The Florida Panthers claimed their first Stanley Cup in franchise history with a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 on Monday night, concluding a dramatic playoff series.
Sam Reinhart’s goal in the second period secured the win, while goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves, preventing the Panthers from a historic collapse. Despite leading the series 3-0, the Panthers faced a strong comeback from the Oilers, who won three consecutive games to force a Game 7. This marked only the third time in NHL history that a team rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final to force a Game 7, but the Oilers could not complete the comeback.
Instead, the Panthers became the third team in the past 40 years to win the Stanley Cup after losing in the previous season’s Final, having been defeated by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023.
This was the Oilers’ first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final since 2006. Superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl led the team to this point but were held scoreless in Game 7. McDavid, who ended the playoffs as the leading scorer with 42 points, did not score in the final two games of the series.
The atmosphere for Game 7 was electric, with many Oilers fans in attendance. The arena resonated with their singing of “O Canada,” while Panthers fans energetically sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The Panthers scored first just after an early power play expired, with Carter Verhaeghe tipping in a pass from Evan Rodrigues at 4:27 of the first period, his 11th goal of the playoffs. Historically, teams that scored first in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final had a 12-5 record, including eight straight wins since 1994.
However, the Oilers quickly responded. Mattias Janmark scored on a breakaway set up by Cody Ceci, tying the game at 1-1 just over two minutes later.
In the second period, a key defensive play by Dmitry Kulikov prevented an Oilers goal, leading to Sam Reinhart’s game-winning goal at 15:11. Reinhart’s wrist shot, his 10th goal of the playoffs and first since Game 3, gave the Panthers a lead they would not relinquish.
Florida entered the third period leading for the 10th time in the playoffs, with a perfect 9-0 record in those situations. Historically, teams leading after two periods in a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final have a 13-1 record, with the 1942 Maple Leafs being the exception.
The Oilers pressed hard in the third period but could not score, despite several chaotic moments in front of Bobrovsky’s net. The Panthers celebrated their victory amid a shower of plastic rats, gloves, and sticks on the ice.
Connor McDavid had stated that it was “Cup or bust” after last season. However, his championship efforts fell short, and the quest for a Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup continues, with the last victory by the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.
