The Stanley Cup Final Game 7 showdown is set.
Believe it or not.
The Edmonton Oilers, despite sparkplug Connor McDavid failing to register a shot on goal, overwhelmed the Florida Panthers on Friday night with tough defensive play, earning a 5-1 victory during Game 6 at Rogers Place.
The Oilers became the third team to rally from a 3-0 series deficit and force a Game 7. The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs are the lone NHL team to win a Stanley Cup Final after dropping the first three outings.
Game 7 is Monday night in Sunrise, Fla.
“It’s crazy,” Oilers’ Zach Hyman told ABC/ESPN. “Everybody believes in us. No matter what happens … we can battle back.”
How rare was the Oilers’ accomplishment?
Here is a breakdown of NHL, MLB and NBA teams who rallied from three games down in a seven-game series to force a deciding contest:
- NHL, 206-4.
- NBA, 157-0.
- MLB, 39-1.
“We are proud to force a Game 7,” said Hyman, whose 16 postseason goals are the most among all active skaters.
Forward Warren Foegele opened the scoring and assisted Ryan McLeod’s empty-net tally in the third to pace the Oilers’ offense, which benefitted from 11 players earning a point.
X (Twitter) users replied to the start of Game 6 and what it meant for both franchises …
STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME DAY!
The #Oilers are back home for Game 6 vs. the Panthers at @RogersPlace.
⏰ 6pm MT
📺 @Sportsnet
📻 @630CHED#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/5w13SH3DIB— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 21, 2024
To stay loose, the Oilers practiced at their secondary rink Wednesday as Snoop Dogg took over the arena for a Thursday night concert …
Here are some hockey sights & sounds to help you relax & get a good night’s sleep before tomorrow’s big game 🧘 pic.twitter.com/j1SUMCih19
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 21, 2024
Boosted by two of the NHL’s premier playoff scorers, the Oilers were confident they could force a Game 7. They did, but without much offensive help from McDavid, who registered one blocked shot and a minor penalty …
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl perform their best when their backs are against the wall. @EdmontonOilers | #LetsGoOilers | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/mWO3HccfbR
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) June 21, 2024
Fans were pumped the Oilers returned home after winning back-to-back elimination games …
#superfanSAM is in the building folks!!! Bring the vibes, Sam!! #letsgooilers pic.twitter.com/06ipBfEb3T
— #SCF – OILanatude (@OILanatude) June 22, 2024
The Oilers were “jumpin’ from the start,” registering 10 of the first 11 shots, highlighted by Foegele’s game-opening tally at 7:27 of the first period …
Perfect pass, perfect finish👊 pic.twitter.com/CV77T8vXwo
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 22, 2024
Adam Henrique was jumpin’ at the start of the second period, taking advantage of a long clearing pass that created a 2-on-1 situation. The scoring chance was capped by Henrique’s one-timer, giving the Oilers a 2-0 lead …
ADAM HENRIQUE MAKES IT 2-0 OILERS 🚨 #StanleyCup
🇺🇸: ABC & @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/ntDOlhPPxj— NHL (@NHL) June 22, 2024
Briefly, it appeared the Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov cut into the Oilers’ two-goal advantage, but after a long review, the officials declared the play was offsides, “by this much” …
This is how close the no goal call was.
Just unbelievable pic.twitter.com/lTa3Lt7Slz
— Playbook Sports (@PlaybookSN) June 22, 2024
Panthers coach Paul Maurice unleashed a few choice words for the referees after the no-goal call …
Sorry #Panthers, it was a nice hunt but NO GOAL !!#LetsGoOilers #Oilerspic.twitter.com/IVWCbiTwxw
— GamblingSites.com (@gsdot_com) June 22, 2024
Right-wing hockey fans who believe in any – and all – conspiracy theories, were inspired by the Panthers’ second-period goal being waived off by the NHL’s situation room …
Raheem Mostert gives his thoughts on the Panthers vs Oilers game but then deletes 👀 pic.twitter.com/mdXcHoDtxZ
— 𝕄𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕪🐬 (@HollandHitStick) June 22, 2024
Zach Hyman, who leads the NHL postseason goals, connected off a second-period breakaway. Hyman joined McDavid and Toronto’s Auston Matthews as the lone skaters to register 70 goals (including playoffs) in one season since 2005-06 …
ZACH HYMAN ON THE BREAKAWAY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cSaMYu0LPl
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 22, 2024
Entering the third period, the Panthers’ top offensive threats – Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues – were virtually nonexistent, registering a combined one shot on goal. Tkachuk, however, sounded ready before the opening faceoff …
“Super grateful for this opportunity.”
Matthew Tkachuk talks with @sportsnetkyle live from Edmonton. pic.twitter.com/KE306R9eSY
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 22, 2024
Defenseman Gustav Forsling was on the ice for the first three Oilers goals and is a minus-five during the past three games. During the regular season, Forsling, who signed an extension recently, paced the NHL with a plus-56 regular-season rating …
Eight more years for Gustav Forsling 🖊️@FlaPanthers | #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/3pjY2i5k1b
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) March 7, 2024
This one counted for Barkov …
Nifty stick work from Barkov.
pic.twitter.com/YfGd27t2Ri https://t.co/pVRy9ke1IP
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) June 22, 2024
With McLeod and Darnell Nurse shooting into an empty net for tallies 12 seconds apart to close out the scoring, the Oilers’ fans were already anticipating the opportunity to match the 1942 Maple Leafs’ historic achievement …
Best experience of my life. We are going 7 baby!!!!!!! #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/sfK6WPwxIz
— David Finlay (@dfin12) June 22, 2024
Final score: Oilers 5, Panthers 1 …
THE EDMONTON OILERS HAVE FORCED A #GAME7!!!! 🤩 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/VLikvbuQqV
— NHL (@NHL) June 22, 2024
Edmonton’s Game 6 victory sparked a crazy downtown party …
Only in Canada?
A few Edmonton Oilers fans are currently driving a Zamboni (!!!) down 104 Avenue outside Rogers Place. pic.twitter.com/vAjaVH7e3j
— Mike McIntyre (@mikemcintyrewpg) June 21, 2024
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