I went to the Stanley Cup Game 7! 

Hockey is one of the very best sports to see live.

I mean going from “the only thing I know is the puck is black” to actually talking stats and specific players, is a big step and it’s cool to see

As a black kid growing up in the early 2000s, I learned about the game of hockey watching D2 & D3 the Mighty Ducks. Good to see SAS talk some hockey. Hopefully we can see more hockey analysts give their opinion and breakdown plays.

As a lifetime hockey fan and an SAS fan, I never thought those two things would go together. It blows my mind to have him talking about hockey and I love it!

As a lifelong panthers fan it pains me how someone who’s asked to enjoy hockey witnessed this moment live instead of me lol

Stephen a taking photos with all the hockey fans pretty cool

I’ve never seen someone actually watch a hockey game, and not love it. I’m glad Stephen A had a good time. I think hockey is starting to grow again in the US.

Stephen A is a hockey fan now?! It's the future! We're here, and I'm here for it!

out of all the 4 major North American team games.... hockey games are by far the most exciting to view live. NHL > NFL > NBA > MLB

What SAS did not mention is that McDavid did not come out to accept the trophy. There is a lot of controversy about this in terms of that it was poor sportsmanship not to come out to accept the trophy, against showing his priorities in staying with his teammates. He was the last Oiler off the ice and waited to greet each teammate and encourage them when they were rightfully disappointed in losing. I think not coming out was respectful to the Panthers fans - to not take away from their celebration of winning and he showed his teammates that he was not going to leave them for a trophy celebrating his personal excellence.

I just appreciate that you're giving the sport a chance and its props, unlike your competitor on the other network that can only talk Cowboys

Mad respect Stephen A! Been a hockey player my entire life and it’s great to see more Black sports analysts and celebrities giving it attention🙌

"Arena is cold as hell" lolol hockey on the Rise in the US

This is freaking blowing my mind. Stephen is calling out stats of individual hockey players. Props. Shout out from Winnipeg MB Canada

During the Oilers vs Florida series both McDavid and Bobrovsky were stellar in some games and lackluster in others, but at the crucial moment Bob shined while Connor faded in Game 7. Just facts.

Black man and Sharks fan, will be back with Smith and Macklin! Grew up on Thornton and Marleau. Started playing roller in CenCal and then moved on to Ice hockey in high school and college

Respect talking hockey 💪🏾

Good on u for giving hockey a chance atleast

A hockey game 🏑 game is so exciting. SAS is exactly right about the temp drop, but we need it in South Florida. It's so hot. Go, Panthers... I think if more African americans experience one game, they'll love it as much as football and basketball. Go Panthers, baby. Let's party.

I have to say as a hockey fan of more than 20 years, Stephen A. Smith has improved his hockey analysis. I think even he would admit his knowledge is still a long way away from being like that of someone who played the sport, but he got a number of important things right and stayed interesting while saying it.

It’s the greatest playoff sport there is.

I’ve often said , people who don’t think they would like hockey have never experienced an NHL game . The best sport live to watch and the crowds are electric

Always interesting to hear your insight S.A.S. As a Canadian watching this series and seeing the Oilers take it to a 7th. game. You really have to give the Panthers credit with the way they kept their poise and took care of business. Great credit to their Coach and leadership from their Captain to keep them grounded and focused on the task at hand. Like their Coach said, This is a special group. What they did is special and now they're a part of history. Congrats Florida, how sweet it is.

My left ear loved this SAS.

Just subscribed! Keep up the great hockey content.

He keeps earning my respect more and more each year.

This is wonderful. Thank you for putting this out, Steven A. Your points were articulate and well put forth. I love that you are not only shouting out the sport that I love most but doing it in an educated, humble, enthusiastic manner. So great that you still had a hot take while out of your comfort zone. Mr. Smith, you just gained a subscriber.

Once you see and hear a hockey game in person, you finally get the full experience. You cannot comprehend the speed of the game on TV, and the ambiance of all the senses, the sounds and yes the cold of the building. Several years ago I attended a baseball game in Baltimore at Camden Yards. I couldn’t sit through the entire game. I left in the 7th inning of a 3 run game because it was just too slow and boring compared to the 100 hockey games I’ve been to in my life. I love both football and hockey. Football is way better on TV, hockey is way better in person!!

Talk more about Paul Maurice. That guy deserved this.

Hey...I don't remember you being an NHL fan but we never talked about that stuff. Good Stephen A.

Almost every NHL playoff year there is a sensational goaltender that emerges worthy of a Conn Smythe trophy. But Mcdavids playoff performance happens once in a generation, if at that. Based on that alone, he rightly deserved that trophy.

Best SAS video i have ever seen

31 years? Pssh! Piece of cake! I've been a Leaf fan since 1968. They last won the cup in 1967. groan

I have to admit, props to Stephen A for growing his hockey knowledge over the last couple of years and taking it seriously. Love or hate him, this will help grow the sport!

For someone who is new to hockey your-video was better than most hockey fan videos. Keep it up. 👍🏾

This is awesome! Glad to see talking hockey. Welcome to the greatest sport!

Glad to hear that he had fun. I hope he goes to more NHL games

Props to you Steven A. This sport is tough, fast and skilled.

Steven EH! Once you learn the game more, you will look at hockey more similar to baseball than the others - you mentioned baseball and the pitcher, i counter that with hockey and a goalie. Glad to see you doing a little hockey talk! Look forward to more, hopefully.

I’m a goalie too so I understand that the stats sometimes are unfair for us, but if you can plug in the goalie from the losing team with almost identical stats who plays for a vastly inferior defensive team and still probably come up with the same result you have to give it to the guy who did things that have never been done in the entire history of the NHL

I love Hockey. Best sport in the world.

Love to see you enjoyed game 7. NHL playoffs are amazingly entertaining and I hope you come and watch more games

Yes, it's the only time we get to wear cold weather clothes in south florida lol

As a 50+ year hockey fan, I say- welcome to the club!!!!!

Fun Fact: Gretzky's Cup final record of 13 points in 1988, was in a 4 game sweep.

This game looks so dynamic and exciting. So fast. You can see why it’s popular. It’s kinda stupid to allow fighting. But considering these giants are in skates reaching speeds that even some runners hardly reaches and ramming each other so hard that they break glass, i think fighting is the least of their concerns

PANTHERS BABY 🐀🏆

✔️Holding a team like Edmonton to 24 shots-on-goal is impressive. ✔️Paul Maurice was just 29 when he began his head coaching career in Raleigh. ✔️Very insightful commentary Stephen A. Smith.

Nice to see as a Finn that Stephen is interested of hockey. Sasha Barkov is great leader to be able to get the team together when it mattered most.

Hockey talk! 🎉❤

Haha always bring a hoodie to a hockey game

Respect for taking pictures with the fans 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 much love!

Ive been to the Panthers stadium. Its honestly VERY nice

nice, glad you enjoyed and glad to see you taking the time to take pics with fans

Hockey atmosphere is unmatched

McDavid is an elite diver. McDiver

Playoff Hockey is what gets new fans into it. You should start following Alex Ovechkin's chase for the All time goals record SAS. Watch some of his goals and just appreciate the volume he puts the puck in the net in the hardest era to score goals in.

Bob had actually “only” given up fifteen goals in the previous three games. (He was pulled after the 5th goal in game 4.)

i loved that outside weather 90 degree and inside the arena dropping to 30 lol !!

I have always said hockey is the best sport live. We got another convert in Stephen A. I have taken a number of non hockey fans to games and without exception they've become hockey fans.

McDavid is entering Marcel Dionne territory; all time greats with no cups.

Good for you Stephen A

Awesome analysis Stephan A Smith! You're the 🐐!

As an Oilers fan who's seen every game McDavid has played in his professional career, he didn't deserve the MVP. Bobrovsky was average games 4-6 and the Panthers got blown out. He was great again in game 7 and they won. When you need your goalie to be great to win, your goalie is more valuable than the guy that got a third his points in garbage time and in blowouts.

This was also not the first time the conn smythe trophy went to a player on the team that lost the stanley cup finals. He is the sixth player and second skater (non-goalie) to win it. The last time was in 2003 when jean sebastian giguere won for the anaheim mighty ducks but the new jersey devils won their third cup

Breaking a Gretzky Record is enough. After that , McDavid got them to game 7, Goalie Bob allowed them to get there, Harder to score then defend.

The more people playing hockey the better! Ice, roller, street hockey. Somebody bring street hockey back!

Hey, Hey, Hey! How's it goin', Stephen Eh? Glad to see you had a good time watching some NHL. Re McDavid: He has been THE dude on his team forever. Also, check w some inside hockey folks re: how much punishment a star player takes reg season and how it maximizes in playoffs. McDavid prob takes the most. Dude was gassed last two games--that's a team mngmt prob, not a McDavid prob. (I personally hate McDavid-- but only cause he's an Oiler, a team that hasn't really deserved him til maybe this last half-year when they finally got their act together). NHL, SA! Keep watching, I think you're gonna like it. **Also, I'm a Leafs fan. Don't get me started and I won't get you started (cc Cowboys fans)

I like this! Thanks for reporting on the hockey finals, Stephen.

As a long time hockey fan had Edmonton won game 7 then I would have agreed with the McDavid selection. But in G7 just like g's 1 - 3 McDavid was ineffective due to Barkov's relentless coverage and Bob in net, either of the should have one the Conn Smythe imo

1:00 Jesus Saves! Which makes him a great goalie, Mr. Smith

Its about time Stephen A! Come watch a hockey game in Pittsburgh if you want to see the best player in the league Sydney Crosby.

Love the coverage! I will say that it’s still a sport that is so hard to pin on one guy. For me, I think Knobloch handled the third period horribly. You can’t play anyone 12 minutes in a period. However, it shows he really wasn’t paying attention in the previous games because McDavid had no points or goals, along with Draisaitl, when they had zone time more than 15 seconds 5 on 5. Only Mcleod’s line was able to crack goals at extensive zone time. Everything else was on the rush. Hoping for the day that you talk about hockey on espn and spread the brilliance of the sport.

Great that you are a fan now Stephen A. You see how they stay out on the ice going up to 22 mph for 1 and a half minutes then they get off because they are out of breath. At this level it's incredible.

He's right. If you want to be the greatest you need to win a championship.

McDavid did deserve the Conn Smythe. He broke one of Gretzky’s records. Bob would have probably won it if the Panthers won it in 4 or 5.

In hockey you need a goalie with better than 0.880 goaltending to make the playoffs and to make it deep, and Connor never had that until this year.

stephen a: you moved up a notch in my book. that puts you at notch 1.

Here is something to think about Stephen. Tampa, Vegas, Florida all recent cup winners. All these teams have the luxury of signing players with the benefit of no state tax on salaries. Therefore players will sign for less money. A very unfair advantage in a salary cap league.

Hockey needs this man!!!

Hockey is very similar to baseball. In Basketball a single player has more of an effect on winning and losing.

SAS seems to have learned alot from PK subban in their discussions together, good for him

I'm pretty sure Barkley convinced him how great hockey can be.

Best sport and best athletes. The more you go you’ll see

Everything he said about how a pitcher can ruin a star's night also applies to goaltenders in hockey.

Holy crap you actually like hockey now?! Okay now I'll give you a chance on your takes in hockey. Just remember it is the ultimate team sport.

In SA voice " it's about dam time, u set up in there and recognize the elite action of the nhl playoffs!

Shout out to Stephen A for bringing that energy to this coverage.

i do not care, at all what this man has to say about the sport of hockey. Ever since he has said publicly, on air, that hockey is not a major sport and that the only thing people know of the sport is that the puck is black. just, stick to what you know and leave the SPORT of hockey and the NHL to people who actually watch and enjoy it.

History!

As a 50-year hockey fan, Connor McDavid's Conn Smythe Trophy win is well-deserved, not controversial.

Hockey is objectively the greatest sport in the world. Football is my favorite and the most polarizing, baseball is great(most will disagree😂), basketball is also phenomenal but hockey is the only sport that hasn’t ruined the sport by making everything a penalty, it’s the ultimate team sport and requires depth to succeed, and it’s just as fun to watch someone like Mcdavid dangle the puck similar to how it feels to watch someone like kyrie ball handle and curry take deep 3s, and it’s the most consistently fast paced. It’s also the hardest sport by far to win a championship with how many rounds and how physical it is. And it’s global in the sense that theirs great players from multiple countries, ethnicities, races, etc. Hockey really should be the biggest sport in the world or at least the country 😩

Love the hockey coverage but please fix your audio its only availabe on side and i check its not me 😅

Hockey is awesome live! So much different than on T.v

Hockey is so much of a team sport that one player can only affect a game so much. The argument of championships in hockey is a hard one to discuss when talking about greatness.

I am a Canadian and I think it's kinda ridiculous that people bring that up. Half the players in the NHL are Canadian and the USA based teams don't win without them. Cup goes back to Canada regardless. I do however think usa has made great strides with their younger players in the world juniors.

I’ll tell you this Stephen A cuz you are new at hockey, I know you were at the game and saw how gassed the oilers looked towards the end of the game. They were on the ice for 3+ minutes. A normal shift is 45 seconds. That is so brutal that I think it shows that in the end Edmonton was willing to die on the hill of the stars, even at their lowest level, than make a change to get them rest. I’d say hockey is the second most team oriented major sport to baseball. The next step for Edmonton should be to trade Leon and get depth behind McDavid, at least that’s my thoughts

The Jets were gone way before 1999(1993)? So the Jets/Coyotes/ and Utah are the same franchise..

I dont like stephen A but his baseball point is 100% true. Offense in baseball and cricket 🏏 is one player versus the entire other team

My left ear enjoyed this