VIDEO: Sask. Oilers fans devastated after Edmonton falls 2-1 in Game 7

Edmonton Oilers fans in Saskatchewan and across Canada were left heartbroken after the team lost a nerve-wracking Game 7 in Florida on Monday.

The Florida Panthers won the low-scoring game 2-1 to end Edmonton’s comeback run and claim the Stanley Cup.

The Oilers most recently won the Stanley Cup in 1990, the team’s fifth championship. Fans were hoping the team could turn back the clock all the way to 1942 – the last and only time an NHL team came back from three games down in the final series to sweep the final four.

Heartbreak and pain in Edmonton 💔 pic.twitter.com/Xg32ljTQLN

— Shane (@ShaneC06) June 25, 2024

Across Saskatchewan, lifelong fans have soaked up the series, with the Oilers losing the first three games of the best-of-seven series before rebounding with three wins of their own.

Edmonton fan Josh Sim said the nation rallied behind the Oilers in a huge way during the series.

“I think it brought hockey back to Canada,” Sim said. “It’s a tough finish for everyone.”

“It’s really disappointing,” said Blair Gibson, another Edmonton fan. “We were a better team in this series. Honestly, it’s just heartbreaking.”

Pure heartbreak for Oiler fans who came within a couple goals of seeing their team lift @StanleyCup #Letsgooilers @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/f7w9aX8BCh

— Will Mandzuk (@WMandzuk) June 25, 2024

Fishing Lake resident Rod Zwarych carved a giant Oilers logo into his lawn to support his favourite team

“I kind of stole the idea. A friend of mine sent me a picture of somebody in I assume Edmonton who had done it and he said ‘You should do this on your lawn,'” he explained.

“My lawn just happened to be the right length, so I thought, I’m a big Oilers fan, so I’m going to show what kind of fan I am.”

Saskatoon’s William Dmytrow made an eerie prediction for an Oilers Stanley Cup win in 2024 as his yearbook quote when he graduated from Centennial Collegiate in 2018.

“What if I predict the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup? I just picked a random date and did not think twice about it and here we are,” he said.

Chris Cuthbert shares his thoughts after Oilers loss

‘Hockey Night in Canada’ sportscaster Chris Cuthbert was on the Evan Bray Show on Tuesday to reflect on the series. He said it was a remarkable playoff year.

“We always say the first round is the most exciting, but this year it just seemed to build with each round and get more exciting,” said Cuthbert. “I’m not sure I’ve experienced fandom like it was in Edmonton in the third round.”

He said watching the Oilers climbing back from their 3-0 deficit to make it to Game 7 was a crazy thing to see.

“To watch the Oilers take off at the end and head to the final and almost bring it home was just falling a little short of a perfect postseason,” said Cuthbert.

It wasn’t all bad for Edmonton. Oilers centre Connor McDavid, who led the postseason with 42 points, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP at the end of the game.

McDavid did not return to the ice to receive the award after winning, and Cuthbert said that he wasn’t surprised.

“I think he left everything out on the ice and, unfortunately, he had to do that in junior hockey as well, and I don’t think it was an experience that he really savoured. He was there for one trophy, and maybe that was a presentation that could have been done off the ice, behind the scenes,” said Cuthbert.

“I know that there are some fans who think he should have been there. I’m not going to nitpick that, because what we saw from him for two months was heart and soul, and I’m sure he was just absolutely devastated after the game.”

Viewing parties for Game 7

650 CKOM’s Brent Bosker Tweets from his seat in the arena watch party: Anxiety rising at Rogers Place but fans still not giving up hope with their Oilers trailing to Florida 2-1. (Brent Bosker/650 CKOM)

The Oilers weren’t at home for Game 7, but the Rogers Place was packed with fans, prizes and an alumni autograph session. 650 CKOM’s Brent Bosker was in the stands to watch the historic night in NHL history.

Outside of the arena in the Moss Pit is where 650 CKOM’s Shane Clausing was stationed.

It’s the calm before the storm. In minutes thousands will be allowed inside of the Moss Pit and Fan Park for Game 7.

This place is going to be crazy! pic.twitter.com/SMRUGsg85V

— Shane (@ShaneC06) June 24, 2024

Jamie Nye and The Green Zone hosted a Game 7 viewing party in Regina at the Acre 21 Boston Pizza.

Saskatchewan connection to the Edmonton Oilers

There are 24 Canadian-born players on the team, including four from the Prairies.

Imperial, Sask. is the hometown of Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. 980 CJME’s Daniel Reech was in the community for a viewing party at the local rink.

Knoblauch took over as the team’s bench boss in November after the Oilers hit a low point in the season. His father, Robert, credited his son’s coaching expertise to the time he spent at the University of Alberta, playing under Rob Daum.

“Kris noticed that the players played better and learned better when the coach was calm behind the bench,” Robert said in a previous interview.

Fans in Imperial, Sask. gather in the town’s rink to watch Game 7. The Oilers head coach, Kris Knoblauch, is from the small town. (Daniel Reech/980 CKOM)

Carol Baade, from Imperial, is second cousins with Knoblauch, and taught him when he was in school.

She said she was disappointed with the result, but was also very proud that Edmonton made it so far in the series.

“A lot of people couldn’t handle it, but Kris did a beautiful job representing our country and representing the team,” she said.

Wayne Hanna grew up in Imperial, and now lives in Pilot Butte. Hanna decided to come back home for the watch party.

“It could have been a happier outcome but it’s still pretty cool, actually,” Hanna said.

He added that he was proud of Knoblauch and goalie Connor Ingram, who was also raised in Imperial.

“(Knoblauch) deserves to be there and I think it’s known now actually that he knows what he’s doing.”

Edmonton Oilers 50-50 draw

The team surpassed its record for the highest NHL jackpot, which neared $20 million. Hopeful winners had to be in Alberta to purchase a ticket for the 11 p.m. draw.

Which teams won the Stanley Cup since the Oilers last victory?

2023: Vegas Golden Knights, Coach Bruce Cassidy
2022: Colorado Avalanche, Coach Jared Bednar
2021: Tampa Bay Lightning, Coach Jon Cooper
2020: Tampa Bay Lightning, Coach Jon Cooper
2019: St. Louis Blues, Coach Craig Berube
2018: Washington Capitals, Coach Barry Trotz
2017: Pittsburgh Penguins, Coach Mike Sullivan
2016: Pittsburgh Penguins, Coach Mike Sullivan
2015: Chicago Blackhawks, Coach Joel Quenneville
2014: Los Angeles Kings, Coach Darryl Sutter
2013: Chicago Blackhawks, Coach Joel Quenneville
2012: Los Angeles Kings, Coach Darryl Sutter
2011: Boston Bruins, Coach Claude Julien
2010: Chicago Blackhawks, Coach Joel Quenneville
2009: Pittsburgh Penguins, Coach Dan Bylsma
2008: Detroit Red Wings, Coach Mike Babcock
2007: Anaheim Ducks, Coach Randy Carlyle
2006: Carolina Hurricanes, Coach Peter Laviolette
2005: n/a
2004: Tampa Bay Lightning, Coach John Tortorella
2003: New Jersey Devils, Coach Pat Burns
2002: Detroit Red Wings, Coach Scotty Bowman
2001: Colorado Avalanche, Coach Bob Hartley
2000: New Jersey Devils, Coach Larry Robinson
1999: Dallas Stars, Coach Ken Hitchcock
1998: Detroit Red Wings, Coach Scotty Bowman
1997: Detroit Red Wings, Coach Scotty Bowman
1996: Colorado Avalanche, Coach Marc Crawford
1995: New Jersey Devils, Coach Jacques Lemaire
1994: New York Rangers, Coach Mike Keenan
1993: Montreal Canadiens, Coach Jacques Demers
1992: Pittsburgh Penguins, Coach Scotty Bowman
1991: Pittsburgh Penguins, Coach Bob Johnson
1990: Edmonton Oilers, Coach John Muckler

With files from 650 CKOM’s Shane Clausing, Brent Bosker and Will Mandzuk, 980 CJME’s Daniel Reech and Roman Hayter, and The Canadian Press