The Florida Panthers clinched the Stanley Cup by defeating the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in a thrilling Game 7, marking an end to Edmonton's dramatic comeback attempt from a 3-0 series deficit. Despite the loss, Oilers' star Connor McDavid won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, breaking Wayne Gretzky's postseason assist record and achieving over 40 points in the playoffs. McDavid is the sixth player to win the Conn Smythe without winning the Cup and the first since Jean-Sebastien Giguere in 2003. The defeat was particularly crushing for McDavid, who was visibly devastated post-game. Moving forward, Edmonton faces a challenging offseason, with key depth players like Connor Brown and Warren Foegele potentially departing as unrestricted free agents. The Oilers' fans showed immense support, filling both the streets of Edmonton and the stands in Florida, creating an electric atmosphere throughout the series.