It has all come all the way down to this. After the Florida Panthers opened up a 3-0 lead on the Edmonton Oilers within the 2024 Stanley Cup Last, many believed the sequence to be all however over.
Then Connor McDavid and his pals outscored the Panthers by a mixed rating of 18-5 en path to tying the sequence up at three video games apiece, changing into simply the third workforce in NHL historical past to take action within the Stanley Cup Last.
Will the Oilers pull off the historic reverse sweep? Can the Panthers keep away from ignominy? This is all the pieces you want to know earlier than puck drop tonight, together with what’s at stake for every workforce, key gamers to look at and superior matchup metrics from ESPN Stats & Info.
Bounce forward: What’s at stake?
Gamers to look at, picks
Key stats for Sport 7
What’s at stake for the Panthers?
Repute. And we’re not speaking (underrated) Taylor Swift albums.
The Panthers had been afterthoughts for a lot of the franchise’s historical past. Florida misplaced within the 1996 Stanley Cup Last after which made simply 4 playoff appearances — with out profitable a spherical — by means of the subsequent 23 years. It was a workforce gamers aspired to hitch on the finish of their careers, when it was extra in regards to the temperate local weather and fewer about potential to win. And the Panthers had been used to an area crammed with opposing followers capitalizing on their low-cost tickets in a sunny locale not available in most hockey markets. A pleasant perk maybe, however hardly a basis upon which to construct a thriving tradition.
That is what Florida has now, although. GM Invoice Zito has methodically crafted the Panthers into a real top-tier contender. He turned Florida right into a President’s Trophy winner and, when that did not translate to postseason success, had the braveness to commerce his membership’s finest participant (Jonathan Huberdeau) for Matthew Tkachuk in a blockbuster swap which may have ended horribly for Florida. However it did not. Zito grabbed low-risk, high-reward gamers comparable to Gustav Forsling (off waivers) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (post-buyout) who’ve performed key roles for them on this dominant season. If final yr’s run to the Last was a fluke, this yr’s berth was something however. Florida was speculated to be this good. The Panthers had been meant to be at this pinnacle and supply it repeatedly with their play all through the playoffs.
In the event that they let this chance to be Cup champions slip away after holding a 3-0 lead on this sequence, that is a dagger in additional methods than one. Florida can write a chapter on its historical past now that even 5 years in the past may need appeared like a pipe dream. The one query for the Panthers now could be: Are you prepared for it?
What’s at stake for the Oilers?
In a phrase, legacy. Edmonton is a type of locations the place profitable simply is not sufficient. There have to be one thing further about the way in which the workforce received.
The Oilers have not simply received 5 Stanley Cups. They received 5 Stanley Cups in seven seasons. They did not merely have nice gamers. They’d among the biggest gamers of all time, with considered one of them being the best to ever play hockey. Profitable this explicit Stanley Cup not solely provides to their legacy, however enhances it much more. A franchise that has gone from being the usual to being within the cellar is now a win away from returning to the head; it is an opportunity to drag off what would develop into the best comeback in NHL historical past, and possibly the best comeback in North American skilled sports activities.
The extra sobering reality is that this could possibly be the Oilers’ finest and/or probably solely probability to win a Stanley Cup with Leon Draisaitl and McDavid, as a result of there isn’t a assure they’ll get again to this place. Edmonton has gone by means of entrance workplace, teaching, personnel and philosophical modifications to do all the pieces doable to win with a pair of generational abilities. Profitable Sport 7 and the Stanley Cup would show all these selections appropriate. Not that dropping Sport 7 and the Stanley Cup would condemn each side of the franchise’s path. However it could result in extra questions at a time wherein Draisaitl is heading into the ultimate yr of his contract as he and McDavid enter their late 20s.
Profitable Sport 7 would give the Oilers a chance to say they received it regardless what occurs going ahead. Dropping Sport 7 would solely make the trail ahead barely extra painful to navigate realizing they had been this shut. — Ryan S. Clark
Messier, Subban lament ‘determined’ show from Panthers
Mark Messier and P.Ok. Subban clarify why the Panthers have develop into the determined workforce because the sequence heads to Sport 7.
Who’s the one key participant you will be waiting for the Panthers?
Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporter: Sergei Bobrovsky. He went from being a win away from capturing his first Stanley Cup and a Conn Smythe, to now dealing with questions on what has gone improper with each him and his teammates. Dropping Sport 7 and the Stanley Cup as a complete wouldn’t be solely on Bobrovsky. The Panthers have struggled to defend their zone and have not supplied the extent of offensive help wanted to assist any goaltender. That mentioned, Bobrovsky has additionally had his challenges which have compounded the Panthers’ issues. All of it quantities to the truth that Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, could be one of many faces of a workforce that went from having an opportunity to comb the Stanley Cup Last solely to be on the opposite finish of what could be one of many largest collapses in sports activities historical past.
Victoria Matiash, NHL analyst: Carter Verhaeghe. Minus-11 by means of the previous 4 video games, he has one lonely help for the reason that sequence opener. Not so good. The highest-line winger now has one contest remaining to save lots of his workforce from struggling a legendary collapse and his personal fame as a clutch playoff performer. Nobody will bear in mind the inferior numbers main in if Verhaeghe manages to tangibly flip it round when it issues most.
Arda Öcal, NHL broadcaster: Gustav Forsling. Because the Panthers have gone, so has Forsling. He was plus-4 in Video games 1-3, minus-5 in Video games 4-6. Will he be capable of play that shutdown position in Sport 7? Can he include McDavid like he did within the first three video games? Forsling will definitely get his flowers from hockey followers, even when his contributions may not obtain the large headlines, however they actually are necessary and demanding to Florida’s success in Sport 7 and finally elevating the Stanley Cup.
Kristen Shilton, NHL reporter: Sam Reinhart. Reinhart has been noticeably lacking on this Cup Last. One objective and two assists by means of six video games — and 0 factors whole previously three when Florida had an opportunity to place Edmonton away? That is stunning output from a skater who put up 57 targets within the common season and produced 12 factors in 17 postseason video games previous to the Panthers dealing with the Oilers. No matter has gone improper for Reinhart to this point, he’d higher put it behind him in a rush. Florida wants its finest gamers to match what Edmonton has going from its stars on this sequence.
Greg Wyshynski, NHL reporter: Matthew Tkachuk. Welp, right here we’re. The possibility for a famous person to have a famous person second. Tkachuk tied with Aleksander Barkov for the workforce lead in scoring (22 factors), however you may rely on one hand the variety of video games wherein Tkachuk was a driving power for Florida. We caught a glimpse of that participant within the Panthers’ Sport 5 loss: Throwing the physique, defending brilliantly and factoring on two targets. That was sandwiched by two minus-3 efforts, together with Sport 6, when his line with Sam Bennett and Evan Rodrigues was a significant dud. A playoff run that has been extra compilation than clutch will probably be instantly rewritten by an impactful Stanley Cup Last Sport 7. A damaged sternum value him this type of probability in 2023 towards Vegas. That is his second.
Who’s the one key participant you will be waiting for the Oilers?
Clark: Connor McDavid. The actual fact he did not have a single shot on objective in Sport 6 is wild, on condition that he is the sport’s finest and most dominant participant. However it additionally speaks to how the Oilers can win even when he would not file a shot or a degree. We have seen the Oilers depend on their total roster to power a Sport 7. If they’ll get one other multipoint efficiency from McDavid along with the secondary and tertiary offense they produced in Sport 6, it may show too overwhelming en path to profitable their first Stanley Cup in additional than 30 years.
Matiash: Leon Draisaitl. It might appear a bit weird to look at the Oilers hoist the Cup following a seven-gamer wherein Draisaitl, even badly hobbled, did not rating a single objective. Particularly contemplating his postseason historical past and the handful of current high quality probabilities. Considered one of his personal previous Panthers goaltender Bobrovsky, together with a helper just like Friday’s excellent cross to Warren Foegele to open the scoring in Sport 6, would go an extended technique to sealing the deal for Edmonton.
Öcal: The apparent reply right here is McDavid, however I am going to go together with Draisaitl. He has three assists this sequence, which is stunning by his lofty requirements. The Oilers received their first sport with out McDavid registering a degree or a shot in Sport 6, however the Oilers additionally pushed this to Sport 7 with out Draisaitl being the second-best participant on the workforce, which he often is. He had flashes of his traditional self Friday; what if Monday is “The Draisaitl Sport”?
Shilton: Zach Hyman. We won’t say Hyman is underrated, per se. However he has 16 targets within the playoffs (essentially the most by any lively participant in a single postseason), and he tends to mild the lamp in a well timed vogue besides. That is going to be key for Edmonton in Sport 7. Florida will probably be zeroed in on containing McDavid and Draisaitl, which ought to proceed to provide Hyman alternative to do his factor. If the Oilers want a constant efficiency in any aspect of the sport, they’ll rely on Hyman to ship. And he is simply enjoyable to look at.
Wyshynski: Stuart Skinner. ​​Had been it not for McDavid rewriting the file books, Skinner would have a reliable declare to the Conn Smythe Trophy for his late-series mastery in each spherical. Skinner has a 10-0 file, a 1.50 goals-against common and a .940 save proportion in Video games 4-7 within the postseason. He is 5-0 when dealing with elimination this postseason, solely the eighth goalie to win 5 elimination video games in a single postseason. In Edmonton’s previous three wins, he has a 1.67 GAA and a .942 save proportion. Heck of a Mario Kart participant, too.
Zach Hyman credit Oilers ‘unshakeable perception’ after Sport 6 win
Zach Hyman praises the Oilers’ resilience all through the season that ready them for the excessive stakes playoff moments.
The ultimate rating will probably be _____.
Clark: 4-3 Oilers. For one, that rating line depicts the quantity of video games received by every workforce within the Cup Last. Even with that prediction, there are questions. The Oilers have averaged six targets over their previous three video games towards the Panthers. Can they’ve one other offensive outburst, or will the Panthers have lastly discovered a solution? Then there’s one other query dealing with the Panthers with this state of affairs: Can they create the type of consistency that permits them to maintain tempo with the Oilers, or may they be compelled to climb out of what could be one other sizable deficit in Sport 7?
Matiash: 4-2 Oilers. After selecting the Panthers to win Video games 5 and 6, I am nonetheless marveling that we’re even within the place to prognosticate scores for the final-for-sure sport of the season. However give Kris Knoblauch’s crew full credit score for totally determining the right way to chisel its means again into this factor. The optimistic chatter flowing out of Florida’s camp — “feeling constructive” and “feeling excited” had been phrases uttered to the media — is not sounding as convincing as earlier. Understandably so, because the Panthers have been outscored 18-5 since taking a 3-0 sequence lead.
Öcal: 3-2 Oilers, in additional time. As a result of that is what this sequence wants. It has been a surreal journey to get right here. The cherry on prime could be one objective to award the Cup.
Shilton: 4-3 Panthers, in additional time. Hear, it could not shock me within the least if Edmonton kilos its technique to a historic Cup victory right here (and extra energy to them if that is the case; what a trip it has been). In any case, I believed (and predicted) the Panthers would shut this factor out two video games in the past. However right here we’re in Florida’s constructing, the place the Cup will not be leaving this time till it is cradled within the arms of a participant who simply received it. If you speak about large moments — of the career- or franchise-defining kind — that is it. The Panthers don’t have any excuse. For one final time I am betting that provides Florida a whisper-thin edge over Edmonton.
Wyshynski: 5-2 Oilers. I believed the Panthers would shut out this sequence in Sport 6 as a result of they thrive when being counted out and attending to play the underdog. So there’s at all times an opportunity they channel that at residence in Sport 7. However that will additionally require a reversal of fortune for 90% of their roster that has been outplayed by the Oilers for almost all of the sequence. This appears like Edmonton’s second. This appears like Canada’s second. The Oilers simply despatched this factor to a seventh sport with no need McDavid to hold them there — that ought to scare the whiskers off the Panthers. Edmonton wins the Cup, makes sports activities historical past and bestows disgrace upon this Florida workforce.
Notes from ESPN Stats & Info
Sport 7 quick details:
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Monday would be the 18th Sport 7 in Stanley Cup Last historical past, and the primary since 2019 (St. Louis Blues defeated the Bruins in Boston)
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Street groups have received three straight Sport 7s within the Stanley Cup Last; residence groups are 12-5 all time.
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The Oilers will play of their third Sport 7 within the Stanley Cup Last (defeated Philadelphia Flyers in 1987, misplaced to Carolina Hurricanes in 2006).
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Edmonton will probably be enjoying in its thirteenth playoff Sport 7 in franchise historical past, and second this postseason (defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in Sport 7 within the second spherical). The Oilers are 8-4 total in playoff Sport 7s.
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The Panthers will probably be enjoying within the fourth Sport 7 in franchise historical past (2-0 on highway, 0-1 at residence). The house loss was to the New Jersey Devils within the 2012 convention quarterfinals.
Previous groups to return from down 0-3 to tie a sequence 3-3
Extra on the Oilers
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Edmonton scored 18 targets over the previous three video games to even up the sequence, tied for the second-most targets in a three-game span in a Stanley Cup Last. The Oilers held the Panthers to 5 targets throughout that span, giving them a plus-13 objective differential in Video games 4-6, tied with 1984 Oilers (plus-13 vs Islanders in Video games 3-5 to shut out the sequence) for the biggest objective differential in a three-game span in Stanley Cup Last historical past.
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The Oilers improved to 5-0 this postseason when dealing with elimination, essentially the most such wins in a single postseason in franchise historical past and tied for the fourth most by any workforce in a single postseason. Solely the 2014 Kings — who went 7-0 when dealing with elimination — have extra wins with out a loss in that state of affairs a single postseason.
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The Oilers have current historical past throughout sports activities on their facet. The final residence win in Sport 7 within the championship sequence for MLB, the NBA or the NHL was by the Miami Warmth in 2013. That’s six straight Sport 7 wins by the highway workforce (2019 World Collection, 2019 Cup Last, 2017 World Collection, 2016 World Collection, 2016 NBA Finals, 2014 World Collection). The present six-game dropping streak in Sport 7s throughout the World Collection, NBA Finals and Cup Last by residence groups is the longest ever. The earlier lengthy was 4 straight between Might 1974 (Bucks misplaced to Celtics) and October 1979 (Orioles misplaced to Pirates). That is additionally the longest hole when it comes to time. Sport 7 on Monday will probably be 4,022 days for the reason that Warmth received at residence in June 2013. The earlier lengthy hole was 3,286 days between Oct. 21, 1973 (Oakland Athletics beat New York Mets), and Oct. 20, 1982 (St. Louis Cardinals beat Milwaukee Brewers).
Extra on the Panthers
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The Panthers are going for his or her first Stanley Cup title of their third try (misplaced in 1996 and 2023) and are considered one of 11 lively franchises to not have received the Stanley Cup. They will develop into the fourth growth workforce over the previous 40 seasons to win the Stanley Cup, becoming a member of the Lightning (2004, 2020-21), Geese (2007), and Golden Knights (2023).
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With a win, Florida turns into the third workforce within the growth period (post-1967) to win the Cup the yr after dropping within the Last, together with the 2009 Penguins and 1984 Oilers. Final season, the Panthers misplaced to the Vegas Golden Knights in 5 video games, together with a 9-3 blowout within the Cup clincher.
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General, it is the 18th Sport 7 in Stanley Cup Last historical past, with the house workforce proudly owning a file of 12-5. The previous three have been received by the highway workforce, with the Penguins profitable at Detroit in 2009, the Bruins topping Vancouver in 2011 and the Blues beating Boston in 2019. Do not count on a high-scoring contest. Probably the most targets any workforce has scored in Sport 7 of the Cup Last is 4, carried out on 5 events, most not too long ago by the Blues in 2019. Probably the most mixed targets in Sport 7 of a Stanley Cup Last is seven in 1950 (Detroit 4, Rangers 3).