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The Edmonton Oilers’ first-round loss in the Stanley Cup Playoffs leaves just one Canadian team in the Stanley Cup: the Montreal Canadiens. They are the only team that can snap a 33-year streak of no Canadien team winning the Stanley Cup
The last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup was in 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens won. After placing third in the Adams division of the Prince of Wales conference, coach Jacques Demers helped them upset the Quebec Nordiques, who were second in the Adams division. They swept the Buffalo Sabres in the next round and beat the New York Islanders in the Prince of Wales Conference Finals.
More: Stanley Cup playoffs NHL power rankings entering May 2026
The Canadiens beat the Los Angeles Kings in the finals to hoist the Stanley Cup. Patrick Roy, who was just fired as coach of the New York Islanders, won the Conn Smythe Trophy for earning a .929 save percentage. Wayne Gretzky of the Kings was the leading scorer, with 40 points throughout his Stanley Cup run.
Ever since then, the NHL expanded from 24 to 32 teams. They’ve brought in the Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Utah Mammoth, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, and Anaheim Ducks.
More: Connor McDavid rips Oilers’ calling ‘average team with high expectations’ after playoff exit
The Nordiques moved to Colorado to become the Avalanche in 1995, and the Avalanche won the Presidents’ Trophy this season. The Hartford Whalers became the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas to become the Stars.
Edmonton has been close to breaking that streak a lot recently. With the generational talents of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers made back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025. Unfortunately, the Florida Panthers beat them both times.
This season, people expected the Oilers to make the Stanley Cup Final again, with some even thinking they’d win it. Instead, they struggled with goaltending and scoring depth the entire season.
More: How to live stream Stars vs Wild: NHL Playoffs, TV channel
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) stands in goal against the Anaheim Ducks in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
More: Oilers management under fire as goaltending woes waste McDavid-Draisaitl prime
They made a ghastly trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, essentially swapping their goaltender, Stuart Skinner, for Tristan Jarry. Say what you will about Skinner, but he played well enough for the Oilers to make it to back-to-back Stanley Cup finals. Jarry hadn’t even made it past the first round as a goaltender. This season, he tied Ron Low for Edmonton’s lowest save percentage (.856) in a season.
The depth acquisitions were lackluster, too. Edmonton signed forward Trent Frederic to an eight-year, $30.5 million deal that started this season. He slumped, with just seven points in 74 regular-season games. Defenseman Darnell Nurse earned an eight-year contract worth $92.5 million with the Oilers. Unfortunately, he had just 24 points in 82 games.
More: How to live stream Oilers vs Ducks: NHL Playoffs, TV channel
Both were held scoreless in the playoffs, and now the Oilers are heading home. Canada has just the Montreal Canadiens left to break the 33-year curse, and while they have a 3-2 series lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the road to the final is arduous.
Continue reading...
The Last Canadian Stanley Cup Champion
The last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup was in 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens won. After placing third in the Adams division of the Prince of Wales conference, coach Jacques Demers helped them upset the Quebec Nordiques, who were second in the Adams division. They swept the Buffalo Sabres in the next round and beat the New York Islanders in the Prince of Wales Conference Finals.
More: Stanley Cup playoffs NHL power rankings entering May 2026
The Canadiens beat the Los Angeles Kings in the finals to hoist the Stanley Cup. Patrick Roy, who was just fired as coach of the New York Islanders, won the Conn Smythe Trophy for earning a .929 save percentage. Wayne Gretzky of the Kings was the leading scorer, with 40 points throughout his Stanley Cup run.
What’s Happened in the NHL Since
Ever since then, the NHL expanded from 24 to 32 teams. They’ve brought in the Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Utah Mammoth, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, and Anaheim Ducks.
More: Connor McDavid rips Oilers’ calling ‘average team with high expectations’ after playoff exit
The Nordiques moved to Colorado to become the Avalanche in 1995, and the Avalanche won the Presidents’ Trophy this season. The Hartford Whalers became the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas to become the Stars.
Why the Edmonton Oilers losing is so dire
Edmonton has been close to breaking that streak a lot recently. With the generational talents of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers made back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025. Unfortunately, the Florida Panthers beat them both times.
This season, people expected the Oilers to make the Stanley Cup Final again, with some even thinking they’d win it. Instead, they struggled with goaltending and scoring depth the entire season.
More: How to live stream Stars vs Wild: NHL Playoffs, TV channel
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Edmonton Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) stands in goal against the Anaheim Ducks in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
More: Oilers management under fire as goaltending woes waste McDavid-Draisaitl prime
They made a ghastly trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, essentially swapping their goaltender, Stuart Skinner, for Tristan Jarry. Say what you will about Skinner, but he played well enough for the Oilers to make it to back-to-back Stanley Cup finals. Jarry hadn’t even made it past the first round as a goaltender. This season, he tied Ron Low for Edmonton’s lowest save percentage (.856) in a season.
The depth acquisitions were lackluster, too. Edmonton signed forward Trent Frederic to an eight-year, $30.5 million deal that started this season. He slumped, with just seven points in 74 regular-season games. Defenseman Darnell Nurse earned an eight-year contract worth $92.5 million with the Oilers. Unfortunately, he had just 24 points in 82 games.
More: How to live stream Oilers vs Ducks: NHL Playoffs, TV channel
Both were held scoreless in the playoffs, and now the Oilers are heading home. Canada has just the Montreal Canadiens left to break the 33-year curse, and while they have a 3-2 series lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the road to the final is arduous.
Continue reading...
