It's been 31 years since a Canadian team hoisted the Stanley Cup, and hockey purists north of the 49th parallel have waited with bated breath and rapidly depleting beer supplies. The last triumph by a Canadian team came on June 9, 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens etched their names on the coveted trophy. Since then, the Stanley Cup has embarked on a more extensive tour of U.S. cities than an aging rock band, with stops in less-than-wintry locations like Las Vegas, Anaheim, Tampa, and Raleigh (NBC).

The Edmonton Oilers, however, seem determined to end what some call a national crisis in Canada — the great Stanley Cup drought. Faced with the daunting task of playing against the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday, the Oilers may be relying on their secret weapon: extra maple syrup. After all, there's nothing like a good Canadian cliché to boost morale (FOX).

The Oilers are no strangers to the Cup’s sweet taste, having lifted it five times in the golden era of the '80s (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990) (NBC). Their opponent, the Florida Panthers, on the other hand, are looking to snatch their first-ever Stanley Cup, and are probably wondering if they too should stock up on some syrup (FOX).

Top players to keep an eye on include the Oilers' dynamic duo, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, along with the Panthers’ stalwart goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. McDavid is widely considered the best player in the sport, making Oilers fans dream of a return to their glory days, minus the mullets and synth-heavy rock anthems (NBC).

The stark reality for Canadian teams, who dominate Olympic hockey but falter in the NHL, is due partially to the fewer franchises based in Canada compared to the U.S. During this prolonged drought, six brave Canadian teams have reached the Stanley Cup Final, only to end up as runners-up, leaving fans to wonder if they’re cursed (NBC; FOX).

The Oilers enter the final with a predominantly Canadian roster, giving fans an extra pinch of patriotism—15 of their 20 players were born in the land of hockey and Tim Hortons (NBC). Yet, let’s not romanticize too much; these blokes are out for blood, glory, and redemption after their heartbreaking loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2006 Stanley Cup Final (FOX).

Ironically, as Canadian teams ponder their misfortune, many of the U.S. teams that have hoisted the Cup in recent decades are based in places where ice is something you put in a drink and snow is what you see in movies. Nevertheless, there's no NHL without Canadians. They remain the lifeblood of the sport, even though a U.S. team often secures the prize. Hockey enthusiasts will be quick to remind you that a bad day of hockey still beats a good day of, well, anything else (NBC).

The Oilers' chances are further bolstered by the presence of Connor McDavid, who has consistently proven why he's a top player on the ice. If the Oilers can tap into the magic jar of their illustrious past, they might just break this 31-year jinx and prove to the world that Canadian hockey still reigns supreme (NBC).

Finally, the game will be an interesting chapter in the ongoing saga between Canadian hope and perpetual American dominance. Win or lose, it's certain that Canadians will add this to their long list of grievances, somewhere between “why does milk come in bags?” and “do we really need another Tim Hortons?” (NBC).

So as the Edmonton Oilers prepare to face off against the Florida Panthers, one thing is for sure: they’ll have their countrymen's hearts, hope, and of course, that all-important maple syrup, to carry them through.