For the first time since 1945, a team has erased a 3-0 series deficit and forced a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final. The Detroit Red Wings went up against the Toronto Maple Leafs that year, who completed a reverse sweep at the expense of Detroit three years earlier in the Stanley Cup Final. The 1945 Red Wings were unable to exact revenge.
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On Monday, the Edmonton Oilers hope to succeed where the Maple Leafs did and the Red Wings didn’t. If they do, it’ll be one of the greatest conclusions to a championship final in sports history. My colleague Sean McIndoe also has it right: An Oilers win would mean the biggest collapse in NHL history for the Florida Panthers, who couldn’t close the door with a 3-0 series lead.
Spare a moment for Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito, whose facial expressions have been the source of many memes as the Panthers’ lead evaporated over the last week.
The #Panthers GM Bill Zito summarizes the current mood in #Florida.
pic.twitter.com/wB9CoRtuZ8— Paul Almeida (@AzorcanGlobal) June 19, 2024
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Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers — Game 7
How to watch: 8 p.m. ET on ABC, SN
Series tied 3-3
- Stuart Skinner continues to play at a high level with his back against the wall. He is now a perfect 10-0 in Games 4-7 this postseason. He’s recorded a .942 save percentage over his last three games in this series.
- Glass half-empty look at Leon Draisaitl: He is goalless in his last eight games. Glass half-full perspective: He got a big assist for the Oilers on Warren Foegele’s game-opening goal.
- Adam Henrique has two game-winning goals for the Oilers in this series. He’ll return to Florida in Game 7, where he scored a double-overtime goal during the 2012 playoffs for the New Jersey Devils in Game 7 of their first-round series against the Panthers.
- If Florida loses Game 7, Paul Maurice will remain the coach with the most wins all-time without a Stanley Cup (869).
- Games 4-6 have been absolute nightmares for Sergei Bobrovsky, who didn’t speak to the media after the Game 6 loss. His number from those games: 0-3 record, .793 save percentage, 12 goals allowed and a 5.06 goals-against average.
- Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk have combined for five points during this Stanley Cup Final (two goals and three assists).
Expert picks for Oilers at Panthers
(Photo of Matthew Tkachuk and Stuart Skinner: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
