Fans rejoice as Edmonton Oilers win Game 6 in Stanley Cup final

The Edmonton Oilers aredragging the Florida Panthers back to Florida for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.

The Oilers secured their third win in a row in the best-of-seven series Friday, beating the Panthers 5-1 on home ice.

The Edmonton Oilers' run isbringing people together from here and abroad.

Christian Hgel, a devoted Oilers fan originally from Germany who now resides in Switzerland, was walking around outside Amerant Arena in Sunrise, Fla., before Game 5 on Tuesday, when he crossed paths with Mike Reimerand Nancy Lavoie.

The menhigh-fived.The trio saw each other again later and, after the Oilers' victory, went out for a beer. Eventually, the Edmontonians offered Hgelto stay with them to attend Game 6.

Oilers fans elated after Game 6

4 months ago

Duration 1:44

After the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Florida Panthers in Game 6 of the playoffs, Oilers fans are excited for Game 7.

"It was not planned to stay with them. It was just a coincidence," said Hgel, who landed in Edmonton at 3 a.m. Friday.

"Our connection was not based on too much beer it comes from the heart."

Reimer sawHgel'spassion for their team abrotherin arms inOilers Nation, despite their different nationalities.

"He has bled Oiler-blue like I have," Reimer said."It has been 18 years since we've been tothe final. This is wherewe can all separate our politics and come together as fans."

Captain Connor McDavid stated the mission and the Edmonton Oilers completed it: they dragged the Florida Panthers back to Alberta for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final.

After dropping the first three games of the best-of-seven series, the Oilers have now three timesfended off the Panthers from hoisting the Stanley Cup for the first time.

Edmonton is the fourth team in NHL history to fall 3-0 in the final and force a Game 6, but only the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs ever completed the comeback.

Regardless of the outcome, Friday's game was the last at Rogers Place this season. Lord Stanley's mug wasin the building but Oilers Nation celebrated as it won't make an appearance until Monday in South Florida.

"Oilers in seven," Jerry MacLachlansaid Thursday, sporting a No. 97 McDavidhome jersey.

"Game 6 is going to be on another level."

Oilers fanatic Aaliyah Calliourecalls that thisteam had several three-game skids during theregular season and responded with lengthy win streaksafterward, including a 16-game heater that lifted Edmonton out of the NHL basement.

"I have high hopes. They've been really successful all season," Calliou said.

"They have a chance."

Meanwhile, in the Oilers' locker room, it's business as usual.

"Thishas always been part of the plan for our group to bein a position like this, playing in big games at home, in big moments," McDavid told reporters Thursday. "[It's] just another one tomorrow night."

The teamhas reveled in tackling adversity throughout the season, and is grateful for any opportunity it has to play together, saidhead coach Kris Knoblauch.

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"We feel very fortunate to be in this Game 6 situation. But I've got a team full of guys who are hungry to make sure they get to play two more games and not just one," Knoblauch said.

Puck drop for Game 7is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT Monday, in Florida. CBCwill broadcastthe game.

CBC Edmonton willshare the post-game excitement on its TikTok channel,@cbcedmonton.

CBC Radio's Edmonton AMco-host Mark Connollywent live on the CBC AlbertaYouTubechannel, taking viewers behind-the-scenes inside Rogers Place andamid the energy outside the arena in Ice District.

Before the game, Loud Luxury and The Beaches also performed at a free concertin the fan park outside Rogers Place.

Capacity for the fan park was just under 9,000, while the limit for the street party in Ice District is 5,000.