The Edmonton Oilers have been all business getting back to the Stanley Cup Final, but that hasn’t stopped them from having a bit of fun along the way.
Before Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars, forward Connor Brown surprised his teammates by jumping out of a cupboard in the change room to announce the starting line up. The Oilers won that game 4-1, then wrapped up the series with a 6-3 win in Game 5. They now face the Florida Panthers in a rematch of last year’s final. Game 1 is on Wednesday at Rogers Place.
Brown explained that their video analyst had done something similar during a winning streak earlier in the season. “I was in the cupboard for over 20 minutes with my phone and a cushion, texting the line up through. I thought it would get the boys fired up,” he said.
Brown missed the last two games against Dallas with an upper-body injury but was back on the ice over the weekend and says he is ready for Game 1.
Last season, the Oilers fought back from a 3-0 deficit in the Final to force a Game 7 but fell just short. This time, they believe they are better prepared.
“Last year, most of us were new to the Final. It was a bit of a shock,” said Brown. “Now we know what it takes. We stuck to our plan, trusted the process, and believed in the result. This time we’ll be ready right from the start.”
That belief helped them turn things around after dropping the first two games against the LA Kings in the first round. Since then, they’ve gone 12-2 in the playoffs, with convincing wins over Vegas and Dallas.
Leon Draisaitl said the team has become more composed. “We’ve been in tough situations, but this year it hasn’t felt as stressful. The Vancouver series last year was intense. It drained everyone. But we’ve matured. We know how to handle the pressure.”
Despite the high expectations and the goal of lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1990, the team has made a point of enjoying the journey.
“When you’re chasing a title, the pressure is real. But having fun is just as important,” said Brown. “We play hard for each other, and we enjoy being together. That balance has made a difference.”
Coach Kris Knoblauch agrees. “We’ve stayed focused, but we’ve also had fun. Moments like someone jumping out of a cupboard lighten the mood. It helps the team stay connected and hungry.”
Now, the Oilers are locked in, aiming to finish what they started last season.
Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images
