“That one’s for Dad!”
Across the various broadcasts of Game Six, throughout the American Airlines Center and around the hockey world, that’s what everyone was thinking when Mark Scheifele scored the opening goal mere hours after his father, Brad Scheifele, unexpectedly passed away. Mark’s goal 5:28 into the second period gave the Winnipeg Jets a 1-0 lead against the Dallas Stars that, after the initial wave of emotions, had many believing the series would be extended to a seventh game.
Alas, that did not end up being the case as Dallas won the game in overtime to advance to the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers, which is a rematch of last year’s Western Final. However, before we get into that, we must first talk about Scheifele.
It is never easy losing a loved one, especially not a parent and one who was as present as his father, Brad always was. The passing of the elder Scheifele did not just affect his son, but the whole Winnipeg Jets team, as he was a fixture at games and on the annual Dad’s Trip. There was a real question – and rightly so – regarding whether Scheifele would play in Game Six. Of course, if you ask him, he’ll say it was never in doubt, as his dad would have wanted him to play.
So, there Mark Scheifele was, scoring the first goal of the game, on an emotional night. By doing so, he evoked memories of when Martin St. Louis lost his mother during the Rangers’ second-round series against the Penguins in 2014. New York trailed Pittsburgh three-games-to-one when St. Louis’ mother died.
The Rangers collectively played through Game Five – and won – to send the series back to Madison Square Garden for Game Six…on Mother’s Day. Like Scheifele the other night, St. Louis scored the opening goal of Game Six (3:34 into the first period) and let loose a waterfall of emotions across the hockey world.
It is moments like these that you see the true nature of the saying, “life imitates art and art imitates life,” or in this case, it’s more like “life imitates sport and sport imitates life.” Everyone comes together to support their own. And in a truly beautiful gesture, thousands of Dallas Stars fans (and hockey fans in general) donated $55 apiece (Scheifele’s jersey number is 55) to the True North Youth Foundation in memory of his late father. As of the writing of this column, more than $46,000 has been donated to the True North Youth Foundation since Brad Scheifele’s unfortunate passing.
Now, as promised, for our preview of the East and West Conference Finals.
Over in the East, the Florida Panthers have made it to the Conference Final for the third straight year, matching their cross-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, for the most consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances since the New York Islanders went to three straight from 1982 to 1984.
Two things to note. One, when the Islanders made their run, it wasn’t called the Eastern Conference. The correct name is the Prince of Wales Conference. Two, during Tampa Bay’s run (2020 to 2022), their second appearance (2021) wasn’t technically considered a “Conference Final” due to the COVID-19 pandemic and how The League temporarily realigned its divisions. However, Tampa still received the Prince of Wales Trophy, so we’ll count it.
The Panthers will be facing a blast from their recent past as they will take on the Carolina Hurricanes in a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference Final. Back in 2023, the Panthers swept the Hurricanes, even though all four games were decided by a single goal. For as close as that series was, this time around it will likely be even closer. And most likely the series will go six or seven games.
Just like in 2023, this year’s matchup has the Hurricanes as the higher seed and thus holding home-ice advantage. And while both teams like to play a suffocating style of hockey in which they clamp down the opposition’s offense, only one can advance to The Stanley Cup Final.
With goals certain to be at a premium, how both teams perform on the power-play and penalty-kill, will be the determining factor.
For the record, Blittner’s Blue Line is predicting a six-game triumph for the Panthers as they attempt to repeat as Cup champions.
Out West is another rematch as the Dallas Stars – also in the Western Conference for the third straight year – take on the Oilers in a repeat of last year’s Western Final. Dallas is the first Western team to go to three straight Conference Finals since the Los Angeles Kings (2012-2014) and Chicago Blackhawks (2013-2015) each turned the trick.
Last year’s Western Final saw the Oilers power their way past the Stars in six games, with all except Game Four being decided by two goals or less. With Mikko Rantanen now being a member of the Stars and being on a tear throughout this postseason, one has to wonder if the result will be different this time around.
Of course, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will have something to say about that. And even though neither of Edmonton’s superstars is having an otherworldly postseason, what they’ve sacrificed on offense, they’re more than making up for with a renewed sense of purpose on defense.
What is likely to determine this series is the goaltending. Jake Oettinger is by far the best goalie on either roster, but Stuart Skinner has found his game after a miserable start to the playoffs and he certainly has the experience from last year to back him up.
Since we’re in the business of making predictions, Blittner’s Blue Line is going with a seven-game Oilers victory to set up a rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Final.
Should be fun, right?
