Oilers and Panthers clash in Stanley Cup final; Real Madrid are champions of Europe

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🏒 Good morning to everyone, but especially to…

THE EDMONTON OILERS AND THE FLORIDA PANTHERS

If Connor McDavid And Stuart Skinner play like they did in Game 6, the Oil squirters will be tough to beat, shots on target be damned. Edmonton advances to its first Stanley Cup final in 18 years after a 2-1 win over the Stars thanks to a sublime goal and assist from McDavid and 34 saves on 35 shots opposite Skinner.

Edmonton's ten shots on goal are tied for the fewest in any playoff win in NHL history and the fewest since 1990.

• McDavid scored in spectacular fashion just 4:17 minutes into the game, dancing around and through the Stars defense before hitting a backhand Jake Oettinger up close.
• Later in the first period, McDavid found an opening Zach Hyman, who made no mistake with a golden opportunity. Both goals came via the power play; it was Edmonton's second straight game with two power play goals.
• Mason March scored about halfway through the third period, crashed and set up a rebound, but Skinner stayed strong for the rest of the game.

Skinner, who was briefly benched in the second round, was huge. But it's hard to find the words to describe McDavid, who has 26 assists this postseason. Only Wayne Gretzky (three times), Mario Lemieux And Nikita Kucherov have ever had more in one postseason.

The Oilers will be the Panthers after Florida topped Rangers2-1, in Game 6 on Saturday.

👍 Honorable mentions

🏀 And not such a good morning for…

CAITLIN CLARK, ANGEL REESE AND CHENNEDY CARTER

It's the bump/body check/cheap shot/whatever you want to call it that makes the WNBA buzz, and it involves some of the league's biggest names. Chennedy Carter contaminated Caitlin Clark before the ball came in on Saturday, leaving the No. 1 overall pick on the floor. Clark and the Fever had the last laugh and secured a 71-70 victory, but that result took a back seat.

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏆 Real Madrid wins 15th UEFA Champions League title, probably with Kylian Mbappé

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

Real Madrid followed the script it so often uses on the world's biggest stage for elite clubs: by finding the magic late. In the 74th minute Dani Carvajal expertly nodded home from a cornerhis first Champions League goal in nine years, which shows that he is far from finished. Nine minutes later, Real Madrid pounced Ian Maatsen wrong, with Vinicius Jr. doubling the lead. CBS Sports Golazo analyst and former superstar Thierry Henry said 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 faced with deficits and opportunities that no other club seems to overcome. To make a long story short, We should have seen this comingwrites James Benge.

• Benge: “When you win so much, you are a dynasty. Each of these needs a defining characteristic. The Madrid of Paco Gento — whose record of six Champions Leagues is now equaled by Luka Modric, NachoCarvajal and Toni Kroos — were the great blueprint for the collection of stars that formed this club. …These men will be defined by their ability to win, regardless of their collective and individual struggles.

It's not just the veterans. With a wave of stars in their prime, there is no end in sight to Madrid's European domination. Vini Jr. is 23. He and 20 years old Judas Bellingham – who didn't score, but was an example of his team's approachChuck Booth notes – were the catalysts behind Madrid's latest title race.

They're about to get even more help from one of the players Vini Jr. can challenge to be the best in the world. Kylian Mbappe is expected him to announce his move by PSG to Real Madrid in the coming days, making Los Blancos an easy choice Chuck's picks for the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League.

Jonathan Johnson broke down what's next for the champions.

• Johnson: “Perhaps the most impressive thing is the number of regular starters with whom we should be fully fit again next season Thibaut Courtois another UCL winner after his last clean sheet in a final and Eder Militao like David Alaba also to consider. Be aware of precocious young talent Arda Guler and that is actually four virtually new signings on top of Mbappé and Endrik for Ancelotti to consider.”

It's all coming to Real Madrid, but that's nothing new.

⚾ New #1 in the latest MLB Power Rankings

There is a new name atop Matt Snyder's latest MLB Power Rankingsand things could soon get even better.

• Snyder: “The Yankees have had the best rotation in the American League to date and they've done it without a 2023 AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Kool. Cole starts his rehabilitation assignment on Tuesday. Not only that, but they now have the best record in baseball, the best series differential and haven't lost a series in a month. It's June and the best team in baseball is the New York Yankees.”

The top two AL MVP candidates are in Aaron Judge And Juan Soto — who rank first and second in OPS and total bases, respectively — doesn't hurt either.

Here are Matt's top five:

1. Yankees (formerly: 2)
2. Phillies (1)
3. Evaders (5)
4. Orioles (4)
5. Guards (3)

It's still early. It's time for those slow starts to turn into hot summers.

📺 What we'll be watching on Monday

⚾ Brewers at Phillies6:40 PM on MLB Network
⚾ Giants at Diamondbacks9:40 PM on FS1