Oilers, Panthers to clash in Stanley Cup Final; Real Madrid are champions of Europe

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Good morning everyone, but especially…

THE EDMONTON OILERS AND THE FLORIDA PANTHERS

If Connor McDavid It is Stuart Skinner play like they did in game 6, the Lubricators they’re going to be hard to beat, shots on goal be damned. Edmonton is heading to its first Stanley Cup Final in 18 years after a 2-1 victory over the Stars thanks to a sublime goal and assist from McDavid and 34 saves on 35 shots faced by Skinner.

Edmonton’s 10 shots on goal are tied for the fewest playoff wins in NHL history and the fewest since 1990.

• McDavid scored in spectacular fashion at just 4:17, dancing around and through the Stars’ defense before hitting a backhand Jake Oettinger closely.
• Later in the first period, McDavid found open space Zach Hyman, who didn’t miss a golden chance. Both goals came on the power play; it was Edmonton’s second consecutive game with two power play goals.
• Mason March scored midway through the third period, hitting and recovering for the goal, but Skinner remained strong for the rest of the game.

Skinner, who was briefly benched in the second round, was huge. But it’s hard to find words to describe McDavid, who has up to 26 assists this postseason. Just Wayne Gretzky (3 times), Mario Lemieux It is Nikita Kucherov I’ve had more in a single postseason.

The Oilers will answer Panthers after Florida led the guards2-1, in game 6, on Saturday.

Honorable mentions

And it’s not such a good day for…

CAITLIN CLARK, ANGEL REESE AND CHENNEDY CARTER

It’s the impact/body check/cheap shot/whatever you want to call it that gets the WNBA buzzing and involves some of the league’s biggest names. Chennedy Carter dirty Caitlin Clark before the ball entered on Saturday, sending the #1 overall pick to the floor. Clark and the Fever had the last laugh, achieving a 71-70 victory, but that result took a backseat.

Not-so-honorable mentions

Real Madrid win 15th UEFA Champions League title, likely signing Kylian Mbappe

The rich get richer. And when it comes to the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid He’s the richest and it’s not even close. Los Blancos won their 15th Champions League title eight more than anyone else – Saturday when defeating Borussia Dortmund2-0, in the final at the historic Wembley Stadium.

Real Madrid followed the script it so often follows on the biggest stage of the world’s elite clubs: finding the magic late. At 74 minutes, Daniel Carvajal skillfully nodded after corner kickhis first Champions League goal in nine years, Proving he’s far from finished. Nine minutes later, Real Madrid took advantage Ian Maatsen error, with Vinícius Jr. doubling the lead. CBS Sports Golazo analyst and former superstar Thierry Henrique said that Vini Jr. is the best player in the world.

This is what Real Madrid does. They win and win and win, often late and sometimes facing deficits and odds that seemingly no other club overcomes. Long story short, We should have seen this comingwrites James Benge.

• Benge: “When you win that much, you form a dynasty. Each of them needs a defining characteristic. Paco Gento – whose record of six Champions Leagues is now equaled by Luka Modric, NachoCarvajal and Tony Kroos – were the great model of the collection of stars that came to define this club. … These men will be defined by their ability to win, regardless of their collective and individual struggles.”

It’s not just veterans. With a wave of stars at their peak, Real Madrid’s European dominance has no end in sight. Vini Jr. is 23 years old. He is 20 years old Jude Bellingham – who didn’t score, but exemplified his team’s approachnotes Chuck Booth – it was the Catalysts behind Real Madrid’s latest title campaign.

They are about to get even more help from one of the players who can challenge Vini Jr. Kylian Mbappé It is expected to announce his move in PSG to Real Madrid in the coming days, which makes Los Blancos an easy pick at the top Chuck’s 2024-25 UEFA Champions League favorites.

Jonathan Johnson broke what’s next for the champions.

• Johnson: “Perhaps most impressive is the number of regular starters expected to return to full fitness next season with Thibaut Courtois a UCL winner again after their last clean sheet in a final and Eder Militão like this David Alaba also to consider. Consider young, precocious talent Arda Guler and that is effectively four times better than new signings other than Mbappe and Endrick for Ancelotti to consider.”

Everything is coming to Real Madrid, but that’s nothing new.

New No. 1 in the latest MLB power rankings

There is a new name tops Matt Snyder’s latest MLB Power Rankingsand things might get even better soon.

• Snyder: “O Yankees had the best rotation in the American League thus far and did it without the 2023 AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. Paste begins its rehabilitation mission on Tuesday. Not only that, but they now have the best record in baseball along with the best run differential and haven’t lost a series in a month. It’s June and the best team in baseball is the New York Yankees.”

Having the two leading AL MVP candidates in Aaron Judge It is Juan Soto – who rank first and second, respectively, in OPS and total bases – doesn’t hurt either.

Here are Matt’s top five:

1. Yankees (previous: 2)
2. Philadelphia (1)
3. Dodgers (5)
4. Oriole (4)
5. Guardians (3)

It is still early. It’s time for these slow starts to turn into hot summers.

What will we watch on Monday

Brewers in Phillies6:40 p.m. on MLB Network
Giants in Diamondbacks9:40 pm on FS1