defector-orange-no-empty-space

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_sidebar

lede_post_card_highlighted_post

lede_post_card_horizontal_a

lede_post_card_horizontal_c

lede_post_card_related_post

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_content

lede_article_content_wide_width

lede_article_content_full_width

lede_byline_avatar_post_card

lede_byline_avatar_highlight

lede_profile_coral_avatar

lede_logo

lede_logo_banner

lede_logo_footer_banner

lede_logo_simple_header

lede_sponsorship_logo

lede_sponsorship_logo_river_card

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card_logo

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card

Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

defector-no-empty-space

Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

back-in-stock-for-a-limited-time

Merch v3

<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>


heatherchen_baby

Heather Wei-Xi Chen

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 24: Florida Panthers team photo with the Stanley Cup during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, Game 7 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers on June 24th, 2024 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.

NHL: JUN 24 Stanley Cup Final – Oilers at Panthers

Everyone Is Terrified That Fanatics Will Screw Up Hockey, Too

-b9trzb

Lauren Theisen

Sergei Bobrovsky makes a save on his back

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Seven

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

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.

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Six

Game 7 Is For Haters, Too

The Oilers Are Astonishing

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 27: Ty Dellandrea #10 of the Dallas Stars is congratulated by Max Domi #18 after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period in Game Five of the Western Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dallas Stars v Vegas Golden Knights – Game Five

My Child Has Been Taken By The Sharks

NHL: JUN 18 Stanley Cup Final – Oilers at Panthers

This Is All Anyone Could’ve Hoped For

ratto-ray_400x400

Ray Ratto

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.

F1 Grand Prix of Miami – Previews

The Playoffs Go Tinfoil

Connor McDavid is stopped by Sergei Bobrovsky

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Three

The Charge Of The Oil Brigade

NHL team officials watch prospects take part in testing during the NHL Combine at HarborCenter on June 3, 2017 in Buffalo, New York.

2017 NHL Combine

Asking NHL Prospects These Questions Will Fix Your Franchise

Evan Rodrigues celebrates after scoring a goal

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Two

The Panthers Kept The Faith

16 Nov 1999: The Mascot of the Colorado Avalanche smiles for the camera during the game against the Ottowa Senators at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Senators 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport

Mascot

Utah Hockey Must Seize Howler The Yeti For Their Own Nefarious Purposes

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

Florida Panthers v New York Rangers – Game One

The Panthers Will Do Anything

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 20: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers looks on after a fight against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 20, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He's kind of holding hands with the ref that's carting him away

Florida Panthers v Carolina Hurricanes – Game Two

Matthew Tkachuk Is My Beloved American Girl Doll

Jake Oettinger during pregame introductions

Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars game one of the second round of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stars Crashed Down To Earth

Wyatt Johnston scores a goal on Stuart Skinner

NHL: MAY 27 Western Conference Final – Stars at Oilers

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

Megan Keller #5 of Boston reacts to a collision with Grace Zumwinkle #13 of Minnesota

PWHL Finals – Game Four

PWHL

Boston Is The Cruelest Team

20240518_152904

Arts And Culture

What Makes Hockey Hockey?

VictorPortraitWClaw

David Roth

Caitlin Clark disputing a call during her first WNBA game, a loss to the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 14, 2024,

Indiana Fever v Connecticut Sun

Podcasts

When The Planes Become Available, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

Dallas Stars v Colorado Avalanche – Game Four

Where Is Wyatt Johnston’s Off Switch?

Florida Panthers v Boston Bruins – Game Four

I Am Begging For A Goalie Fight In Panthers-Bruins

Miles Wood scores the winning goal in overtime

Colorado Avalanche v Dallas Stars – Game One

On A Night Of Ugly Goals, Miles Wood Dared To Be Pretty

Connor Hellebuyck during the singing of O Canada

Colorado Avalanche v Winnipeg Jets – Game Five

There’s Nothing To Do In Winnipeg But Wait

Andrei Vasilevskiy and Aleksander Barkov shake hands after the Panthers win

Tampa Bay Lightning v Florida Panthers – Game Five

There’s Nothing Special About The Lightning Anymore

Edmonton Oilers v Los Angeles Kings – Game Four

The Oilers Needed A Stuart Skinner Game

Anze Kopitar celebrates his overtime game-winning goal

Los Angeles Kings v Edmonton Oilers – Game Two

The Kings Are Bridging The Generation Gap

Hockey