One thing that carries over through sports, is greatness tends to be defined by championships. Today, we at Last Word On Hockey bring you another of the Prime Video television series “Faceoff.” As we feature the final two episodes, and we will add, they are a two-parter, aptly named Cup or Bust. For the two team’s involved, the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers, those words couldn’t be any realer. Heading into the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, it really was the buzz following both teams.
The Faceoff Series, Season 1, Episode 5: Cup or Bust, Part I
Episode 5 starts with the end of 2024 (not to give it away or anything). All you hear is the collective tears of the Oilers group, as the veteran Zach Hyman exclaims, “It’s so … hard.” He doesn’t want everyone to witness the heartbreak that is the loss and (politely) tells the cameras to get out of there. That’s the type of leadership that Hyman brings to the table. He works hard, and when he sees something out of place, he speaks up.
Connor McDavid is shown emotional, oblivious to the fact that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is attempting to summon him out for the presentation of the famous Stanley Cup Playoff Most Valuable Player award, the Conn Smythe Trophy. Rarely has the trophy ever been awarded to a player from the losing side. In fact, McDavid was only the sixth (of the 53 total winners, at the time) to come from the losing side.
Credit Image: © Daniel Lea/Cal Sport Media
Summing the Pieces from All of Season One
When we look at the big picture, these last two episodes really put together the series and summarize the happenings from the past few years in the NHL. Even though we are still in season one, these two combatants would make the final again, for what would be season two.
Looking back, a McDavid-led Oiler team made the Western Conference Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 2022. We all remember that they ran into Nathan MacKinnon‘s Colorado Avalanche squad. Of course, Episode 4 focused on the captains and Gabriel Landeskog was the one from the episode who had actually won a Stanley Cup. Furthermore, if we go back to Episode 2 of the show, it featured a winner of the 2023 Stanley Cup, Jack Eichel. Then, for the ending of season one, we see the battle for the 2024 Stanley Cup, McDavid and the Oilers versus Tkachuk and his Panthers squad.
A Hockey GOAT
For Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, the aura that surrounds the man, the giant, is just different. You can feel the pressure to be the very best to ever do it. When you talk about McDavid specifically, it is unfair to say GOAT (Greatest of All Time). The reason isn’t because he is undeserving, it has more to do with the culmination of years of pressure building.
We draw your attention to Ryan Whitney, with a cameo appearance of sorts on the show. He is, of course, a fellow Spittin’ Chiclets Podcaster, along with one of the regular contributors to the Faceoff show, hockey colour analyst, Paul Bissonnette.
Whitney suggests that McDavid is the most talented player ever. His perspective has to do with the speed of the game today, and the fact he is so much better than everyone (well, most people), despite the collective skill within the league. The way Connor McDavid can go through opposing defences and make the goalie look helpless, is a rare trait. The saying, he’s playing chess, when everyone else is playing checkers, seems to fit so well. Anyone who has watched McDavid live, knows he’s the peak of human performance speed, skill, and hockey intelligence. Usain Bolt is someone who comes to mind when most think of speed and raw, natural, peak human performance.
Living through it right now, everyone expects McDavid to do what GOATs do, win Stanley Cup Championships. Anything else would be a failure. Cup or bust, baby!
His teammate, and (one of), if not, his best friend(s) Leon Draisaitl clearly recognizes the stress and magnitude of what it has been like for McDavid. McDavid has been under constant pressure with the media following him around, ever since he was a kid. Even though McDavid and Draisaitl haven’t won a cup, the point is they have, and continue to, face extreme pressure. The will to win is strong.
Here, we split these two-part, perhaps slightly different the actual review, to follow the chronological order of the series. As from the show, still in episode five, they do shift gears. We talk about superstars on the other end of the spectrum of superstardom. In case you haven’t realized it yet, the Tkachuks are made for television. But we will save that for Part II of our end of season one. For now, it is on to the hockey action.
The 2024 Stanley Cup Final and Game 1
For Game 1 of the series, not to be cliche or anything, but we will be cliche. Florida really was able to set the tone. McDavid and Hyman had a brilliant chance early, as McDavid knocked down a Bobrovsky attempted clearing. However, Hyman was unable to finish. It was only a few moments later that Aleksander Barkov found Carter Verhaeghe speeding to the net, who made it 1-0 in favour of the team South Florida.
Oh, how different that game, and quite possibly the entire series could have gone. Nugent-Hopkins had a glorious opportunity, a partial breakaway in a late first period power play, needless to say, the chances kept coming, from both sides. It was early in the second period, that Evan Rodrigues pounced on a loose puck in the slot to make it 2-0. Edmonton had outshot Florida throughout the game 33-18, the stage was set. It would be war. But Florida made it 3-0 with an empty-netter to end Game 1.
Game 2 from Florida (Series 1-0 Florida)
This game has a series, or rather, hockey defining moment. Game 2, did start as more of the same as from Game 1. Interestingly, it was tough to actually say what more of that same was referring to. Mostly that it would be a very tight series, by the end of it. Moreover, it took the Oilers over 11 minutes to register their first shot. However, it was a big one, as on perhaps a cold Sergei Bobrovsky, Mattias Ekholm was able to slip one through the wickets. But you knew Florida wouldn’t roll over in the pivotal game two, still experiencing home-ice advantage.
The Panthers, as we know, are relentless. It was Niko Mikkola, on a drop pass from Anton Lundell was able to tie it at one. For Oiler fans who doubt Stuart Skinner‘s abilities, this would be a game to watch. Skinner made a lot of point blank saves in this one. In contrast, the third period turned into the Evan Rodrigues show. He scored two goals to give the Panthers the 3-1 advantage. An Aaron Ekblad empty net goal from just before the red line, put the game on ice.
The series gives us one of the all-time soundbites from an NHL great. Connor McDavid basically loses it on his teammates in the dressing room. His quote goes something like, “Dig the … in, right … now.” This was during that pivotal Game 2 of this series.
Game 3 from Edmonton (Series 2-0 Florida)
Now the series made it to Northern Alberta. The electricity of the atmosphere could not be given justice from a television screen, it was almost as though the camera was breathing with the entire arena. It was alive.
And of course, Florida played the ultimate spoiler. The 57-goal man from the regular season, Sam Reinhart, who give the Panthers the edge late in the first with a redirection marker. Edmonton did tie it at one. In contrast, a few defensive mix-ups, and next thing you know it was 4-1 for Florida heading into the second intermission.
Diggin’ In
What happens next, is a turning point of sorts for the series. Now, Edmonton wouldn’t come back to win Game 3, but this is when Connor McDavid began to take over the series. This marks the beginning of a seven-period span of sheer dominance from number 97. But for Game 3 itself, McDavid’s two assists in the third period weren’t quite enough to complete the comeback in the game. However, they were oh so close as one chance by Ryan McLeod in particular comes to mind. McDavid was somehow able to feed it through Bobrovsky’s skate, and even more amazingly as it ended up on McLeod’s stick, and he tried to slide it home, Bobrovsky’s left pad denied him. In the end of Game 3, concluding Part I of the season one finale review, 3-0 FLA.
Main Photo Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports