The dream is alive. The Edmonton Oilers have taken a 3-2 series lead in the NHL Stanley Cup Final after a thrilling 5-2 win on the road, putting Canada just one victory away from ending its decades-long championship drought.
The Oilers stunned their American opponents and now head to Florida, one victory away, with a chance to lift the Cup on American ice — a moment the nation hasn’t seen since the Montreal Canadiens won it all back in 1993.
“This isn’t just about Edmonton,” said local fan Jasdeep Brar, watching the game at a community center in Montreal. “It’s about all of Canada. We’ve been waiting for this for over 30 years.”
Bars, living rooms, and desi-owned restaurants across the GTA and Montreal were packed with Canadian South Asian hockey fans, many of whom have grown up hearing about Canada’s golden days on the ice but have never seen it firsthand.
The Oilers’ aggressive offense, combined with solid goaltending and a raucous Canadian fan base, has given them the edge in what’s been a hard-fought and emotional series.
Game 6 is set to be electric. A Canadian win would not only snap the country’s 31-year Stanley Cup drought but also ignite nationwide celebrations, uniting fans coast to coast — including thousands in Canada’s vibrant South Asian communities, where hockey pride runs just as deep.