2024 Stanley Cup Final

Paths to the Final

The Edmonton Oilers entered the Final seeking their first championship since 1990, having last appeared in the final in 2006. After a poor start to the regular season that led to a coaching change, the team rebounded under Kris Knoblauch to finish second in the Pacific Division with 104 points. Captain Connor McDavid led the league with 132 points, including 100 assists, becoming the first player since Wayne Gretzky in 1991 to reach the century mark in helpers. The Oilers' playoff path included a five-game victory over the Los Angeles Kings, a seven-game series win against the Vancouver Canucks, and a six-game triumph over the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final.

The Florida Panthers returned to the Final for the second consecutive year, having lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. They also lost their first Final appearance in 1996. The Panthers finished first in the Atlantic Division with 110 points, led by Sam Reinhart's 57 goals. Key offseason additions included defencemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Dmitry Kulikov. Their playoff run featured a five-game victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, a six-game win against the Boston Bruins, and a six-game defeat of the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final.

Regular Season and Playoff Build-Up

The Edmonton Oilers' journey to the Final was marked by significant mid-season adversity and key roster moves. The team began the 2023-24 season with a dismal 3-9-1 record, prompting the firing of head coach Jay Woodcroft and his replacement with Kris Knoblauch. Under Knoblauch, the team dramatically improved its performance. During the season, the Oilers signed veteran forward Corey Perry after his contract with Chicago was terminated, and near the trade deadline they acquired centres Sam Carrick and Adam Henrique, along with defenceman Troy Stecher. Connor McDavid's historic 100-assist season was the offensive engine, while the team's 49-27-6 record secured their playoff position.

The Florida Panthers built upon their appearance in the 2023 Final with strategic offseason signings aimed at bolstering their depth. They added defencemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Dmitry Kulikov, forward Evan Rodrigues, and goaltender Anthony Stolarz via free agency. At the trade deadline, the Panthers made significant acquisitions, bringing in Vladimir Tarasenko, Magnus Hellberg, and Kyle Okposo, while also claiming Tobias Bjornfot off waivers. Their 52-24-6 regular season record gave them 110 points and home-ice advantage through much of the playoffs, which they used effectively on their path to the Final.

Series Summary and Key Moments

The Panthers seized control of the series early, winning the first three games. They took Game 1 by a 3-0 score with Sergei Bobrovsky recording a shutout, as Carter Verhaeghe scored early and Eetu Luostarinen added an empty-net goal. In Game 2, a 4-1 Florida victory, Evan Rodrigues scored twice to help overcome an early Oilers lead, with his second goal ending Edmonton's streak of 34 consecutive penalty kills. Game 3 was a tighter 4-3 win for Florida, featuring goals from Sam Reinhart, Vladimir Tarasenko, Sam Bennett, and Aleksander Barkov, giving them a commanding 3-0 series lead and putting the Oilers on the brink of elimination.

Facing a sweep, the Oilers mounted a historic comeback beginning with a dominant 8-1 victory in Game 4. Mattias Janmark and Adam Henrique scored shorthanded and even-strength goals early, Connor McDavid added a goal and multiple assists, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored on a two-man advantage. In that game, McDavid set a new single-playoff record for assists. Edmonton then won Game 5 by a 5-3 score, with McDavid scoring an empty-net goal to seal it, and Game 6 by a 5-1 margin, becoming the first team since 1945 to force a seventh game in the Final after trailing 3-0. The comeback set the stage for a decisive Game 7 in Sunrise, Florida.

The Decisive Game Seven

Game seven was played on June 24, 2024, at Amerant Bank Arena. The Panthers opened the scoring in the first period when Carter Verhaeghe deflected an Evan Rodrigues shot past Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner. Mattias Janmark tied the game for Edmonton later in the period, scoring on a breakaway after receiving a long pass from defenceman Cody Ceci. The game remained deadlocked until the second period, when Sam Reinhart took a pass from Verhaeghe and beat Skinner with a wrist shot to give Florida a 2-1 lead.

The Panthers defended that one-goal lead throughout the third period. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all nine shots he faced in the final frame to preserve the victory. The 2-1 win clinched the first Stanley Cup in the thirty-year history of the Florida Panthers. Captain Aleksander Barkov became the first Finnish-born captain to hoist the Cup, and the Panthers became the first team to win a Game 7 of the Final at home since the Carolina Hurricanes did so in 2006, also against the Oilers. The series concluded without any overtime periods, the first Final since 2018 to do so.

Individual Accolades and Records

Despite his team's loss, Oilers captain Connor McDavid was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the entire playoffs. He became the first player since Jean-Sebastien Giguere in 2003 and only the sixth overall to win the award while being on the losing team in the Final, joining skater Reggie Leach who did so in 1976. McDavid's playoff performance was record-setting, as he broke Wayne Gretzky's single-playoff record for assists during Game 4. Oilers forward Corey Perry also made history by appearing in the Final for a fifth different team, having previously won with Anaheim and lost with Dallas, Montreal, and Tampa Bay.

For the Panthers, the victory was a collective triumph. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky provided critical stability, recording a shutout in Game 1. Players like Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart, and Evan Rodrigues delivered key goals throughout the series, with Rodrigues scoring twice in Game 2. The series set a record for the greatest distance between two cities in an NHL championship series at 4,089 kilometres, breaking the mark of 4,023 km set in 2011 by Vancouver and Boston. It was the fifth consecutive Final to feature a team from Florida, and it was the first championship series since 1945 to see a team force a seventh game after being down 3-0.

Stanley Cup Engraving and Team Notes

Following the victory, the names of the 2024 Florida Panthers were engraved on the Stanley Cup. A total of 53 names were included, one more than the standard 52, due to an exemption granted for players Jonah Gadjovich and Josh Mahura, who did not automatically qualify. Sam Reinhart was engraved under his full first name, Samson, and Nick Cousins as Nicholas. Carter Verhaeghe made history by becoming the first player to have his name engraved on the Cup with both Florida-based NHL teams, having previously won with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020.

Several personnel with prior connections to the Cup were part of the win. General manager Bill Zito and special advisor Roberto Luongo, who had lost in the Final as a player in 2011 and as an executive in 2023, finally had their names engraved. Consultant Patric Hornqvist added a third engraving to his record, having won previously as a player with Pittsburgh. Eleven players on the roster during the Final were left off the Cup engraving for not meeting qualification standards but received championship rings. These included Uvis Balinskis, Tobias Bjornfot, and Spencer Knight, who were in the team picture, and others like Will Lockwood and Magnus Hellberg who were not.

Due to the high number of non-playing members, six training and equipment staff members were initially omitted from the Cup engraving, though they received rings and were in the team photo. These individuals were Brian Riedel, Anthony Moore, Thomas Anderson, Dakota King, Mike Valcy, Shane Churla, and Tim Wittenauer. Notably, when the Panthers won the Cup again in 2025, several of these individuals were included on that year's engraving. Team president and CEO Matt Caldwell's name was engraved below the players rather than with other executives, for reasons that were not specified.

Media Coverage and Broadcast Details

In Canada, the 2024 Stanley Cup Final was broadcast for the tenth consecutive year by Sportsnet and CBC Television in English. The series was also broadcast in French by TVA Sports. All games were streamed on the Sportsnet+ subscription service. In the United States, the series was televised on ABC and streamed on ESPN+. This was part of a seven-year broadcast rights deal that gives ABC the Final in even-numbered years.

The 2024 Final featured a significant accessibility milestone, as it was the first to offer a broadcast feed with commentary and analysis in American Sign Language for the Deaf community. This feed was available on both ESPN+ and Sportsnet+ platforms, providing an enhanced viewing experience for a wider audience. The coverage in Canada was led by hosts Ron MacLean and David Amber, with analysis from experts including Kevin Bieksa, Kelly Hrudey, Jennifer Botterill, and Elliotte Friedman. This multimedia presentation ensured comprehensive coverage for Canadian hockey fans across television, streaming, and digital platforms.

Questions about 2024 Stanley Cup Final

Who won the 2024 Stanley Cup Final?

The Florida Panthers won the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. They defeated the Edmonton Oilers four games to three in the best-of-seven series. The Panthers earned their first championship in their thirty year history. They clinched the title with a 2-1 victory in game seven on June 24.

What was the historic comeback by the Edmonton Oilers?

The Edmonton Oilers forced a seventh game after being down 3-0 in the series. This was the first Final since 1945 to see a team force a seventh game after being down 3-0. The Oilers became the tenth NHL team to force a seventh game after trailing 3-0 in a series. They were the third team to do so in the Final and the first in the Final since the Detroit Red Wings in 1945.

What records were set during the 2024 Stanley Cup Final?

This was the furthest distance between two cities in an NHL championship series at 4,089 kilometres. Connor McDavid set the single season playoff record for most assists in one playoff year. Corey Perry made his fifth Final appearance, becoming the first player to play in the Stanley Cup Final for five different teams. This was also the first Final since 2018 without any overtime.

How many Stanley Cups have the Florida Panthers won?

The Florida Panthers have won one Stanley Cup championship. Their victory in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final was their first championship in their thirty year history. This was their third overall Final appearance. They had lost both previous Final appearances in 1996 and 2023.

Why did Connor McDavid win the Conn Smythe Trophy if the Oilers lost?

Connor McDavid won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the 2024 playoffs. He earned this honour despite his team, the Edmonton Oilers, losing the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers. McDavid became the first player since Jean-Sebastien Giguere in 2003 and only the sixth player overall to receive the Conn Smythe while being on the losing team in the Final. Furthermore, he joined Reggie Leach in 1976 as just the second skater, meaning a non-goaltender, to accomplish this feat. His playoff performance, which included setting a new single season playoff record for assists, was deemed exceptional enough to merit the award irrespective of the series outcome.

Where could Canadians watch the 2024 Stanley Cup Final?

Canadians could watch the 2024 Stanley Cup Final on several broadcast platforms. The series was available in English on Sportsnet and CBC Television, marking the tenth consecutive year for this arrangement. French language coverage was provided by TVA Sports. Additionally, viewers had the option to stream all the games live on Sportsnet+. Notably, the series was not available on the CBC Gem streaming service as it had been in previous years. For the first time ever, the Final was also broadcast with American Sign Language commentary on Sportsnet+ for the benefit of the Deaf community.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-19.