Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov raised the Stanley Cup 鈥 the first Finnish captain to do so 鈥 and passed it to goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
And on it went, the crowd cheering each player, each coach, each assistant, the entire management team until the team picture at centre ice.
It was all smiles, all sweat, some tears.
The National Hockey League Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup champions on Monday night, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 of the finals. Fans in Hialeah celebrated, waving flags in the street, honking car horns and banging pots with spoons. (AP Video / June 25, 2024)
鈥淚 just can鈥檛 believe what鈥檚 going on, to be honest,鈥 Barkov told the cameras on the ice at Amerant Bank Arena. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nuts. It鈥檚 incredible to see how hard everyone worked. And now, there鈥檚 no games tomorrow.
The Florida Panthers celebrate their 2-1 victory against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7.
Elsa/Getty Images鈥淚t鈥檚 unbelievable for sure.鈥
Believe it. The Florida Panthers, a franchise born 30 years ago and frequently the object of derision, are champions.
A second-period goal by Sam Reinhart stood as the difference in Florida鈥檚 2-1 win Monday night as the Edmonton Oilers ran out of magic.
鈥淐an鈥檛 get the words out,鈥 said Florida defenceman Aaron Ekblad. 鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible. It鈥檚 amazing. It鈥檚 the best feeling in my life so far. Nothing tops it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 your worst nightmare when you lose Game 6. We鈥檝e got some great leadership in the room and we turned it around.
鈥淭he journey has been incredible, it鈥檚 insane. We did it.鈥
The crowd was its loudest when affable and long-serving coach Paul Maurice raised the Cup.
鈥淚t鈥檚 brilliant,鈥 said Maurice. 鈥淚鈥檝e never hugged so many sweaty men in my life. I鈥檓 not sure I鈥檒l ever do it again. But I鈥檓 going to do it tonight.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not what I thought it would be. It鈥檚 better. It鈥檚 the hugs. I saw Sam Bennett smile today for the first time in two years.鈥
He mouthed 鈥測es鈥 as he held the Cup up.
Earlier, he told 鈥淗ockey Night in Canada鈥 the win was for his family.
鈥淢om and Dad especially. Hey Dad, your name is going to go up with your heroes. Beliveau, Richard, Howe, Lindsay, Maurice.鈥
Edmonton Oilers fans didn't see the result they wanted as their team lost to the Florida Panthers by a score of 2-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final. Ahead of the game, enthusiastic fans overwhelmed streets in the Alberta capital. (Jun. 24, 2024 / The Canadian Press)
Oilers disappointed
While Panthers fans were delirious with delight, the disappointment was evident on the faces of Connor McDavid and the Oilers, who were trying to become the first team since the 1942 Maple Leafs to win the Stanley Cup in a best-of-seven series after losing the first three games.
The Oilers react as time runs out in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Elsa/Getty Images鈥淲e went through a lot,鈥 McDavid told reporters afterwards. 鈥淐ame that close. Proud of the way we fought all year. Behind the 8-ball almost immediately. We fought an uphill climb for months and months and months. Just 鈥 sucks.鈥
McDavid came away with a consolation prize of sorts, named the Conn Smythe winner as the most valuable player in the playoffs with 42 points, beating Wayne Gretzky鈥檚 record for most assists in a single post-season. He鈥檚 first player from the losing team to win it since 2003 when Ducks goalie Jean-S茅bastien Gigu猫re won it despite New Jersey winning the Cup.
Oilers captain Connor McDavid was given the Conn Smythe for playoff MVP, despite his team losing in the final.
Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images鈥淚t鈥檚 an honour with the names on that trophy,鈥 he said.
The disappointment of the Oilers was shared by all Canadians. A Canadian team hasn鈥檛 won the Stanley Cup since Montreal in 1993.
The Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final. Connor McDavid was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player. McDavid says he's proud of his team despite the loss. (June 25, 2024 / The Canadian Press)
The Oilers took a most unusual road to the Cup final, indeed to the playoffs themselves.
They were 2-9-1 in November, second last in the NHL. A coaching changed helped, Kris Knoblauch coming in. The rise of goalie Stuart Skinner, replacing minors-bound Jack Campbell, helped. A 16-game winning streak and a pair of eight-game winning streaks returned the team to its Stanley Cup contender status.
鈥淲e showed year long that we could fight back, even in the most dire situations,鈥 said McDavid. 鈥淭ough to be down three and tough to string four in a row against a good team like that, but we were right there 鈥 right there.鈥
Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe scores the first goal of the game on Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner during the first period of Game 7.
Nathan Denette/THE CANADIAN PRESS笔辞颈驳苍补苍迟听尘辞尘别苍迟蝉
There were a lot of feel-good moments among the Panthers, like veterans Kyle Okposo (1,051 games played) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (982 games) getting their moment with the Cup.
鈥淚t means a lot,鈥 said Okposo. 鈥淚 tried to help with my experience. There鈥檚 nowhere else I鈥檇 rather be.鈥
Then there was Maurice hoisting the Cup 10,457 days after making his league debut on Nov. 7, 1995 behind the bench of the Hartford Whalers (now Carolina Hurricanes).
鈥淚f I could have one thing more, it鈥檚 for the Winnipeg Jets to win the Stanley Cup,鈥 said Maurice.
But the best moment might have belonged to the Tkachuk family, with Matthew raising the Cup and looking in the direction of his father Keith, and brother Brady, a forward with the Ottawa Senators. Brady appeared to be crying tears of joy for his brother.
鈥淚鈥檓 thinking of my family,鈥 said Matthew. 鈥淚 know my brother is going to do this very soon.鈥
Then the former Flame did a 鈥渟houtout鈥 to his fans in Calgary: 鈥淵ou knew I couldn鈥檛 let Edmonton win.鈥
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