Edmonton Oilers’ Historic Journey to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final: From Worst to First
Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer
For the Edmonton Oilers, the odyssey from the depths of the Western Conference to its pinnacle is finally complete, and their prize is a coveted shot at the Stanley Cup.
Connor McDavid, a dynamo on the ice, opened the scoring for Edmonton with a goal and an assist in the first period, setting the tone early. Stuart Skinner, the local hero between the pipes, turned away 34 shots, propelling the Oilers to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Sunday night. This win capped an extraordinary and improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final.
Zach Hyman also found the back of the net, converting on a first-period power play, while Evan Bouchard chipped in with two assists. The Oilers clinched the Western Conference title in six games, earning their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final since 2006. Their next challenge awaits in Florida, with Game 1 set to commence on Saturday night. This series marks the longest geographical distance between Stanley Cup Final opponents in NHL history, spanning 2,540 miles from Edmonton to Sunrise, Florida.
“When the horn went off, that’s the loudest I’ve ever heard it,” McDavid shared with Sportsnet amidst the jubilant on-ice celebration, where Edmonton’s faithful chanted “We want the Cup” incessantly. “Special place to play, honestly. So much history. And these fans, it was great to hear their support.”
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Edmonton’s journey to the Cup Final is nothing short of remarkable. The Oilers clawed their way into contention after being 10 points out of a playoff spot during the regular season. On November 24, they stood at a dismal 5-12-1, trailing Seattle and St. Louis by 10 points for the final wild-card spot in the West, and a staggering 19 points behind Vegas for the conference lead.
Those struggles are now a distant memory.
Following the dismissal of Jay Woodcroft and the appointment of Kris Knoblauch as head coach, the Oilers ignited their resurgence with an eight-game winning streak. This turnaround was just the beginning. They later recorded a 16-game winning streak and finished the season as the NHL’s best team. Over their final 64 games, the Oilers posted an impressive 44-15-5 record, leading the league in goals (239) and goal differential (plus-76).
Now, the Stanley Cup Final beckons. Echoing the Panthers’ actions on Saturday night, the Oilers refrained from touching the conference championship trophy, focusing instead on the grander prize. “We hung in there. We got it done,” McDavid remarked. “Everyone deserves it.”
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