Panthers beat Oilers in Stanley Cup Final Game 7 as Canada’s drought continues

Carter Verhaeghe scored one goal and assisted on another to pace the Florida Panthers to a title-clinching 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Sam Reinhart netted the Cup-winning for the Panthers, who saw a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series disappear before claiming the first Stanley Cup title in franchise history. Edmonton’s defeat extends the string of years since a Canadian team last won the Stanley Cup to 31. The Montreal Canadiens last brought the cup north in 1993. Since then, there have been seven attempts by teams from Canadian-based cities – Vancouver in 1994 and 2011, Calgary in 2004, the Oilers in 2006, Ottawa in 2007 and the Canadiens in 2021 – to win titles, and all were in vain.

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves for the Panthers, nine in the final frame. His biggest play was a diving stop on Zach Hyman during a scramble at his net with seven minutes remaining.

Mattias Janmark scored for Edmonton, while goalie Stuart Skinner stopped 19 shots. Edmonton captain Connor McDavid was held without a point for the second consecutive game.

“It’s not a dream anymore. It’s not a dream. It’s reality,” said Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, who was traded to Florida two summers ago with a title as his goal. “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it. ... I can’t believe how good these two years have been. So thankful for this group of guys. It’s the best place, best guys. It’s something really special here with what we have.”

The Oilers, who were attempting to become only the second team in history and the first since 1942 to win after falling behind 3-0 in the finals, lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final their last two trips. The also fell just short in 2006 against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Reinhart provided Florida with their second lead of the night at 15:11 of the second period. Seconds after the Oilers nearly scored during a flurry of action at both ends, Reinhart led a rush up ice and found the mark from just beyond the right faceoff dot for his 10th of the playoffs.

The Oilers dominated the third period, holding the Panthers to only four shots on goal in the frame and only two in the final 14:43. However, Edmonton could not find the equalizer in a tense affair despite a litany of action at the Florida net.

“This is the best moment of my life so far,” veteran Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad said. “Nothing tops it.”

The clubs traded first-period goals just over two minutes apart. Verhaeghe’s first goal since he opened the scoring in Game 1 of the finals put the Panthers on the board first. He deflected Evan Rodrigues’ shot for his 11th of the playoffs at 4:27. Janmark replied at 6:44 with his second of the series and fourth of the postseason by converting a breakaway chance with a top-shelf shot.

Instead of repeating history with a completed comeback, the Oilers are only the second team in history to force a Game 7 after trailing 3-0 in the finals before losing the deciding clash. The Detroit Red Wings pushed the Toronto Maple Leafs to a Game 7 in that scenario in 1945, three years after the Maple Leafs rallied from three games down to top the Red Wings in the finals.

McDavid won the Conn Smythe as MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs. He didn’t come out for the trophy. It’s not the one he wanted, anyway. The Cup is what they play for, and it was Florida that hoisted it.