHL with 15 goals in those playoffs. His 31 points in 24 games were the second-most in the post-season, with only teammate and Conn Smythe winner Evgeni Malkin had more with 36 points.
Wayne Gretzky won his first Stanley Cup in the same fashion as Crosby did, and Connor McDavid could potentially do the same this year.
From 1980 to 1983, the New York Islanders won the Cup four straight times, and the Oilers were the last team they beat during that dynasty. The next season, the Oilers had another crack at the Isles to stop them from winning their fifth straight championship.
The Oilers were successful in the rematch and were awarded the 1984 Stanley Cup. Gretzky scored 13 goals and 22 assists, recording 35 points in 19 playoff games.
It fits the script if McDavid wins his first Cup the same way Crosby and Gretzky did, but we will just have to see what happens when the Oilers and Panthers face off in Game 1 on June 4.
Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.