Fun facts about the Oilers vs. Panthers Stanley Cup Final matchup

The 2024 Stanley Cup Final is set, with the Edmonton Oilers set to take on Florida Panthers.

Here are four fun facts about the exciting upcoming matchup. 

Oilers might want to drop Game 1 

As ridiculous as it might sound, a loss to the Panthers in Game 1 might not be the worst thing, as recent history shows it leads to good things for the Oilers. 

Edmonton went 0-2 against Florida during the regular season, but as Courtney Theriault pointed out, they responded extremely well after each loss. They put together eight and 16-game winning streaks following those losses, going 36-12-1 after the teams' final meeting in December.

A long Cup drought will end, one way or the other

The Oilers were once a dynasty behind arguably the best player to lace up a pair of skates, Wayne Gretzky, winning the Stanley Cup five times from 1985-90. But they haven't sat on top of the NHL world in over three decades. 

Meanwhile, the Panthers, coming off a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Final last season, are still searching for their first championship since entering the league in 1993.

Corey Perry will make Stanley Cup history 

Awarded since 1893, the Stanley Cup has an extensive history, but it hasn't seen it all. When Perry hits the ice for Game 1 on June 8, he'll be the first player ever to compete for the legendary prize with five different teams, having done so with Anaheim Ducks (2007), Montreal Canadiens (2021), Dallas Stars (2020), Tampa Bay Lightning (2022) and now the Oilers.

Whoever wins the Cup will take the long road to get there

The Stanley Cup has already traveled many miles over the decades, but this year will be its longest trip as the Oilers and Panthers jockey to capture it. 

According to Ryan S. Clark of ESPN, the 2,541-mile distance between Edmonton and Sunrise is the longest between Stanley Cup Final combatants, beating out the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins in 2011 (2,499 miles).