Hype goes nuclear for Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers in Game 7 Stanley Cup Final

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Even in Toronto sports commentators are asking if this game is the most significant in the history of the NHL. In Montreal at a pop music concert last night, the fans took up a “Let’s Go Oilers” chance. A Toronto sports executive prodded Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to declare Monday a national holiday.

The Edmonton Oilers have done what nothing else has done in years, their improbable comeback in the Final against the Florida Panthers uniting Canadians in the hope that a Canadian team will win the Stanley Cup for the first time this century.

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Yes, the hype is getting crazy for Game 7. Here are some of the social and mainstream media highlights:

Damien Cox, columnist, The Toronto Star
The most significant NHL game ever? Probably. Rarely, perhaps never, has so much history and consequence been riding on a single NHL contest. Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup final, whether it’s won by the Florida Panthers or the Edmonton Oilers, will make history. The Panthers, if they win, will capture the first Stanley Cup in franchise history… If they lose Game 7 after once leading the series against the Oilers by three games to none, on the other hand, it will be the greatest team collapse in modern NHL history, and arguably the greatest team collapse in league history… The flip side of that coin, of course, is that an Edmonton triumph Monday night in Sunrise, Fla. will be the greatest comeback in the Cup final, matching Toronto’s return from a three-game deficit in 1942.

Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
It’s not your ordinary game, but you’ve got to make it as ordinary as possible.

NHL commentator Lyle Richardson, Spectors Hockey
There won’t be any shame for the Oilers if they fall short. Overcoming an 0-3 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final is significant. However, an Oilers win will make this the greatest comeback in Stanley Cup playoff history. It will also be devastating for the Panthers, especially after how hard they worked to return to the Final after falling short last year… McDavid is unquestionably the greatest player of his generation. Winning the Cup and the Conn Smythe in this series will put him in the same class as Gretzky and Lemieux.

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Panthers fan Bryan @Metalpanthers
The team that slayed the dragon and beat Tampa after so many years. The team that dominated the presidents trophy winning New York Rangers.The team that took a 3-0 lead in the cup final with great performances in games 2 and 3. Need to find those guys before Monday man…

Florida Panthers beat for The Hockey News David Dwork @DavidDwork
The Panthers have prided themselves on their ability to overcome adversity and bounce back from tough times. That skill is being put to the ultimate test as Florida tries to win the Stanley Cup after dropping three straight games.

NHL.com columnist David Stubbs
Since 1939, upon the adoption of a best-of-7 format, Stanley Cup Playoff series have gone to a seventh game 197 times. Only 17 times between 1942 and 2019 has that happened in a Stanley Cup Final, and seven times, a Hockey Hall of Fame-bound legend has scored the clinching goal: Babe Pratt, 1945; Gordie Howe, 1955; Andy Bathgate, 1964; Jean Beliveau, 1965; Henri Richard, 1971; Jari Kurri, 1987; Mark Messier, 1994.

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NHL podcaster DJ Bean (Oil Man) @DJ_Bean
Leon Draisaitl on Bob Stauffer being the most attractive member of Edmonton’s traveling party: “Obviously”

Edmonton radio commentator Dustin Nielson @nielsonTSN1260
The Panthers lost a Game 7 at home in 2012, in double overtime, who scored the winner in that game? Adam Henrique.

Oilers podcaster Eric Friesen @EricJFriesen
Most Points In One Stanley Cup Final:
1. Wayne Gretzky (1988) – 13
2. Yvan Cournoyer (1973) – 12
3. Mario Lemieux (1991) – 12
4. Gordie Howe (1955) – 12
5. Jacques Lemaire (1973) – 12
6. Daniel Briere (2010) – 12
𝟳. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗰𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰) – 𝟭𝟭

Oilers fan Coach Lenny @gif2gab99
Apparently we needed a goalie, not an older 3rd line center…..gotta love those armchair GM’s😊
I thank the hockey gods every day, for Ken Holland. It’s not only the coach making the right calls! Ken’s reason for addition without subtraction… Maintain team chemistry!!!

Hockey commentator Jonathan Willis @JonathanWillis
Oilers at 5v5 in these playoffs:
– McDavid / Bouchard together: +15
– McDavid apart: -1
– Bouchard apart: even
– no McDavid or Bouchard: -12
McDavid is the best player in the world, but people sleep on Bouchard at their peril.

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Panthers fan Kenneth @KenSW423
get Keith Tkachuk to bang the drum and don’t tell Matthew about it. See if he can get the team to get their sh*t together 2 years in a row

Florida Panthers d-man Brandon Mountour
It comes down to one game. The rest is history. We get this win, the rest doesn’t matter.

Oilers fan Adrian “Ferns” Fernando @Browndalorian
Y’all really doubted Henrique

Oilers fan gina 🧡 @nuggyyybabyyy
if anyone wants to know what @kennedystrash and i have been doing all day, we’ve been rewatching the NHL in 30 of game 6 since noon 🫡

Florida Panthers podcaster Alex Lopez @CF3234
Remember when the panthers were down 1 and the refs called Tkachuk for embellishment to take away a keep PP situation? Not sure why that’s coming to mind.

ESPN nost Stormy Buonantony @StormBuonantony
Stuart Skinner: Games 4-7 this postseason is 10-0, .943 SV%, 1.40 GAA
Sergei Bobrovsky: Stopped 78-of-80 shots through 1st 8 periods of Cup Final, allowed 14G on 64 shots since
As a Florida series backer, I am unwell.

Florida hockey writer Colby Guy @ColbyDGuy
Carter Verhaeghe flat out said that the Edmonton Oilers came out “hungrier” than the Florida Panthers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Well, they are going to have to find their appetite soon or else they’ll go down in history, for the wrong reasons…

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ESPN broadcaster ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ @Arda
The Oilers trailed the Canucks in the series 2-1 in the 2nd Round, trailed the Stars 2-1 in Conference Final, and trailed the Panthers 3-0 in the Cup Final. In NHL history, no team has ever won 3 series in a single year in which they trailed after 3 games.

Florida Panthers fan PanthersMuse @flpanthersmuse
Gustav Forsling last night was a -3 with 2 giveaways.
The last time he was a -3 was Game 1 against Boston. The following game, he had:
— 1 goal
— +2
— 2 shots
— 4 hits
— 1 block
He’ll be better next game

Greg Cote, Miami Herald sports columnist, who labelled McDavid as McOver-rated early in the series
What a writer writes has zero effect on a series. To think otherwise is patently absurd.

Toronto TV commentator Sid Seixeiro @Sid_Seixeiro
I understand why any hockey fan from Calgary isn’t rooting for Edmonton in Game 7. But any other Canadian hockey fan who’s rooting against the Oilers because your own incompetent favourite team has made you completely jaded is one of the dumbest takes out there.

Oilers fan JB @JackieBee_16
You couldn’t pay me to cheer for another hockey team man. Fans are loyal – let people cheer for whoever they want.

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NHL.com writer Dan Rosen @drosennhl
Just saw an electric billboard ad on the way to Amerant Bank Arena from Explore Edmonton that read, “Home of 5 Cups and 0 rats.”

TSN’s Jesse Pollock @jpolly22
Is Monday night’s Game 7 the biggest game in NHL history? Not exaggerating. The best player in the world, going for his first Stanley Cup, leading a Canadian team back after being down 0-3. I can’t remember there ever being a bigger game. Could not have asked for a better way to end this season. Cannot wait for this game.

Tom Gulitti @TomGulittiNHL
Oddly, Sergei Bobrovsky is not one of the two goalies warming up before the Panthers’ practice, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Bobrovsky is usually the first one on the ice, well before this, on a practice day.

Heavens2Murgatroyd @sjh0121 in response to Bobrvosky’s absence
Treating the sunburn on his neck from the goal light

NHL.com reporter for Florida Panthers Jameson Olive @JamesonCoop
(Panthers coach) Paul Maurice said Bobrovsky’s absence today was to get him back into his usual routine with the extra travel. He’ll skate in the AM.

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NHL.com Dan Rosen @drosennhl
The one notable change the Panthers are showing today is Vladimir Tarasenko being on the top power-play unit replacing Carter Verhaeghe, who dropped to the second PP unit.

The Athletic’s Michael Russo @RussoHockey
Verhaeghe is really struggling right now. 1 goal, 1 assist his past 8 games, minus-11 his past 4. He’s got to be dealing with a health issue. On the first PP the other night, he twice couldn’t handle pucks for turnovers.

Analytics expert Meghan Chayka @MeghanChayka
Can we make game 7 a national holiday @JustinTrudeau

Oilers fan Schmiddy The GOAT @SchmiddyG
Anyone else unable to think about anything other than game 7 coming up

Oilers fan Taylor’s Hall Pass @THP780
100% I’m going to be seen as bias, however, the Oiler winning the cup would be the best thing for the NHL.
Florida wins, 2 days later, nobody is talking about it. Oilers win and this will be talked about for years to come. Even non hockey fans are excited about this story.

Sportsnet columnist Mark Spector @SportsnetSpec
Draisaitl and McDavid two of the first skaters out at Oilers practice today. Nurse also a full participant.
Lots of jump here.

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NHL Network @NHLNetwork
Home teams have lost the last three Stanley Cup Final Game 7s. Can the Florida Panthers snap this streak?

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Oilers fan Bookjie @Bookjie
I’ve been reading the internet. I’ve learned that all of the teams the Oilers have played kind of just gave up and played bad. That’s sure lucky for the Oilers because they are not very good.
Connor McDavid hasn’t played very well because he fades away in the playoffs and he is just overrated.
Zack Hyman is also not very good, he only scores because he plays with McDavid.
#ThingsILearnedOnTheInternet

Edmonton Journal hockey writer Jim Matheson @jimmathesonnhl
Nugent Hopkins under weather and not at skate. Kane place holder with 97 and 18 for now

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch on RNH’s status for Game 7
Ryan will be playing

Oilers TV Tony Brar @TonyBrarOTV
Oilers practice in Sunrise, FL:
• RNH* is not on the ice
Kane* – McDavid – Hyman
Foegele – Draisaitl – Holloway
Janmark – Henrique – Brown
McLeod – Ryan – Perry
Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Broberg
Kulak – Ceci
Skinner
Pickard

Oilers fan David Shortt @AdMan0828
To be honest, I don’t really care if the Oilers win game 7 on Monday. Sure, it would be a great story, but in my mind, they’ve already won. Coming from as far back as they did to the absolute last possible game of the season? THAT’S rock star sh*t. #Oilers

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Adam Henrique, Edmonton Oilers
We’re unwavering in here. Keep pushing, keep playing hockey.

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My take

1. The games are tightening up. The Grade A shot totals for the last two games have been pretty much even, both teams with eight each in Game 6 (making it the lowest combined Grade A shot total of the season in an Oilers game), with Florida having a 12 to 11 edge in Game 5.

2. I should add that score effects had a major impact on the Grade A shots total in the last two games, with Edmonton taking an early lead in both games, then going into a protective defensive shell with Florida desperate for a goal.

In Game 5, Florida had eight of the last 12 Grade A shots. In Game 6, Florida had six of the last seven Grade A shots.

Score effects are the impact on shot totals when one team takes an early lead and the other team spends much of the game fighting back, which has a tendency to raise its shot totals, while the leading team’s totals drop.

3. The Florida Panthers have already tasted the agony of defeat this series. That will make them all the more dangerous in Game 7. But the Oilers know that same misery as well as any team in the NHL now, having lost so bitterly to Vegas last year.

4.  My own prediction is that the Oilers will win in Game 7. I’d give them a 66.6 per cent chance, Florida 33.3. Why? I’m following the Bieksa Rule, that in a huge game the average players are super cautious and tight because they fear making a mistake, so it’s the superstars that make a difference. Edmonton has more superstars, at least if Sergei Bobrovsky is playing the hockey messiah role in net for Florida, as he did in Games 1 and 3.

Make sense? How do you see it?

At the Cult of Hockey

STAPLES: Don Cherry wants to Edmonton win but does he pick them? 

LEAVINS: Confidence is king in Game 7

STAPLES: ‘The ultimate gut punch’: Hockey world on edge for Game 7

McCURDY: The Oilers stave off elimination yet again, force Game 7

STAPLES: McDavid drags Panthers back to Edmonton for Game 6

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