‘The right team won, whether we want to admit it or not’: Oilers fans react to losing another Stanley Cup Final

Oilers fans were left feeling heartbroken, desolate, and disappointed as they watched the Edmonton Oilers lose the Stanley Cup to the Florida Panthers for a second consecutive year.

It’s not an easy feeling to stomach, to come so far, be so close, and watch it slip away. Oilers fans had plenty to say as the team was blown out 5-1 in Game 6.

“That awkward rebound by Stu for the 3-0 goal. That was awful. Craig Simpson calling that mistake out. It’s deflating and soul destroying. It’ll take a miracle to push this to Game 7. The air seems out of the sails.” – Raja Dhami via X

“I honestly don’t think Edmonton is playing any worse than they have in the entire playoffs. I just think Florida is that good. They have such a suffocating forecheck that just tires out our guys, and then it leads to tired mistakes, which end up in the back of the net. All it is.” – OilersDaily via X

“Imagine going this far AGAIN and this is your effort in a do-or-die. Time and time again. You don’t deserve to win with this play.” – Schmiddy the GOAT via X

“By the time they kicked the s*** out of us in that game, I knew they had us completely solved. They outplayed us almost every shift of this entire series. The right team won, whether we want to admit it or not.” – Cessxii via Instagram

“I am a die-hard Oilers fan… BUT the better team won the Stanley Cup this year-but the better fans did not. The fanbase in Edmonton deserved better. This city would have went WILD to bring the Cup home. Florida fans can’t even come close. I hope another year, another time, we can experience the feeling.” – heathermiddleton1 via Instagram

The sentiment this time around feels different. Last year, it felt the Oilers were inches away from winning it all, right there with the Panthers. Now, it feels like the deserving team won the Stanley Cup. It was the better team that hoisted Lord Stanley in the end. Florida stifled the Oilers and couldn’t find a way to respond.

“I don’t know if Knoblauch is back. I didn’t think Woodcroft had to go, so I guess I think Knoblauch should be back. If he is back, what must happen is the remainder of the staff needs to be let go and Knoblauch needs full authority to hire who he wants working ONLY with Bowman.” – Bruce Curlock via X

“Oilers fans. This isn’t the year. But it will be soon. We’re too good to be held down year after year. It’s coming. Wasn’t meant to be. But it will be. I promise.” – Adrian Fernando via X

“Stuart Skinner’s won a lot of playoff games the last two years and I admire his resiliency. But it’s too damn hard to win 16 playoff games in one year with that type of goaltending. The Oilers’ flaws go beyond him but they need a legit No. 1 in goal.” – AJ Jakubec via X

“No hate to the Oilers but it really is embarrassing to have two of the best goal scorers in the world on your team yet you fail to score a single goal in an elimination game to the same exact team that beat you in the same situation last year.” – moosepoitras via X

“How is it that Podz and Jeff Skinner were the only guys who seemed to have any urgency to their game? That 3rd goal by Skinner was absolutely brutal.” – Taylor Jenkins via Facebook

“Bouchard The Baker… Serving up fresh, hot turnovers for Skinner to get burned with. Absolute priority No. 1 is to land No. 97 for the long-term. Don’t be surprised by the long summer of waiting to see how THAT goes!” – Rick Ashton via X

When it comes to fans blaming players for that loss, it’s the same names we often hear: Bouchard, Skinner, Nurse. Though those players had some forgettable moments, it was a collective loss; it wasn’t one or two players who cost them Game 6. The Oilers allowed some rough goals, but also couldn’t buy one until it was too late.

The Florida Panthers deserved to win the Stanley Cup. The Oilers and their fans will lick their wounds and go after it once again when the puck drops in October.