Edmonton

Stanley Cup final excitement intensifying for Edmonton, Florida fans ahead of Game 2

Huw Mills and his wife had to pinch themselves as they made their way to Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla. Monday.

Support unwavering as Oilers aim to even series

A man, woman, and two boys hold posters with hockey team logos.
Andre and Dorothy Gaoiran and their sons attended Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final cheering for the Edmonton Oilers. (Sam Martin/CBC)

Huw Mills and his wife had to pinch themselves as they made their way to Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., Monday. 

"It's mind blowing," said Mills, who's been a fan of the Panthers since moving to Florida from the U.K. last summer. "Everyone knows the Stanley Cup. Everyone knows it's the biggest cup you can ever win."

A man with an orange hat.
Panthers fan Huw Mills was excited to attend Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final in Sunrise, Fla. (Sam Martin/CBC)

The excitement has hit a fever pitch for both Florida and Edmonton fans, even after the first game left the Oilers down one in the series. 

"They played well," said Oilers fan Andre Gaoiran in Florida. "You can do all the right things and still come out not on the right side of the outcome."

"That's life. And you have another opportunity to play the game and we're going to take this series."

WATCH | Oilers fans in Florida hoping for a Stanley Cup final series split tonight:

Oilers fans in Florida hoping for a Stanley Cup final series split tonight

6 months ago
Duration 4:36
CBC Edmonton's Sam Samson reports live from Sunrise, Fla., ahead of the second game of the Stanley Cup final, where the Oilers and their fans are hoping for a series split against the Panthers.
  • How are you planning to watch the Oilers game? Let us know in an email to ask@cbc.ca

Nadir and Shalina Rajan, Oilers fans who travelled from Edmonton for Game 2 are also eager to see the Oilers hoist the trophy for the sixth time in franchise history.

"They deserve it, and we all deserve it as a city," Nadir said. 

A man and woman in Oilers jerseys.
Nadir and Shalina Rajan arrive at the Amerant Arena in Sunrise, Fla., for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final. (Sam Martin/CBC)

Dressed in Panthers gear ahead of puck drop were Canadian expats Elizabeth Sena, her son Lucas and daughter Isabel Sena.

Lucas, 7, who plays goalie, gushed about Panther goalie Sergei Bobrovsky's Game 1 shutout. 

"Bobrovsky is his favorite player, so I'm wearing a Florida T-shirt," said Elizabeth. "But in my heart, I'm going for the Canadian team and it's the Oilers."

A woman stands beside a small boy and a girl.
Canadians in Florida Elizabeth Sena, right, her son Lucas and daughter Isabel made their way to Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final. (Sam Martin/CBC)

Puck drop for Game 2 between the Panthers and Oilers is set for 6 p.m. MT.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thandiwe Konguavi is an award-winning journalist who was born in Zimbabwe and has received honours from the Canadian Church Press, the Canadian Association of Black Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association Canada. She is a web writer and editor of First Person columns at CBC Edmonton. She is also the digital producer of CBC's docuseries, Black Life: Untold Stories on CBC Gem and CBC-TV. Reach her at thandiwe.konguavi@cbc.ca.