The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Florida Panthers 5-1 on Friday, forcing a decisive Game 7 for the Stanley Cup.
This marks the third consecutive loss for the Panthers, setting the stage for what could be a monumental collapse. In NHL history, only one team has returned from a 3-0 deficit to win the championship.
Game 6 was a stark contrast to Florida's early success, where they scored a combined 11 goals in their first three victories.
On Friday, the Oilers held the Panthers scoreless until early in the third period when Florida’s Aleksander Barkov scored, bringing the tally to 3-1. That would be Florida’s only goal.
Warren Foegele, Adam Henrique, and Zach Hyman scored the first three goals for Edmonton. Ryan McLeod and Darnell Nurse added two more late in the game, both into an empty net, sealing the 5-1 victory.
Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner made 19 saves, thwarting Florida's late attempts to rally. The empty-net goals ensured there was no doubt about the outcome.
Historically, only the Toronto Maple Leafs have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win the Stanley Cup, achieving this 82 years ago against the Detroit Red Wings. Three other teams have managed this feat in earlier playoff rounds.
Aside from the historic implications, an Edmonton win on Monday would end a 31-year Stanley Cup drought for Canada. The last Canadian team to win was the 1992-93 Montreal Canadiens.
“Hockey has always been Canada’s sport,” Edmonton mayor Amarjeet Sohi told NBC News earlier this month. “Hockey in Canada is king and queen.”
Oilers superstar Connor McDavid did not score or assist in Game 6, but he has 11 points in this Stanley Cup Final, just two shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record of 13 points set in 1988 with the Oilers.
Game 7 will be at 8 p.m. Monday at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
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