Playoff Game Day 25 Oilers vs Panthers, Stanley Cup Final Game Day 7
Here’s a running account of commentary on the big day from social and mainstream media, starting with Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner describing his own mindset in this big moment.
Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett
All that matters is tonight and we have the opportunity to do something special. That’s our whole mindset.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman
This is the biggest game in NHL history.
Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch
It’s just a regular day for us… It’s just an emphasis on enjoying the moment and having fun… What’s more fun than a situation like this?
ESPN commentator P.K Subban on McDavid
If he wins this game tonight it’s instant immortality.
Edmonton Oiler forward Zach Hyman
As a Canadian hockey fan, I think one of my earliest memories is thinking about (winning) the Cup as a hockey player. I think it’s embedded in our culture and who we are.
Oilers fan Sumit Tripathi @Sumit_Tripathi_
F*ck me..I wasn’t this nervous on my wedding day
Bruce McCurdy of The Cult of Hockey
I’m having a very little time predicting how the game will go other than probably not how we expect.
Florida hockey writer Colby Guy @ColbyDGuy
By my final count, the only players participating in today’s morning skate are Aaron Ekblad, Sergei Bobrovsky and the expected healthy scratches.
Sportsnet @Sportsnet
On this day in 2011, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was drafted first overall by the Edmonton Oilers. Will Nuge lift the #StanleyCup on his 13-year draft anniversary? 👀
Oilers anthem singer and country music star Brett Kissel @BrettKissel
Flight from Montreal to Vancouver on Air Canada, Montreal to Vancouver. Let that sink in. And a LET’S GO OILERS chant starts. I’m immediately fired up. I’m now on my plane from Vancouver to Edmonton, and within seconds of them shutting the door, a LET’S GO OILERS chant starts. Canada wants EDMONTON to win!
Panther fan Dylan @miamiguydylan
A little over 24 hours until the biggest sports game I will ever experience. Is it crazy to think that I trust (Panther coach) Paul Maurice to get things right? Crazy how things change in a year but I have hope.
Former Florida Panthers player Bill Lindsay @LindsayBHockey
However you get to game 7 doesn’t matter. You’re here. As an athlete you will never feel more alive. The pinnacle of the sport. Embrace it, cherish it, and play with complete passion and joy. No thinking, trust every instinct you ever had and play the game of your life. No regrets..Nervous but beyond excited. You truly forget about the 1st six games. One game winner take all. Best thing I ever felt in my hockey life. The vivid recall I still have of every period every shift is still ingrained in my brain. Feels like overtime from puck drop. Hard to put in words.”
Edmonton Sun @Edmontonsun
That’s right: Edmonton gets free pizza if Oilers win Stanley Cup
NHL.com Florida digital manager Jameson Olive @JamesonCoop
Okposo in for Cousins, per Maurice. No other lineup changes.
Oilers fan HugSpecialist @OilersAlbMom
Been talking to a few friends this weekend about #Game7 and it stuck me how almost everyone is taking such care in ensuring all their superstitions are lined up… If nothing else we are the most responsible fans anywhere 💙🧡#sameplacesametimesameclothes
Oilers fan Cody Stuart @betamanic
To no one’s surprise, the Oilers are playing for Stanley tomorrow and there are still Oilers fans trying to convince people they’re awful
Commentator Kurt Leavins of the Cult of Hockey
After Game 5 I had a conversation with a group of friends and I said, “When I look into the eyes of the Panthers right now, I see panic.” I truly think it was like an “Uh Oh!” moment. And then after the results in Game 6, carefully watching and listening to all the comments from the Panther side after the fact, and the fact there was no media avail for (Panthers goalie) Sergei Bobrovsky on Sunday, that smells like panic to me.
FL PanthersMuse @flpanthersmuse
Just get it done tonight.
Analytics expert Meghan Chayka @MeghanChayka
In addition to outscoring Florida 10-0 off the rush over the last three games,
Edmonton has more than tripled the Panthers odd-man rushes (19-6) and overall rush scoring chances (17-5) since Game 4.
ESPN producer ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ @Arda
Leon Draisaitl has 0 goals in the Stanley Cup Final.
There have been only 3 players in NHL history that scored 40+ goals in the regular season then went scoreless in a 7-game Cup Final series:
Ryan Kesler VAN 2011
Marian Hossa DET 2009
Milan Hejduk COL 2001 🏆
Oily Ron @OilyRon
For some reason this quote keeps popping up in my head today: “Your Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while all the Company is true.”
May the company be true!!
Oilers fan McNeekers @neekers_92
McDavid is going to have the game of his life tomorrow. That cup is coming home 🥹🧡💙
Panthers podcaster Jacob Langsman of Panther Pourri, @PTPJacob
Look, I’m not gonna promise anything, I don’t even want to suggest anything. All I’m saying is I remember who the Hurricanes beat in game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final
Oilers fan Mike Winters @mike_wintrs
The most perfect, mind-cleaving ending to Game 7 would be the Oilers going down 3-0 only to come back and win it in OT. That would kill me, however.
Oiler fan sʜʀᴏᴏᴍsᴀᴜᴄᴇ │ ㊶ ᴍɪᴋᴇ ꜱᴍɪᴛʜ 🐐 #1 FAN @ShroomSauce
I’m already a nervous wreck, even though I have all the confidence in the world. The Panthers have shown nothing of significant danger in the last 10 periods of hockey. But we’ve been watching this game long enough (you only need to have watched it for 2 weeks) to know that that can change 180° inexplicably in an instant.
Panthers fan Bryan @Metalpanthers
1 game man. Win 1 game, it doesn’t matter how, and you raise the cup on home ice. get it done… I’ve been dreaming of the panthers skating around with the cup on home ice since I was 4 years old. Even after everything that has happened this week, I feel really excited at the opportunity the Panthers have tonight. Childhood me would give anything to see the Panthers here…
Oilers fan Paul Almeida @AzorcanGlobal
My biggest wish for Monday is a win for #Oilers fans who are not of my generation. I saw them enter the #NHL & win their 5 cups.
I want a #StanleyCup for the Doug Weight generation, the 2006 cup run generation & especially the new generation like my 14 year old son.
#LetsGoOilers
Project Panthers Podcast @ProjPanthers
The fact that Sportsnet and ESPN both have opportunities to help expand the game of hockey and show support for southern hockey teams, instead have shown an unwavering bias towards the Oilers, turning “journalists” into fans. It’s a disgrace from a media perspective, embarrassing.
Allan Mitchell of the Athletic @Lowetide
It’s been so many, many miles. It is a single day after a lifetime spent reaching June 24, 2024. Today, we are witness to history. Together.
Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk on the expectation of the atmosphere tomorrow night
It will probably be the loudest rink I’ve ever played in in my entire life.
Oilers fan JB @JackieBee_16 in response to Tkachuk
No no – that was game 6 lol. Maybe the building will be loud but it’s not going to be as loud as game 6. And there are a lotttttt of Oilers fans making the trip.
Oilers fan Mathew Panchyshyn @mathewjdp
Everything we have given to this team. If victorious, when victorious, I will cry. Will you do the same? #Happiness
Oilers commentator Dean Millard @DuckMillard
Basically Edmonton is closed at 5 pm today.
More to come…
At the Cult of Hockey
Player grades:
Player grades:
- McCURDY: Game 1, Panthers 3 Oilers 0
- STAPLES: Game 2, Panthers 4 Oilers 1
- LEAVINS: Game 3, Panthers 4 Oilers 3
- McCURDY: Game 4, Oilers 8 Panthers 1
- STAPLES: Game 5, Oilers 5 Panthers 3
- McCURDY: Game 6: Oilers 5 Panthers 1