The Sunshine State shines again! Twice in a row. So, did the franchise cement itself in hockey history as the team that embodies the renaissance? Absolutely! But then again, as much as the sun is shining down on Miami, there is another side to this coin, the curious case of the Stanley Cup runner-ups, twice in a row. Having gotten rid of their opponents from the Western Conference, Connor McDavid’s squad clawed their way to the top, just to finish second, yet again.

Though we’re sure that there is an emotional overload on both sides, winning or losing, the important voices that matter now have a lot to think about, and words may just not be enough, not at this very moment, but those words matter a great deal. A visibly sweaty Connor McDavid took his place in the spotlight to answer the barrage of questions. Phrased differently, but all the same, ‘What went wrong?’ 

If you were an Oilers fan who watched the post-game presser, you would relate to how painful it was to watch McDavid crumble to the question: “I lost to a very good team. Nobody quit, nobody threw the towel in, and they’re a heck of a team, you know? Stanley Cup back-to-back champions for a reason.” A classic Connor McDavid response, giving credit where it’s due. The Panthers weren’t just the better side today. In fact, they have been operating with a motto, and a darn good one at that. “They tilted the rink, they were able to kind of stay on top of us all over the place. Um, never really able to generate any momentum up the ice. You know we kept trying the same thing over and over again.. just banging our heads against the wall.”

If the Oilers still have it in them, the zeal to flip the script, they don’t need to look too far for the answer. A page or two from the Panthers’ playbook should do the deed: Stop being predictable. In case you didn’t notice, the Oilers were operating like a well-oiled machine, one that never deviated, never attempted to catch the opposition off-guard. The Oilers’ downfall was undoubtedly their strategic redundancy. Even the Draisaitl-McDavid magic pair-up couldn’t break the monotony, and the Panthers cashed in on the same.

Game 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final series was a great display of grit and valor from both teams, with each one snagging a win. Game 3 on the other hand, had a different story to tell, with only Corey Perry from the Oilers managing to put the puck past Bobrovsky, the brick wall. But that wasn’t enough to drag the Oilers from the deep ditch that they had landed themselves in. McDavid’s mention of the Panthers had one very important point: “How many guys had 20 plus points this post-season? They’re as deep as it comes.” The answer to that question is 6. The Oilers had 4.

The Panthers are not a team dependent on just one, two, or even 3 star players to carry the team across to the shore through any storm. This team is built on performances by players, each one of them playing to survive. Imagine the energy in the Panthers locker room. No wonder Brad Marchand fit right into the team like a glove. No wonder Seth Jones felt right at home after being traded from the Chicago Blackhawks, where he never ‘belonged’.

While the Cats nation is currently celebrating a well-deserved win, let’s dissect what went wrong at the Edmonton camp.

The reason(s) for Connor McDavid and co.’s heartbreak twice in a row

Let’s talk about the good stuff before we get to the bad. Just when all hope for the Oilers seemed to be lost, game 4 was a refreshing reminder of why the Oilers belonged in the finals in the first place. Leon Draisaitl did not disappoint and came through with a much-needed goal, while Calvin Pickard did exactly what he was expected to do: guard the net like a dragon’s golden egg. But before the Oilers nation could revel in a much-needed glorious reprieve, ill fate struck again like lightning, but with whiskers in game 5.

Game 6 should have been redemption. But instead, it was rife with sloppy execution and tactical blunders. Ray Ferraro felt frustrated with Edmonton’s mediocre attempts to lob the puck out in the neutral zone, only for the Panthers to lunge for the kill. And that scrummage behind the net? Rimming the puck around close to the boards did no good for the Oilers in game 5. As McDavid clearly pointed out, “Their forecheck was great.” And it truly was. Florida’s D-line had its own mishaps, which the Oilers failed to capitalize on.

But tonight, the frozen surface had a different story to tell. The Panthers were able to subdue any resurgence of the Oilers at any given position on the ice. You know what else Edmonton lacked? Cohesion and drive to make the moment count. Not for the lack of trying, it’s not like the Oilers couldn’t get physical. They can, and they have. Game 3: They took 21 penalties for 85 penalty minutes, pulled their starting goaltender, had a near-line brawl in the third period, and Jake Walman was irritated enough to squirt a stream from his water bottle at the Florida bench.

This might seem like a bunch of mindless antics. But all of this fueled the Oilers’ spectacular comeback in game 4. Beyond all the squandering and meandering, there is a psychological deep pocket that propels players and fans with a purpose that attacks and attracts. Last year, this time around, Connor McDavid and co. were left heartbroken. But this time around, the defeat has exposed layers of the team’s disheveled dynamics that spark an outcry to be mended and revived.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.