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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Dave Lumley of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the Montreal Canadiens during an NHL Hockey game circa 1981 at the Montreal Forum.

Edmonton Oilers v Montreal Canadiens

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Jurassic Hockey And Sticky Stuff, With Ray Ratto

<p>Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the sports editor at the <em>Columbia Daily Spectator</em>. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.</p>


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Heather Wei-Xi Chen

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 24: Florida Panthers team photo with the Stanley Cup during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, Game 7 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers on June 24th, 2024 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.

NHL: JUN 24 Stanley Cup Final – Oilers at Panthers

Everyone Is Terrified That Fanatics Will Screw Up Hockey, Too

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Lauren Theisen

Sergei Bobrovsky makes a save on his back

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Seven

Don’t Forget That The Panthers Almost Choked It All Away

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Ray Ratto

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 24: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice raises the Stanley Cup during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, Game 7 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers on June 24th, 2024 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Paul Maurice Is A Gem

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Barry Petchesky

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers enters the dressing room with the Stanley Cup ready to celebrate with teammates after beating the Edmonton Oilers in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Final at the Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Florida Panthers – Game Seven

Momentum Or The Moment?

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - JUNE 21: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers falls into goaltender falls into goaltender Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of Game Six of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on June 21, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta.

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Six

Game 7 Is For Haters, Too

TEMPE, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: The Arizona Coyotes mascot, "Howler" holds up a sign reading "thank you fans" following the NHL game against the Edmonton Oilers at Mullett Arena on April 17, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona. Tonight's game likely marks the end of 28 years for the franchise, playing in the NHL's smallest arena, with an anticipated move to Utah with the team's expected sale to the NBA's Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Arizona Coyotes

Go Ahead And Start Shoveling Dirt On Alex Meruelo’s Coyotes

The Oilers Are Astonishing

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 27: Ty Dellandrea #10 of the Dallas Stars is congratulated by Max Domi #18 after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period in Game Five of the Western Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dallas Stars v Vegas Golden Knights – Game Five

My Child Has Been Taken By The Sharks

, FLORIDA - JUNE 18: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates between teammates Aleksander Barkov #16 and Gustav Forsling #42 of the Florida Panthers in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final at the Amerant Bank Arena on June 18, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Florida Panthers – Game Five

It’s Connor McDavid’s Playoffs

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 30: Barclay Goodrow #21 of the New York Rangers prior to the National Hockey League Eastern Conference Final game 5 against the Florida Panthers on May 30, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 30 Eastern Conference Final – Panthers at Rangers

Barclay Goodrow Is Not Pleased With The Rangers’ And Sharks’ Handshake Deal

NHL: JUN 18 Stanley Cup Final – Oilers at Panthers

This Is All Anyone Could’ve Hoped For

The NBA Finals Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy and the NHL Stanley Cup are pictured in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 02, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

F1 Grand Prix of Miami – Previews

The Playoffs Go Tinfoil

Connor McDavid is stopped by Sergei Bobrovsky

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Three

The Charge Of The Oil Brigade

EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 13: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #93 of the Edmonton Oilers skates past Carter Verhaeghe #23 of the Florida Panthers during the first period of Game Three of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 13, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

Panther Sticks Are Everywhere

NHL team officials watch prospects take part in testing during the NHL Combine at HarborCenter on June 3, 2017 in Buffalo, New York.

2017 NHL Combine

Asking NHL Prospects These Questions Will Fix Your Franchise

Evan Rodrigues celebrates after scoring a goal

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Two

The Panthers Kept The Faith

16 Nov 1999: The Mascot of the Colorado Avalanche smiles for the camera during the game against the Ottowa Senators at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Senators 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport

Mascot

Utah Hockey Must Seize Howler The Yeti For Their Own Nefarious Purposes

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA - DECEMBER 13: Monumental Sports &amp; Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis (R) arrives for the announcement of a new sports arena for the Washington Wizards NBA basketball team and Washington Capitals NHL hockey team, December 13, 2023 in Alexandria, Virginia. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a tentative agreement with Monumental Sports &amp; Entertainment that would move the Wizards and the Capitals from Washington, DC to what Youngkin called a new "visionary sports and entertainment venue" in northern Virginia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Governor Glenn Youngkin Joins Ted Leonsis In Alexandria, Virginia To Make Economic Development Announcement

The Washington Capitals, You Have Made A Powerful Enemy Today

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 08: Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a tough save 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. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: JUN 08 Stanley Cup Final – Oilers at Panthers

Bob Was As Good As Goalies Get

Oliver Ekman-Larsson #91 of the Florida Panthers checks Jack Roslovic #96 of the New York Rangers into the boards

Florida Panthers v New York Rangers – Game One

The Panthers Will Do Anything

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 20: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers looks on after a fight against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 20, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He's kind of holding hands with the ref that's carting him away

Florida Panthers v Carolina Hurricanes – Game Two

Matthew Tkachuk Is My Beloved American Girl Doll

Jake Oettinger during pregame introductions

Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars game one of the second round of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stars Crashed Down To Earth

EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 02: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his first-period goal against the Dallas Stars in Game Six of the Western Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on June 2, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Dallas Stars v Edmonton Oilers – Game Six

Connor McDavid What In The Actual Hell

EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 02: Fans cheer on the Edmonton Oilers in Game Six of the Western Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Dallas Stars at Rogers Place on June 2, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

NHL