A tight timeline from just after two o’clock in the afternoon until the start of Game 1 about four hours later offered eager hockey fans many opportunities to express their excitement for the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.
On the streets of Edmonton on Wednesday (June 4th), lines began to form to enter the “Moss Pit” across from the arena and down the block as well for fan park in the ICE District.
Among those lucky enough to have the chance to see the opener of the best-of-seven series live was Grace from Red Deer who gets to go to most of the games because her dad is a season ticket holder. She shared a prediction of the Edmonton Oilers over the Florida Panthers in seven games for a redemption story over last season’s heartbreak. The Oilers have home ice advantage this time around whereas in 2024 it was a south Florida celebration for the Panthers as they topped Edmonton 2-1 in Game 7. Being born in 2006 and having never seen the Oilers or a Canadian team win the Stanley Cup, Grace says “the city would go crazy. Like I would be speechless if they won, actually.”
Albert from New Brunswick chimed in with a pick of Edmonton in six with what the club learned from last year spurring on growth and their Captain Connor McDavid being ready to do it. Acquiring tickets from StubHub would grant Albert access to Game 1 and with a birth date in 1969 he remembers the Oilers last league title in 1990. If they were to hoist hockey’s Holy Grail this season, he says “(it’d) be awesome. I’d have to buy more fan gear, more Oilers jerseys and stuff.”
Outside of Rogers Place hours before the start of the series, SportsNet’s National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman was buying in on the optimism around this year being different for Edmonton in the SCF. He says “absolutely it can be. You, know I think last year everybody was excited. This year everybody believes they can win. It is a different feeling. I’ll be hard, like Florida is a helluva team but people believe the Oilers can win.”
Friedman agreed the drought for Canada needs to end. The Montreal Canadiens being this country’s the most recent Cup winner and that being all the way back in 1993. He says “number one – like just as a Canadian – I think the Stanley Cup, it has been too long. I’ve always said, Galen, that before I get fired I want to see a Canadian team win one. I don’t care which one it is. Edmonton is here, so why not the Oilers. Look I think, you know, I live in Toronto. I grew up with people who are big (Toronto Maple) Leaf fans. I was born in 1970. Like me and my group of friends, my group of friends – particularly Leaf fans – they’ve never seen a team win. So I don’t know how sympathetic they are to the Oilers who have already won five Stanley Cups but I don’t care. I would love to see a Canadian team win. So I’m hoping for Edmonton.”
Front man and lead vocalist Max Kerman and the Canadian rock band the Arkells hit the stage prior to Game 1 to headline Rogers Festival at the Final in Fan Park at the ICE District. Kerman and Company delivered a high energy set, or pregame warm up skate if you will, to set the table for the main event which was yet to come in the evening. He informed the crowd they had just learned the day before of this assignment for them and had put a call out on social media for anyone who might be willing to lend him vintage Oilers apparel to wear during their set. It generated hundreds of responses. Kerman received the jacket he wore for the outdoor concert from Oilers legend and current assistant coach Paul Coffey.
Putting the exclamation point on the day would be Leon Draisaitl’s power play goal. It was the skate away play as the Oilers capped off a rally from down 3-1 to beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 in overtime in Game 1.
Optimism and excitement will only climb higher ahead of the Friday night frenzy that will be Game 2 in the City of Champions. Edmonton and Canada await what could be just three more wins away.
