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Defector

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is interviewed during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois.

No Retread Is Too Disgraced For The NHL

Lauren Theisen

Sergei Bobrovsky makes a save on his back

Don’t Forget That The Panthers Almost Choked It All Away

Barry Petchesky

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers enters the dressing room with the Stanley Cup ready to celebrate with teammates after beating the Edmonton Oilers in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Final at the Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Momentum Or The Moment?

<p>Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the managing editor at the <em>Columbia Daily Spectator</em>. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.</p>


Heather Wei-Xi Chen

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - JUNE 21: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers falls into goaltender falls into goaltender Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of Game Six of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on June 21, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Game 7 Is For Haters, Too

The Oilers Are Astonishing

Ray Ratto

, FLORIDA - JUNE 18: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates between teammates Aleksander Barkov #16 and Gustav Forsling #42 of the Florida Panthers in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final at the Amerant Bank Arena on June 18, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

It’s Connor McDavid’s Playoffs

This Is All Anyone Could’ve Hoped For

The NBA Finals Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy and the NHL Stanley Cup are pictured in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 02, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

The Playoffs Go Tinfoil

Connor McDavid is stopped by Sergei Bobrovsky

The Charge Of The Oil Brigade

EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 13: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #93 of the Edmonton Oilers skates past Carter Verhaeghe #23 of the Florida Panthers during the first period of Game Three of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 13, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

Panther Sticks Are Everywhere

Evan Rodrigues celebrates after scoring a goal

The Panthers Kept The Faith

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 08: Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a tough save in the first period during game one of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at Amerant Bank Area in Sunrise, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Bob Was As Good As Goalies Get

Oliver Ekman-Larsson #91 of the Florida Panthers checks Jack Roslovic #96 of the New York Rangers into the boards

The Panthers Will Do Anything

Jake Oettinger during pregame introductions

The Stars Crashed Down To Earth

EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 02: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his first-period goal against the Dallas Stars in Game Six of the Western Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on June 2, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Connor McDavid What In The Actual Hell

EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 02: Fans cheer on the Edmonton Oilers in Game Six of the Western Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Dallas Stars at Rogers Place on June 2, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton At The End

Wyatt Johnston scores a goal on Stuart Skinner

Sometimes The Puck Goes In, And Sometimes It Doesn’t

DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 23: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after his game winning goal against the Dallas Stars during the second overtime in Game One of the Western Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 23, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

The Oilers Bailed Out Connor McDavid And He Returned The Favor

EDMONTON, AB - MAY 12: Edmonton Oilers Goalie Stuart Skinner (74) makes a save in the second period of game five of the Western Conference Second Round Edmonton Oilers game versus the Vancouver Canucks on May 12, 2024 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Oilers Have Two Goalie Problems

The Oilers Needed A Stuart Skinner Game

Anze Kopitar celebrates his overtime game-winning goal

The Kings Are Bridging The Generation Gap

Connor McDavid scores the overtime game winner against Jordan Binnington

Connor McDavid Is Bored By The Remarkable

EDMONTON, CANADA - JANUARY 16: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs collides with goaltender Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers as they both lay in the net during the game at Rogers Place on January 16, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Left-For-Dead Oilers Are The NHL’s Hottest Team

EDMONTON, CANADA ? NOVEMBER 3: Patrik Stefan #27 of the Dallas Stars skates against the Edmonton Oilers during their game at Rexall Place on November 3, 2006 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Stars defeated the Oilers 3-2. (Photo by Dale MacMillan/Getty Images)

I Still Can’t Believe Patrik Stefan Missed The Net

Kathryn Xu

The San Jose Sharks celebrate with goalie Mackenzie Blackwood in front of a giant banner reading SHARKS WIN.