Will probably be 1st winner-take-all recreation for championship since 2019
© Dave Sandford/NHLI by way of Getty Photos
The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will play Sport 7 of the Stanley Cup Ultimate at Amerant Financial institution Area in Dawn, Florida, on Monday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS, CBC).
The Oilers pushed the sequence to the restrict by successful the previous three video games, together with a 5-1 win at house in Sport 6 on Friday.
“I am excited. I wish to get it going for positive, get on the ice Monday,” Oilers ahead Ryan Nugent-Hopkins mentioned. “It is a dream come true to be on this place and I am unable to be extra pleased with this group.”
It will likely be the 18th Sport 7 in Stanley Cup Ultimate historical past because the NHL moved to a best-of-7 format in 1939; house groups are 12-5. The final Sport 7 of the Cup Ultimate was in 2019, when the St. Louis Blues defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1 on the street. That marked the third straight time the street group was victorious in Sport 7 of the Cup Ultimate; the Pittsburgh Penguins received 2-1 on the Detroit Pink Wings in 2009 and the Bruins received 4-0 on the Vancouver Canucks in 2011.
Florida (52-24-6), the No. 1 seed from the Atlantic Division, defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in 5 video games within the first spherical, Boston in six video games within the second spherical and the New York Rangers in six video games within the Japanese Convention Ultimate.
The Panthers, who’re 2-1 in Sport 7s, together with 0-1 at house, have by no means received the Stanley Cup.
“I believe we’re high quality,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov mentioned. “Clearly, we had three match factors, however Sport 7, [that’s] everybody’s dream and that’s why we must be prepared for the Sport 7.”
Ahead Vladimir Tarasenko has performed essentially the most Sport 7s amongst Florida skaters, going 4-1 with two factors (one objective, one help), together with within the 2019 Cup Ultimate with St. Louis. Ahead Matthew Tkachuk (one objective, two assists) and defenseman Brandon Montour (two targets, one help) every is 2-0.
Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is 1-0, making 33 saves in Sport 7 in opposition to the Bruins within the first spherical final season. Backup Anthony Stolarz has not performed a Sport 7.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice is 4-0 in Sport 7s.
“I believe we’re a assured group,” Florida ahead Carter Verhaeghe mentioned. “They’re right here for a cause, we’re right here for a cause and, I imply, it’s the Stanley Cup Ultimate. They’re a extremely good group and it’s for us to come back again and reply subsequent recreation.”
Edmonton (49-27-6) the No. 2 seed within the Pacific Division, defeated the Los Angeles Kings in 5 video games within the first spherical and Vancouver in seven video games within the second spherical earlier than eliminating the Dallas Stars in six video games within the Western Convention Ultimate.
The Oilers, who’re 8-4 in Sport 7s, together with 4-3 on the street, final received the Stanley Cup in 1990. They’re 1-1 in Sport 7 of the Cup Ultimate, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in 1987 and dropping to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.
Edmonton ahead Corey Perry has performed 10 Sport 7s (5-5), with six factors (4 targets, two assists) in these video games. Ahead Zach Hyman has performed 5 (2-3, one objective), and ahead Evander Kane has performed 4 (4-0, one help). Facilities Connor McDavid (one objective, one help) and Leon Draisaitl (two assists) every has performed three Sport 7s (2-1).
Stuart Skinner made 15 saves in a 3-2 win on the Canucks within the second spherical, his solely look in a Sport 7. Backup Calvin Pickard has by no means performed a Sport 7.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch is 1-0 in Sport 7.
“That is why sports activities is superb as a result of the unthinkable can occur,” Hyman mentioned. “We’re in a spot the place we thought it could occur after I guess no person else believed that it may. We have a possibility now and that is all you’ll be able to ask for.”
🔹 Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers