Stanley Cup Ultimate Sport 7 reside weblog: Oilers vs. Panthers – NHL.com

Sights, sounds, highlights from Amerant Financial institution Area in Florida
© Carmen Mandato/Getty Photographs
SUNRISE, Fla. — Welcome to Sport 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Ultimate. After an 82-game common season and three rounds of playoffs, all of it got here down to at least one sport between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers. NHL.com Editor-in-Chief Invoice Value was at Amerant Financial institution Area for this historic sport to supply all of the sights, sounds and highlights in our Sport 7 reside weblog.
10:54 p.m. ET
And that’s it. The Florida Panthers are the 2023-24 Stanley Cup champions after a heart-stopping 2-1 win in Sport 7 on Monday.
The Oilers gave all of it that they had, getting back from 3-0 within the sequence, however couldn’t get it performed tonight.
Congrats to the Panthers. It’s social gathering time right here.
Thanks for following alongside all sequence.
10:51 p.m. ET 
Now we have 1:35 left to go and this place is completely bonkers.
The Oilers are throwing the whole lot they’ll at Sergei Bobrovsky however can’t rating.
Connor McDavid had a pleasant tip try proper in entrance with 2:40 left however missed the online.
The road of McDavid and Leon Draisaitl was out for a very long time, and now the Oilers name day trip to get them relaxation for yet another push.
10:47 p.m. ET
The followers within the decrease bowl have been just about standing this whole third interval, and actually, how may you sit down? This sport has all of it, and it’s nonetheless not determined with 3:29 to go.
Can the Oilers tie it? Can the Panthers maintain on? When do you pull Stuart Skinner if you’re the Oilers? Do all of the followers heading to the Elbo Room postgame realize it’s a cash-only place?
The Panthers are placing on some offensive stress, with Aleksander Barkov and Vladimir Tarasenko getting first rate pictures on aim.
Now “Livin’ On a Prayer” by Bon Jovi is taking part in and even after it stops, the complete area is singing alongside. Will the Panthers or Oilers have their prayers answered?
10:41 p.m. ET
The Oilers preserve pushing and pushing, however time is winding down. There’s now 5:54 left within the third interval, and the Panthers nonetheless lead 2-1.
Sergei Bobrovsky, who seemed a bit shaky in Video games 4-6, is sharp tonight, with 20 saves thus far.
It’s very tense in right here, with the followers able to social gathering however understanding one aim from Edmonton can change the entire complexion of this sport, this sequence, this whole season.
10:37 p.m. ET
The Oilers almost tied it with a scramble in entrance, however Connor McDavid after which Zach Hyman can’t pull the set off with the puck close to their sticks and the online large open.
It appears to be like like Gustav Forsling made the play to take the puck off McDavid’s stick after which Hyman, who was on his knees, couldn’t get sufficient on his shot.
My goodness.
Don’t go anyplace.
A couple of minutes earlier than that scramble, Sam Reinhart of the Panthers had the prospect to just about finish this sport, however Leon Draisaitl made a superb defensive play to maintain it a one-goal sport. Now, the Oilers want a aim to tie the sport.
10:31 p.m. ET
Now we have 9:13 to play, and it’s desperation time for the Oilers.
Coach Kris Knoblauch simply had Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the ice on the similar time in an try and get a aim, which is what they should tie this sport and forestall the Panthers from profitable the Cup.
One attention-grabbing stat for the Oilers: McDavid has zero factors and two pictures on aim previously two video games. Clearly, Florida centered on shutting him down.
There’s nonetheless a sentiment that even when Edmonton loses this sport, he may nonetheless be awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, however that shall be a bitter capsule for him to swallow if he can’t win the Cup.
The Oilers try to make a push, forcing just a few icings from the Panthers, however once more, don’t have anything to point out for it so far as a aim.
10:23 p.m. ET
The Oilers dodged an enormous bullet on the finish of the ability play with Sam Bennett in some way getting the puck on his stick on their lonesome within the crease, however Stuart Skinner shut the door to maintain it a 2-1 sport.
The Florida energy play fails once more, and Edmonton nonetheless has an opportunity with below 14 minutes to play. It appears like far more than a one-goal lead, however that’s all it’s.
The Panthers appear to have two gamers close to Connor McDavid each time he touches the puck, which is sensible. It’s a must to determine we’re going to see a ton of McDavid within the final 12:52 of this sport.
The followers are chanting “Let’s Go Panthers,” and as every second ticks down, the joy grows, however so does the angst. This could possibly be the longest 13 minutes within the lives of anybody related to the Panthers.
For the Oilers, it should most likely go too quick.
10:17 p.m. ET
The Oilers try desperately to attain, perhaps an excessive amount of. Evan Bouchard simply took a penalty for top sticking, and Florida has an opportunity to construct its lead on an influence play that has not been excellent. A aim right here may lock up the Cup with the best way this one goes.
The followers are chanting “Pores and skin-ner, Pores and skin-ner” at Stuart Skinner. I believe they stole that from Bart Simpson, who I’m certain has heckled his favourite principal.
10:12 p.m. ET
And what could possibly be the ultimate interval of the 2023-24 NHL season is underway.
The Panthers are 20 minutes from the Stanley Cup. The Oilers want a aim to maintain the season going.
What’s going to occur?
By the best way, are you able to identify the final staff to win Sport 7 of the Cup Ultimate regardless of trailing within the third interval? That’s proper, the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, the final staff to win a Cup Ultimate after dropping the primary three video games.
Right here we go.
9:54 p.m. ET
Now we have one interval of regulation hockey left within the 2023-24 season, which is considerably arduous to imagine, however right here we’re.
The Florida Panthers, who misplaced within the Cup Ultimate final season, are 20 minutes away from profitable the Cup for the primary time and stopping what would have been an epic collapse.
The Edmonton Oilers, who’ve had such a magical season, bouncing again time after time, want a aim and must cease Florida from scoring to maintain their season alive a bit longer.
9:49 p.m. ET
Now we have 1:24 left right here within the second, and it’s 2-1 Florida.
One cause the Panthers misplaced Video games 4-6 was as a result of Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart had been considerably non-factors, however that’s not the case tonight. Verhaeghe has a aim and an help, and Reinhart has what’s now the go-ahead aim, coming at 15:11 of the second.
There’s a shovel break with 1:24 left within the second, this place is rocking, and the Oilers are in want of one thing optimistic. They’ve really performed a fairly robust second interval, however one breakdown and a aim Stuart Skinner wish to have again are the distinction.
There was only a T-shirt toss, however no signal of T-shirt man from Edmonton.
However Stanley C Panther is up on the seats getting the followers much more wound up than they’re with a 2-1 lead and the Stanley Cup 21:24 away.
9:42 p.m. ET
The Panthers take the lead on an innocent-looking wrist shot from Sam Reinhart with 4:49 left within the second. As nice as Stuart Skinner has been within the Ultimate, that is one he has to cease.
EDM@FLA SCF, Gm7: Kulikov makes nice play, then Reinhart scores
Proper earlier than the aim, the Oilers had two very Panthers-like shifts within the second, maintaining management within the offensive zone. The primary was helped by an enormous defensive play by Connor McDavid on the blue line. It was 1-1 with about eight minutes left within the second. The second lengthy shift was with Leon Draisaitl‘s line on the market.
Now we have a fan who could also be taking the emotional help animal factor a bit too far. They simply confirmed somebody seated in opposition to the glass with a canine on their lap.
I ponder in the event that they informed the canine they had been going to the cat present.
The DJ simply did one other flashback to the ’90s by taking part in “Bulls on Parade,” by Rage Towards the Machine. I assume these songs now qualify as oldies, which is gloomy.
9:30 p.m. ET
Now we have 13:54 left within the second interval, and it’s nonetheless a 1-1 sport. Floirda is outshooting Edmonton 11-10, and it’s trying like this shall be a low-scoring sport with each shot, each save, each cross essential.
The Panthers simply confirmed former Panthers defenseman Ed Jovanoski on the large board, and he was carrying a Matthew Tkachuk T-shirt.
Talking of T-shirts, the T-shirt man from Edmonton is in South Florida. NHL.com spies noticed him on the Elbo Room final night time. They are saying he was carrying just one T-shirt.
Additionally on the Elbo Room final night time was former NFL QB Donovan McNabb, who is expounded to Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.
They simply confirmed 4 guys within the crowd with C-A-T-S spelled on their our bodies, a la David Puddy.
9:25 p.m. ET
It’s maybe the largest PK of the season for Florida, which retains the sport tied, stopping Edmonton’s vaunted energy play.
Much more spectacular, Florida ahead Kevin Stenlund broke his stick, so Florida actually had 3 1/2 guys for a bit.
The followers are chanting “Bob-by, Bob-by” after he made an enormous save on Evan Bouchard on the finish of the man-advantage.
Nonetheless the ability play appeared to present Edmonton some momentum after it was on its heals for the early a part of the sport and this era.
9:20 p.m. ET
The Oilers are heading to the ability after Matthew Tkachuk will get referred to as for a visit.
He was sliding on the ice and took out the legs of Warren Foegele. The followers and Tkachuck are usually not completely happy.
The second interval has begun and the sentiment within the press field is that the Oilers are fortunate that is nonetheless a 1-1 sport.
It’s the finest interval the Panthers have performed in fairly a while, outshooting the Oilers 8-6 and spending numerous time of their zone.
They bought their forecheck working, created some scoring probabilities, together with two open pictures from the slot the place Florida gamers fired large to Stuart Skinner’s blocker facet.
They got here out robust within the second as properly, with Tkachuck getting a pleasant deflection of a Brandon Montour shot on aim, however Skinner was in good place to gobble it up.
Connor McDavid, who was considerably quiet within the first interval, had a superb likelihood early within the second, lifting a backhand shot on aim, however Sergei Bobrovsky shut it down, prompting “Bob-by, Bob-by” chants from the gang.
I’m in a decrease a part of the press field, so by the point I bought to the snacks, the Hershey miniatures had been gone. Boo.
8:58 p.m. ET
A wild first interval is over, and it’s 1-1.
After a aim for every staff within the first 6:44 of the sport, issues settled down from a aim perspective, however not an motion standpoint. There have been good probabilities on every finish of the ice, however Stuart Skinner and Sergei Bobrovsky have been as much as the problem.
They simply performed “Narco” by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet right here to the get followers fired up, however all it did was anger me in regards to the Edwin Diaz scenario. It’s his tune by the best way.
They actually do an incredible job right here in Florida honoring older battle veterans. It’s actually nice and the followers get an enormous cost out of it.
A couple of minutes in the past, the DJ performed “Machinehead” by Bush. That takes me again to the ’90s. Truly, that album, “Sixteen Stone” got here out 30 years in the past, in 1994, when the Stanley Cup Ultimate additionally went 7 video games and was received by an Japanese staff in opposition to a staff from Western Canada.
Hmm.
The DJ additionally performed “Struggle for Your Proper” by Beastie Boys, which, arduous to imagine, it nearly 40 years previous. Actually, what the heck?
8:46 p.m. ET
Now we have our second shovel break with 5:50 left within the first interval. The Oilers appear to have gotten an enormous elevate from the Janmark aim that tied the sport 1-1, however they haven’t been in a position to take the lead.
There was an adjustment with pictures on the aim — the Panthers now lead 5-4. One shot that didn’t register was an absolute bomb from Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard that appeared to hit the submit.
By the best way, I’ve been ready all season to be at a sport on Monday when Ryan Lomberg performs simply so I can work “case of the Mondays” into the dialog. If you understand, you understand. And I used to be so completely happy to listen to that the Panthers ahead was taking part in tonight.
If solely Michael Bolton may’ve sung the anthems. I have a good time the man’s whole catalog.
8:39 p.m. ET
Since I can barely hear myself suppose, I’m unsure how this sport sounds on TV, however imagine me, that is the loudest I’ve heard a hockey area in a very long time.
I used to be telling Nick Cotsonika earlier that whereas that is going to go down as a traditional sequence, there hasn’t actually been an all-time traditional sport but, however that seems to be altering tonight.
The Oilers simply had a extremely good possession, however the Panthers saved them off the board. The pictures are even at 6-6 and the rating is 1-1 with 9:09 left within the first interval and our first shovel break.
8:35 p.m. ET
That is turning right into a traditional, and we’re solely 6:46 into the sport. With the world completely buzzing with Florida main 1-0, Mattias Janmark evens issues up, coming in on a breakaway on a superb cross from Cody Ceci and beating Sergei Bobrovsky
It has quickly tempered the passion on this place, which was at a fever pitch after the Panthers aim.
EDM@FLA SCF, Gm7: Janmark evens the sport at 1 with breakaway aim
8:31 p.m. ET
The Panthers energy play doesn’t rating, nevertheless it doesn’t matter.
Seconds after the Florida energy play fails once more, Carter Verhaeghe deflects in a shot from Evan Rodrigues, and it’s 1-0 Florida and this place is actually shaking.
Florida bought the man-advantage at 2:21 when Warren Foegele went off for top sticking.
On the brilliant facet for Florida, not less than Edmonton didn’t rating a short-handed aim prefer it did in Video games 5 and 6.
The environment on this place electrical, with followers cheering each hit, each cross. Although I predicted there could be a loads of Oilers followers right here tonight, the Panthers followers are making noise, particularly now after Verhaeghe’s aim.
The Panthers are bringing out all of the stops with Hockey Corridor of Fame goalie Roberto Luongo banging the drum to get the followers riled up.
EDM@FLA SCF, Gm7: Verhaeghe’s unbelievable redirection aim opens the scoring
8:19 p.m. ET
The anthems by Alanis Morissette are over, the gamers have been launched, and it’s go time.
Actually, it was arduous to listen to Alanis singing since all of the followers had been singing together with each anthems. It was superior.
Matthew Tkachuk mentioned Sunday that tonight could be the loudest rink he’s ever performed in, and he could be proper. It’s deafening in right here.
No extra speaking, no extra sound bites, simply 60 minutes (perhaps extra) to determine who will hoist the Stanley Cup when this night time is over.
Buckle up and revel in. It doesn’t get a lot better than this.
Earlier than the gamers got here on the ice, Steve Goldstein, aka Goldy, informed the followers by way of the videoboard that the Panthers want them tonight.
They sound prepared as there was a loud boo when the Oilers beginning lineup was posted on the board.
What they want is an early aim to get them began. They’ve trailed 2-0 in every of the previous three video games, all losses, and fairly actually, haven’t seemed excellent doing it.
However the whole lot that has occurred within the common season and all earlier playoff video games doesn’t matter now. All of it comes right down to only one sport for hockey immortality.
8:05 p.m. ET
We’ve had our first press field mishap with me spilling half of my cup of normal M&Ms. This after NHL.com Worldwide’s Corey Hersch spilled espresso on our work desk in the course of the morning avails.
Could possibly be a case of us all have Sport 7 jitters.
That is the second Cup Ultimate Sport 7 I’ve been part of with the NHL, the opposite the St. Louis Blues’ win over the Boston Bruins in 2019.
I can’t think about how amped up the gamers are and the way nervous the followers of the groups are.
As I said earlier, there are a superb variety of Oilers followers in the home, together with one large group proper subsequent to the Oilers bench.
The staff did fly about 200 family and friends members down for the sport, in order that could possibly be them.
Nick Cotsonika, who was within the Edmonton airport on Sunday morning, bumped into a gaggle of followers who chartered a aircraft down right here. Final night time, whereas I used to be performing some “reporting” on the Elbo Room, I met just a few followers who selected Saturday morning to move right here and get tickets for the sport. I imagine they mentioned their airfare was about $2,500 Canadian and the tickets to the sport had been about $1,000 every. That’s dedication.
However like I mentioned, I get the sense the Oilers followers suppose this sport is already within the bag, however I’m certain the Panthers may have one thing to say about that.
We’re preparing for Alanis Morissette to sing “O Canada” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Hopefully the followers down right here shall be as respectful as they had been in Edmonton and let the singer sing.
I imply, they oughta know to be quiet. Both means, the followers of the profitable staff shall be head over toes when that is over. As for the dropping followers, properly, you study to cope with defeat.
OK, that’s sufficient Morissette jokes.
And talking of the Bruins, they’ve traded goalie Linus Ullmark, the identical goalie who received the Vezina Trophy final season, to the Ottawa Senators for ahead Mark Kastelic, goalie Joonas Korpisalo and Boston’s personal first-round choose within the 2024 NHL Draft, which was beforehand acquired by Ottawa as a part of the commerce of Alex DeBrincat to the Detroit Purple Wings.
7:45 p.m. ET
They simply performed “All My Life” by Foo Fighters earlier than the gamers hit the ice. We clearly know what facet the Panthers are on on this Dave Grohl-Taylor Swift feud.
Even earlier than the warmups started, “Let’s Go Oilers” chants had been being began by the parents who made the trek from Edmonton to South Florida, however the Panthers followers let their voices be heard when the gamers hit the ice.
Along with the Stanley Cup, take into consideration what else is on the road tonight.
On the Florida facet, you might have the Panthers, who made it their mission to win the Cup after dropping within the Cup Ultimate final season. How devastating would it not be to go up 3-0 and never win it?
Then you might have Panthers coach Paul Maurice, who has been teaching within the NHL for 30 years and has by no means received the Cup. This one sport may outline his whole profession. It is probably not truthful, however contextually, that’s the case. The identical could possibly be mentioned for Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who, at 35 years previous, might by no means get this opportunity once more.
On the Edmonton facet, you might have Connor McDavid, who’s already an all-time nice, however his legacy could be cemented if he can lead the Oilers again from down 3-0 to win the Cup.
There are some celebs in the home tonight. A few of the NHL.com crew rode as much as the press field within the elevator with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. Once I was arising, Papa John Schnatter was ready for an elevator.
7:15 p.m. ET
We’re about an hour away from what many individuals are calling the largest sport within the historical past of the NHL. There’s definitely an argument to be made that’s the case. First, you might have the Panthers making an attempt to win the Stanley Cup for the primary time. Then you might have the Oilers trying to develop into the primary staff since 1942 to win the best-of-7 Ultimate after dropping the primary three video games, and main the best way is Connor McDavid, thought-about by most individuals to be the perfect participant within the NHL. The Ultimate has drawn document TV rankings in the USA and Canada, and you may wager an enormous viewers goes to tune in for this one. I can’t wait.
One factor to search for is loads of Oilers followers within the constructing tonight. The Elbo Room, the fabled hockey bar on the Fort Lauderdale seashore, was filled with Oilers followers Sunday night time, with “Let’s Go Oilers” chants breaking out all night time. Hundreds of Oilers followers have made the lengthy trek to South Florida from Alberta and have paid within the hundreds for tickets, so once more, count on to see some orange jerseys combined in among the many purple Panthers jerseys. There was even a aircraft flying over the world just a few hours earlier than puck drop with a “Go Oil” signal. And about an hour earlier than warmups, there have been already a bunch of Oilers followers lining the glass.
It appears to be like like Kyle Okposo shall be back in the lineup for the Panthers tonight, and we aren’t certain if the Oilers will change something. Why would they? They’ve been dominant previously three video games. However once more, it is a new sport, one sport for the Stanley Cup. Does it get any higher than this?
And now there are rumblings that Canadian music star Alanis Morissette will sing the U.S. and Canada anthems tonight. Isn’t that ironic?
🔹 Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers

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