Stanley Cup Remaining Recreation 7: Predictions for Oilers-Panthers

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 Remaining, many believed the collection 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 collection up at three video games apiece, changing into simply the third workforce in NHL historical past to take action within the Stanley Cup Remaining.

Will the Oilers pull off the historic reverse sweep? Can the Panthers keep away from ignominy? Here is every little thing you must 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 Recreation 7

What’s at stake for the Panthers?

Status. 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 Remaining after which made simply 4 playoff appearances — with out profitable a spherical — via the following 23 years. It was a workforce gamers aspired to affix 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 have been used to an area full of 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. But it surely 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 12 months’s run to the Remaining was a fluke, this 12 months’s berth was something however. Florida was imagined to be this good. The Panthers have 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 collection, 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 might 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 kind of locations the place profitable simply is not sufficient. There have to be one thing extra 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. That they had a few of the best gamers of all time, with one among 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 presumably solely likelihood to win a Stanley Cup with Leon Draisaitl and McDavid, as a result of there isn’t a assure they will get again to this place. Edmonton has gone via entrance workplace, teaching, personnel and philosophical modifications to do every little thing doable to win with a pair of generational skills. Profitable Recreation 7 and the Stanley Cup would show all these selections appropriate. Not that dropping Recreation 7 and the Stanley Cup would condemn each facet of the franchise’s path. However it will result in extra questions at a time when Draisaitl is heading into the ultimate 12 months of his contract as he and McDavid enter their late 20s.

Profitable Recreation 7 would give the Oilers a chance to say they received it regardless what occurs going ahead. Dropping Recreation 7 would solely make the trail ahead barely extra painful to navigate figuring out they have been this shut. — Ryan S. Clark

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Messier, Subban lament ‘determined’ show from Panthers

Mark Messier and P.Okay. Subban clarify why the Panthers have develop into the determined workforce because the collection heads to Recreation 7.

Who’s the one key participant you will be awaiting 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 flawed with each him and his teammates. Dropping Recreation 7 and the Stanley Cup as an entire 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 stated, 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 who went from having an opportunity to comb the Stanley Cup Remaining 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 via the previous 4 video games, he has one lonely help because the collection 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 keep 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 have the ability to play that shutdown position in Recreation 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 vital and demanding to Florida’s success in Recreation 7 and finally elevating the Stanley Cup.

Kristen Shilton, NHL reporter: Sam Reinhart. Reinhart has been noticeably lacking on this Cup Remaining. One purpose and two assists via six video games — and 0 factors complete prior to now three when Florida had an opportunity to place Edmonton away? That is stunning output from a skater who put up 57 objectives 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 flawed 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 collection.

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 possibly can depend on one hand the variety of video games by which Tkachuk was a driving pressure for Florida. We caught a glimpse of that participant within the Panthers’ Recreation 5 loss: Throwing the physique, defending brilliantly and factoring on two objectives. That was sandwiched by two minus-3 efforts, together with Recreation 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 Remaining Recreation 7. A damaged sternum value him this type of likelihood in 2023 towards Vegas. That is his second.

Who’s the one key participant you will be awaiting the Oilers?

Clark: Connor McDavid. The very fact he did not have a single shot on purpose in Recreation 6 is wild, on condition that he is the sport’s finest and most dominant participant. But it surely additionally speaks to how the Oilers can win even when he does not report a shot or a degree. We have seen the Oilers depend on their total roster to pressure a Recreation 7. If they will get one other multipoint efficiency from McDavid along with the secondary and tertiary offense they produced in Recreation 6, it might 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 when Draisaitl, even badly hobbled, did not rating a single purpose. Particularly contemplating his postseason historical past and the handful of latest high quality probabilities. Getting one among his personal previous Panthers goaltender Bobrovsky, together with a helper much like Friday’s good move to Warren Foegele to open the scoring in Recreation 6, would go an extended strategy to sealing the deal for Edmonton.

Öcal: The plain reply right here is McDavid, however I am going to go along with Draisaitl. He has three assists this collection, which is shocking by his lofty requirements. The Oilers received their first sport with out McDavid registering a degree or a shot in Recreation 6, however additionally they pushed this to Recreation 7 with out Draisaitl being the second-best participant on the workforce, which he normally is. He had flashes of his regular self Friday; what if Monday is “The Draisaitl Recreation”?

Shilton: Zach Hyman. We will not say Hyman is underrated, per se. However he has 16 objectives within the playoffs (probably the most by any energetic participant in a single postseason), and he tends to gentle the lamp in a well timed vogue besides. That is going to be key for Edmonton in Recreation 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 will depend on Hyman to ship. And he is simply enjoyable to look at.

Wyshynski: Stuart Skinner. ​​Had been it not for McDavid rewriting the report books, Skinner would have a official declare to the Conn Smythe Trophy for his late-series mastery in each spherical. Skinner has a 10-0 report, 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.

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Zach Hyman credit Oilers ‘unshakeable perception’ after Recreation 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 variety of video games received by every workforce within the Cup Remaining. Even with that prediction, there are questions. The Oilers have averaged six objectives 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 kind of consistency that enables them to maintain tempo with the Oilers, or might they be pressured to climb out of what could be one other sizable deficit in Recreation 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 absolutely determining chisel its means again into this factor. The optimistic chatter flowing out of Florida’s camp — “feeling optimistic” and “feeling excited” have 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 collection lead.

Öcal: 3-2 Oilers, in time beyond regulation. As a result of that is what this collection wants. It has been a surreal journey to get right here. The cherry on prime could be one purpose to award the Cup.

Shilton: 4-3 Panthers, in time beyond regulation. Hear, it will not shock me within the least if Edmonton kilos its strategy 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 assumed (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. While you speak about large moments — of the career- or franchise-defining sort — that is it. The Panthers haven’t any excuse. For one final time I am betting that offers Florida a whisper-thin edge over Edmonton.

Wyshynski: 5-2 Oilers. I assumed the Panthers would shut out this collection in Recreation 6 as a result of they thrive when being counted out and attending to play the underdog. So there’s all the time an opportunity they channel that at dwelling in Recreation 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 collection. 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

Recreation 7 quick details:

• Monday would be the 18th Recreation 7 in Stanley Cup Remaining historical past, and the primary since 2019 (St. Louis Blues defeated the Bruins in Boston)

• Highway groups have received three straight Recreation 7s within the Stanley Cup Remaining; dwelling groups are 12-5 all time.

• The Oilers will play of their third Recreation 7 within the Stanley Cup Remaining (defeated Philadelphia Flyers in 1987, misplaced to Carolina Hurricanes in 2006).

• Edmonton will probably be taking part in in its thirteenth playoff Recreation 7 in franchise historical past, and second this postseason (defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in Recreation 7 within the second spherical). The Oilers are 8-4 total in playoff Recreation 7s.

• The Panthers will probably be taking part in within the fourth Recreation 7 in franchise historical past (2-0 on street, 0-1 at dwelling). The house loss was to the New Jersey Devils within the 2012 convention quarterfinals.

Previous groups to come back from down 0-3 to tie a collection 3-3

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Subban: Stanley Cup comeback would give McDavid sports activities immortality

P.Okay. Subban explains how an Oilers comeback from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Panthers for the Stanley Cup would impression Connor McDavid’s legacy.

Extra on the Oilers

• Edmonton scored 18 objectives over the previous three video games to even up the collection, tied for the second-most objectives in a three-game span in a Stanley Cup Remaining. The Oilers held the Panthers to 5 objectives throughout that span, giving them a plus-13 purpose differential in Video games 4-6, tied with the 1984 Oilers (plus-13 vs Islanders in Video games 3-5 to shut out the collection) for the most important purpose differential in a three-game span in Stanley Cup Remaining historical past.

• The Oilers improved to 5-0 this postseason when dealing with elimination, probably 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 and not using a loss in that state of affairs in a single postseason.

• The Oilers have latest historical past throughout sports activities on their facet. The final dwelling win in Recreation 7 within the championship collection for MLB, the NBA or the NHL was by the Miami Warmth in 2013. That’s six straight Recreation 7 wins by the street workforce (2019 World Collection, 2019 Cup Remaining, 2017 World Collection, 2016 World Collection, 2016 NBA Finals, 2014 World Collection). The present six-game dropping streak in Recreation 7s throughout the World Collection, NBA Finals and Cup Remaining by dwelling groups is the longest ever. The earlier longest was 4 straight between Could 1974 (Bucks misplaced to Celtics) and October 1979 (Orioles misplaced to Pirates). That is additionally the longest hole when it comes to time. Recreation 7 on Monday will probably be 4,022 days because the Warmth received at dwelling in June 2013. The earlier longest 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

• The Panthers are going for his or her first Stanley Cup title of their third try (misplaced in 1996 and 2023) and are one among 11 energetic 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).

• With a win, Florida turns into the third workforce within the growth period (post-1967) to win the Cup the 12 months after dropping within the Remaining, 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.

• General, it is the 18th Recreation 7 in Stanley Cup Remaining historical past, with the house workforce proudly owning a report of 12-5. The previous three have been received by the street workforce, with the Penguins profitable at Detroit in 2009, the Bruins topping Vancouver in 2011 and the Blues beating Boston in 2019. Do not anticipate a high-scoring contest. Essentially the most objectives any workforce has scored in Recreation 7 of the Cup Remaining is 4, accomplished on 5 events, most just lately by the Blues in 2019. Essentially the most mixed objectives in Recreation 7 of a Stanley Cup Remaining is seven in 1950 (Detroit 4, Rangers 3).