Oilers’ ‘complete focus’ is on keeping Panthers from Stanley Cup repeat

Edmonton Oilers superstar captain Connor McDavid addressed the big picture of what lies ahead for his team as it prepares for a rematch with the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.
Several feet behind McDavid, however, was a big picture of Florida alternate captain Matthew Tkachuk celebrating with the Stanley Cup. That image, which was taken after the Panthers captured a seven-game series win over the Oilers last June, likely was fresh in McDavid’s mind.
McDavid will try to take the first step toward authoring a different ending when the teams play Game 1 of the best-of-seven series on Wednesday in Edmonton.
“It can be draining just dealing with the emotion,” McDavid said. “You feel closer, then there’s a big circus. It can feel like it’s larger than it is.
“At the end of the day, it’s another series, and we’re playing another great team. And we’ll have to beat them before anything else happens. They have our complete focus. All of our energy is going into beating the Florida Panthers. There should be nothing else on anyone’s mind.”
With the teams meeting again, it marks the first Stanley Cup rematch since the Pittsburgh Penguins responded to a six-game loss to Detroit in 2008 with a seven-game series victory over the Red Wings in 2009.
McDavid has excelled during this playoff run, recording nine of his 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in Edmonton’s five-game series win over the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference finals.
The three-time Hart Trophy recipient has totaled four assists in two meetings versus the Panthers this season, albeit the end result was a pair of one-goal losses for Edmonton.
While all eyes will be on McDavid and fellow former Hart Trophy recipient Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers will need strong performances at the other end of the ice if they are to capture their first Stanley Cup title since 1990.
Stuart Skinner, the Oilers’ goaltender, has a tall task ahead of him as he squares off against two-time Vezina Trophy recipient Sergei Bobrovsky for the second straight final.
“He’s one of the best goalies in the world,” Skinner said of Bobrovsky, who has notched one shutout in each round this spring. “He’s impressive. He skates well. Technically, I don’t think there’s much wrong with him in my perspective. He’s exceptional.”
Florida head coach Paul Maurice praised both clubs for what they’ve done to address perceived weaknesses.
“Each of us going into last year had a definable strength. They’re a really good offensive team and we were close to being the best defensive team,” Maurice said. “I don’t think that’s changed for either team. What both teams have done is added to the other parts. … We both improved a part of our game that wasn’t a part of our strengths, and our strengths are still as good as they’ve ever been.”
The Panthers are making their third consecutive Stanley Cup appearance off strong play on the road. They are 8-2 away from home in the playoffs.
Florida captain Aleksander Barkov has totaled 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 17 playoff games, including seven (three goals, four assists) in his team’s five-game series win over the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals.
Barkov was named as the winner of the Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward for the third time in his career on Monday. He also won the King Clancy Trophy for noteworthy humanitarian contribution.