The Florida Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-3, on Wednesday in five games to reach their third consecutive Stanley Cup final. Last night, the Edmonton Oilers beat the Dallas Stars, 6-3, in five games to reach their second final in a row.
Yes, a good old rematch to decide one of the most coveted trophies in sports. The Panthers beat Edmonton in a thrilling seven-game series to win the Stanley Cup in 2024.
The rematch could also set up another bet between Gov. Ron DeSantis and Danielle Smith, the premier of Alberta. Edmonton is the capital city of the Canadian province.
Before last season's clash, DeSantis and Smith made a wager on the Cup's outcome.
If the Panthers won, Smith had to send Canadian Whiskey down to Tallahassee. If the Oilers were victorious, DeSantis had to send Florida rum up to Alberta.
We all know how that turned out.
"Thank you, @ABDanielleSmith, for sending us Canadian whiskey in honor of our Stanley Cup Champions, the Florida Panthers," DeSantis said last year."Florida may be the most tropical state in the United States, yet we have held the Stanley Cup for 3 of the last 5 years between the Lightning and Panthers. Florida has become a hockey state!"
Could both leaders be making another bet before Wednesday's Game 1 in Edmonton?
If DeSantis were to succeed once again, he would certainly earn it. The Oilers are again one of the NHL's best teams and arguably have the top player in the sport in Connor McDavid.
McDavid has won the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's Most Valuable Player, three times. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the Most Valuable Player of the league's playoffs, despite Edmonton losing in the final last season.
Edmonton also has a whole country waiting for a championship. Canada's last Stanley Cup winner came in 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens hoisted the top prize.
The Panthers are equally as impressive. Florida is looking to become the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions since the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has posted a sparkling 2.11 goals against average in the playoffs, while Sam Bennett paces a deep Panthers scoring attack with a playoff-high 10 goals.
Wager on.
