The Oilers, in search of becoming the first Canadian team to win a championship since the 1993 Canadiens, are the eighth club in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to reach the Stanley Cup Final after losing their first two games of that postseason. The others include the 2018 Capitals, 2014 Kings, 2011 Bruins, 2006 Hurricanes, 2002 Red Wings, 1993 Canadiens and 1992 Penguins.
* Edmonton is the only Canadian team to make consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances since 1979-80 (when they joined the NHL and the playoff field expanded to 16 teams). This marks the Oilers’ third set of
consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances, following three straight from 1983 to 1985 (2-1) and then back-to-back from 1987 to 1988 (2-0).
* Edmonton is the seventh team since the start of the NHL’s expansion era (1967-68 onward) to return to the Stanley Cup Final after losing the season prior. In fact, this is the first time in that span that the losing team from the Stanley Cup Final has returned to the championship series in consecutive years, with the Oilers following the Panthers who rebounded from a defeat in 2023 to win the Cup in 2024.
McDavid reached a max speed of 22.09 mph on his breakaway. Entering Game 5, he had already produced 31 bursts of 22 mph or faster during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs – 18 more than the next-closest player,
Roope Hintz (13 entering play), who McDavid outskated before finding the back of the net. More stats like these can be found on
NHL EDGE.
* McDavid can become the first player in NHL history with eight 100-point seasons prior to winning his first Stanley Cup –
Mario Lemieux and
Steve Yzerman currently top the list with six apiece. He is also now just four wins away from becoming the first player in NHL history to earn his first Stanley Cup after capturing five Art Ross Trophies; only five players in League history have as many Art Ross Trophies
and a Stanley Cup in their career: Gretzky (10),
Gordie Howe (6), Lemieux (6),
Phil Esposito (5) and
Jaromir Jagr (5).
* The Oilers captain also collected his 100th playoff assist in the contest and became the
fourth active player to reach the mark following
Sidney Crosby,
Nikita Kucherov and
Evgeni Malkin. In reaching the milestone in just his 90th postseason game, he became the second-fastest player in NHL history to achieve the feat, behind only Gretzky (70 GP).
WHILE OTHER OILERS ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WINNING EFFORT
A handful of other Oilers players also made an impact in the series-clinching win and achieved notable feats in the process:
*
Leon Draisaitl (0-2—2) boosted his 2025 postseason totals to 7-18—25 and kept pace with
Connor McDavid (6-20—26) atop the playoff leaderboards. Draisaitl is looking to become the fifth player in the past 45 years to win a Stanley Cup in the same season he led the League in goals, following
Wayne Gretzky (1987, 1985 & 1984),
Alex Ovechkin (2018),
Sidney Crosby (2017) and
Mike Bossy (1981).
*
Corey Perry opened the scoring in Game 5 with his seventh goal of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which is now the most by a player, age 39 or older, in a single postseason (age at start of playoffs), surpassing
Teemu Selanne (6 in 2011),
Mark Recchi (6 in 2010),
Ron Francis (6 in 2002) and
Jean Beliveau (6 in 1971). Perry also became the first 40-year-old to score in back-to-back playoff games since
Daniel Alfreddson in 2013 (2 GP).
*
Stuart Skinner allowed 15 goals through his first three games of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs but has rebounded to a 6-1 mark since (.944 SV%, 1.41 GAA, 3 SO). He became the second goaltender in NHL history to record multiple series-clinching wins after losing his first three games of that same postseason, following
Jonathan Quick (4 in 2014 w/ LAK).
* In just his second career postseason contest,
Jeff Skinner (33 years, 13 days) capped a three-goal Oilers burst in a span of 5:36 and became the oldest player in Oilers history at the time of his first career goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, surpassing
Steve Staios (32 years, 299 days in Game 3 of 2006 CF).