Badgers in the NHL: Holloway opens Stanley Cup Final
June 07, 2024 | Men's Hockey, NHL Badgers
Forward will play beginning Saturday with the Edmonton Oilers
MADISON, Wis. – A Wisconsin men's hockey skater will look to become the first Badger to win the most famous trophy in sports since 2021 when the Stanley Cup Final begins this weekend.
After eliminating the Dallas Stars in six games, forward Dylan Holloway and the Edmonton Oilers are set to begin the final leg in their quest for the Stanley Cup starting Saturday, June 8, at 7 p.m. CT on ABC and ESPN+.
If the Oilers win, Holloway will become the 15th Badger to lift the NHL's greatest prize. All time, 14 Badgers have their names on the Stanley Cup as winning players a total of 22 times. Both are tops among NCAA programs.
In 18 postseason games played so far, Holloway has three goals and four points.
Our first Clarence Campbell Bowl since '06 ✔️ pic.twitter.com/yj58y4Kfkp
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 3, 2024
To advance to the Cup Final, the Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars, ending three former Badgers' seasons – defenseman Ryan Suter and forwards Craig Smith and Joe Pavelski.
Suter finishes his 2024 postseason with one goal and four points in 19 games played, including notching an assist in the second game of the third round.
GET HYPED, DALLAS!!!! pic.twitter.com/fKblephnGT
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 26, 2024
Through 14 postseason games, Smith earned two assists, with both coming in the first round of the playoffs.
Dylan Holloway just ran into a WALL of Craig Smith 😳 pic.twitter.com/0Vix2fepRl
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 26, 2024
Pavelski tallied one goal and four points in 19 postseason games played.
Everyone's going to act completely normal about this, right? 👔 pic.twitter.com/TNCouPwHfE
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 31, 2024
Following the Stars' season-ending loss, Pavelski announced to the media that he does not intend to play in the NHL next season. The forward spent 18 seasons in the NHL playing for both the San Jose Sharks and the Stars, and he is the Badgers' current all-time leader in NHL goals and points, among other achievements.
One of the all-time greats on and off the ice and Wisconsin's own - @jpav8
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) June 4, 2024
All-time Badger leader in NHL goals (476) and points (1,069)
14 20-goal NHL seasons 4th all-time for NCAA players
U.S. record-holder with 74 NHL playoff goals
2X Olympian 🇺🇸#BadgersintheBigs pic.twitter.com/Nxprw7CvIp
To earn their spot in the Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers, eliminated former Badger K'Andre Miller and the top overall-seeded New York Rangers, four wins to two, in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Miller, a defenseman, finished the playoffs with one goal and four points in 16 games played.
On the home front. pic.twitter.com/Zcyj0K3aTU
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 30, 2024
While no UW alums are skating for Florida, Bill Zito, the Panthers' president of hockey operations and general manager, earned a law degree from Wisconsin and served as a graduate assistant during his time as a UW law student.
Full Stanley Cup Final schedule (all in CT):
Game 1: Oilers at Panthers -- June 8, 7 p.m.
Game 2: Oilers at Panthers -- June 10, 7 p.m.
Game 3: Panthers at Oilers -- June 13, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Panthers at Oilers -- June 15, 7 p.m.
Game 5*: Oilers at Panthers -- June 18, 7 p.m.
Game 6*: Panthers at Oilers -- June 21, 7 p.m.
Game 7*: Oilers at Panthers -- June 24, 7 p.m,
* = if necessary
All games stream live on ABC and ESPN+.
