Although the Dallas Stars only had 10 shots on goal, Edmonton Oilers Two goals, that's enough. Winning the sixth game Sunday night at Rogers Place NHL Western Conference champions and advance to the Stanley Cup Final, something the club hadn’t accomplished since 2006.
As the song “La Bamba,” which Edmonton always plays after a win, blasted over the speakers, ecstatic Oilers fans cheered and celebrated inside and outside the stadium.
Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner saved 34 of 35 shots in the 2-1 win. Like the Oilers as a whole, Skinner shined in the playoff team's biggest games, even as the storied franchise weathered a shaky early season that many Oilers players described as a “(Stanley) Cup-losing” season.
The Oilers started the NHL regular season with a 3-9-1 record, which led to the firing of head coach Jay Woodcroft and a change in the team's goaltending roster. Chris Knoblauch was hired as the team's new coach, and Skinner became the Oilers' number one goaltender.
Despite the Texans’ desperate attempts to even the score, and a goal from forward Mason Marchment, captain Connor McDavid and winger Zach Hyman each scored a jaw-dropping power-play goal that was enough for the Oilers to hold off the Stars.
Sunday night’s win gave the Oilers the Clarence Campbell Trophy as champions of the NHL’s Western Conference and also meant Edmonton would face the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Oilers last won the Stanley Cup in 1990. The last time a Canadian club lifted the trophy was in 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens won the title.
The Oilers and Panthers will begin the best-of-seven NHL championship game Saturday night at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
Below is a photo recap of the game that saw the Oilers clinch a spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
Edmonton Oilers fans cheer their team before the first period of Game 6 of the Western Conference final of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs against the Dallas Stars on Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Edmonton.
The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Edmonton Oilers fans arrive to watch Game 6 of the Western Conference Final of the NHL Hockey Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Dallas Stars on Sunday, June 2, 2024 in Edmonton.
The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Edmonton Oilers fans arrive to watch Game 6 of the Western Conference Final of the NHL Hockey Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Dallas Stars on Sunday, June 2, 2024 in Edmonton.
The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Edmonton Oilers fans arrive to watch Game 6 of the Western Conference Final of the NHL Hockey Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Dallas Stars on Sunday, June 2, 2024 in Edmonton.
The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston (53) and defenseman Esa Lindell (23) look away as Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) celebrates a goal with teammate forward Zach Hyman (18) during the first period of Game 6 of the Western Conference final of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Edmonton.
The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene (95) is checked by Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse (25) during the first period of Game 6 of the Western Conference final of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Edmonton.
The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Edmonton Oilers' Zach Hyman (18) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars in the first period of Game 6 of the Western Conference final of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Edmonton.
The Canadian Press/Jason Franson
Dallas Stars forward Sam Steele (18) is thwarted by Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse (25) as goalie Stuart Skinner (74) holds the puck during the first period of Game 6 of the Western Conference final of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Edmonton.
The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn (14) has a shot blocked by Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) during the second period of Game 6 of the Western Conference final of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Edmonton.
The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment (27) celebrates a goal as the Edmonton Oilers look on during the third period of Game 6 of the Western Conference final of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs in Edmonton, Sunday, June 2, 2024.
The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) celebrates with defenseman Evan Bouchard (2) and defenseman Matthias Ekholm (14) after defeating the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the Western Conference final of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Edmonton.
The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) is congratulated by head coach Chris Knoblauch after defeating the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the Western Conference final of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs in Edmonton, Sunday, June 2, 2024.
The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) and Dallas Stars goalie Jack Ottinger (29) shake hands after Game 6 of the Western Conference final of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs in Edmonton, Sunday, June 2, 2024.
The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
The Edmonton Oilers celebrate their win over the Dallas Stars during Game 6 of the Western Conference final of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Edmonton.
The Canadian Press/Jason Franson
Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) and forward Leon Draisaitl (29) hug after defeating the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the Western Conference final of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Edmonton.
The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) and forward Leon Draisaitl (29) hug after defeating the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the Western Conference final of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Edmonton.
The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
The Edmonton Oilers defeat the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in Edmonton, Sunday, June 2, 2024, in conjunction with the Campbell Conference Bowl.
The Canadian Press/Jason Franson
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