Make it seven.
The slogan used by ex-Research in Motion exec Jim Balsillie in his ill-fated effort to bring the then-Phoenix Coyotes to Southern Ontario now can be used to describe Canada’s Stanley Cup drought.
The Edmonton Oilers became the seventh Canadian team in a row to fall short after advancing to the Stanley Cup Final when they lost 2-1 to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 on Monday in Sunrise, Fla.
It has now been 31 years since the country celebrated a Stanley Cup.
Since the Montreal Canadiens won the Cup in 1993, the Oilers and Vancouver Canucks each have lost two Cup Finals, while the Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators and Canadiens have dropped one each.
It’s been close. Five of those seven losses have come in Game 7.
This time, the Oilers fought back from a 3-0 series deficit, only to lose a nailbiter in Game 7.
The 1993 Canadiens famously won 10 consecutive overtime games to take the Cup, beating Wayne Gretzky’s Los Angeles Kings in the Final. Gretzky’s magic prevented a dream Toronto-Montreal Final after the Kings ousted the Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the Campbell Conference Final at Maple Leaf Gardens.
The Edmonton Oilers’ recent loss to the Florida Panthers has not only been a disappointment for fans of the team, but it also extends Canada’s Stanley Cup drought. The last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup was in 1993 when the Montreal Canadiens took home the championship. Since then, Canadian teams have come close but have ultimately fallen short.
The Oilers, who have a rich history of success in the NHL, have not won a Stanley Cup since 1990. Despite having superstar players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the team has struggled to make a deep playoff run in recent years. This loss to the Panthers only adds to the frustration for Oilers fans who are eager to see their team hoist the Stanley Cup once again.
Canada as a whole has seen its fair share of disappointment when it comes to the Stanley Cup. The Vancouver Canucks came close in 2011, making it to the final round but ultimately losing to the Boston Bruins. The Ottawa Senators also made it to the final round in 2007 but fell short against the Anaheim Ducks.
Many hockey fans in Canada are hopeful that one of the seven Canadian teams in the NHL will break the drought and bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada. With talented players and passionate fan bases, there is no shortage of potential for a Canadian team to make a deep playoff run and compete for the championship.
As the Edmonton Oilers continue their season and look towards the playoffs, fans will be eagerly watching to see if this could be the year they finally end Canada’s Stanley Cup drought. Until then, Canadian hockey fans will continue to support their teams and hope for a championship to come back to their country.