Edmonton Oilers supporters are once again thrilled about their team`s deep playoff run, but there`s a strong desire for this year`s outcome to be different from the disappointing finish of the previous season.
On Thursday, the Oilers secured their spot in the Stanley Cup final for the second year in a row. They achieved this by winning four consecutive games against the Dallas Stars, effectively completing a comeback after losing the opening game of the series.
Standing in the way of the Oilers claiming the championship are the Florida Panthers. It was the Panthers who emerged victorious against Edmonton last year, securing the first Cup title in their franchise history.
“I`m not nervous at all,” shared Oilers fan Nikolina Maljevic on Friday afternoon, speaking outside Rogers Place, the team`s home arena located in downtown Edmonton.
“I think they`re ready for this challenge,” she added, expressing confidence in the team.
Around the arena, staff members were diligently working to ensure that Edmonton`s Ice District, the area surrounding the rink, was fully prepared for the highly anticipated rematch.
Efforts included power washing the fan park and stocking the official team store with new merchandise, such as T-shirts. These restocking efforts were briefly paused as enthusiastic fans, including Maljevic, eagerly purchased items.
“I got some great things,” Maljevic stated, proudly displaying two jackets from a clothing line owned by the wife of Oilers captain Connor McDavid, along with a team T-shirt she bought for her father.
While Wednesday`s Game 1 is expected to be a sold-out event inside Rogers Place, thousands of additional fans are anticipated to gather outside the arena in the designated fan area. This space is affectionately known as the “Moss Pit,” honouring the memory of Joey Moss, a late and much-loved team equipment assistant.
Despite the excitement around the arena, Maljevic explained that her family`s long-standing game-day rituals mean she will be cheering from home.
“My family is a little superstitious,” she remarked, explaining that they avoid having new people join their viewing group to maintain their perceived winning tradition.
