Florida Panthers player gives harsh explanation of why Oilers lost Cup Final
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
Following a recent appearance on the Empty Netters podcast, Florida's Evan Rodrigues commented on when exactly the Panthers knew they would win the 2025-26 season Stanley Cup.
Of course, Evan Rodrigues, himself the subject of recent trade rumours, is only the latest of several Panthers who've felt the need to comment on the Oilers' second-straight Finals loss.
Matthew Tkachuk says Oilers are a 'one man show', and Evan Rodrigues comments on Edmonton's loss
«So we lose Game 1, and they were riding high," Rodrigues said on the podcast, "and we felt like their celebration post-game was a little early, per se. They were really fired up. We knew it was a long series. Game 2 was the one we knew we had to win.»
Of course, it's no secret that the Oilers relied heavily on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl throughout the playoffs, but in particular during the Finals, when McDavid skated close to 30:00 of TOI, and Draisaitl just under 25:00.
"After we won Game 2," Evan Rodrigues continued, "we got in the locker room, and that's when we kinda knew we had it. Because they had just played eight periods and those two had just played I don't know how many minutes.»
Yet, despite having played in the Finals almost double the typical number of shifts, and though the two Oilers' superstars were no doubt fatigued, they still managed to perform at a Conn Smythe Trophy level.
When the Oilers lost, it was not because of effort. In the end, Florida was the better team, and the final results showed this.
«I think we knew we were the better team in our minds,» Rodrigues said. «Obviously, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, that's the scary thing. There's no stopping them, it's containing them.»
And contain them they did - just barely.
TRENDING NOW
