And they don’t include the you-know-who’s.
The NHL spent the weekend determining this year’s Stanley Cup finalists while discarding unneeded trash.
Contesting the Cup will be the Edmonton Oilers, who last won the Cup in 1990 (unless you count 1994) and were last in the final in 2006, and the Florida Panthers, who’ve never won a Cup but return to the final in back-to-back years, after previously not being there since 1996.
The Panthers did God’s work by sending home the Rangers, whose year-long special teams dependency dried up at the perfect time. Sorry not sorry, very very much not sorry.
- Another former Islanders head coach is looking for work, as Jack Capuano will not be retained on the bench in Ottawa where Travis Green is taking over. [THN]
- The Oilers were outshot 35-10 yet still won Game 6, hanging on after getting an early 2-0 lead via the power play. [NHL]
- The Rangers thought they had something special going on, but no, they are done (we can repeat that once or thrice for those in the back), after losing a bunch of one-goal games (which I can only infer means they lack heart, grit, character and soul). [NHL | AP]
- Those Smurfs have some off-season decisions to make. [Athletic | Post] Because it’s reality check time. [Athletic]
- Paul Maurice is the right personality for the Panthers right now. [Athletic]