SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 08: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) prepares for a face-off in the first period during game one of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at Amerant Bank Area in Sunrise, Fla.

McDavid: Maybe loss was 'hockey gods getting us back'

2 years ago
Icon Sportswire / Getty

Superstar Connor McDavid believes the Edmonton Oilers' 3-0 loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday may have been due in part to some karma.

"Maybe it was the hockey gods getting us back for that Game 6 where we probably didn't deserve to win," McDavid quipped.

The Oilers won Game 6 against the Dallas Stars 2-1 with only 10 shots on goal to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. Stuart Skinner made 33 saves in that contest.

Edmonton dropped Game 1 of the final on Saturday despite outshooting the Panthers 32-18.

"Tonight, maybe we deserved at least one goal or maybe two goals, and we don't find a way to get them," McDavid said. "This group will stick with it, bounce back. That's what we take a lot of pride in doing. We'll gear up for a big one on Monday."

Zach Hyman believes the Oilers will be just fine if they continue to play like they did in Game 1.

"We had our looks. I thought we played pretty well, overall," Hyman said. "(Sergei Bobrovsky's) a good goalie over there. He made some good saves. But I liked our game."

Hyman added: "I think we're right there. We're very confident in our group, we've been in positions like this before. They're a good team. We're a really good team."

The Oilers had 18 high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick, more than double Florida's six. It's only the third time the Panthers have been outshot this postseason.

Game 2 is Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

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