Panthers and Oilers face off in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers play Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS, CBC) at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

The Oilers have pushed the series to the limit by winning their past three games, including a 5-1 victory at home in Game 6 on Friday.

“I’m excited. I definitely want to get it going on the ice on Monday,” said Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “It’s a dream come true to be in this position and I couldn’t be more proud of this group .”

It will be the 18th Game 7 in Stanley Cup Final history since the NHL switched to a best-of-7 format in 1939; home teams are 12-5. The last Game 7 of the Cup Finals was in 2019, when the St. Louis Blues defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1 on the road. That marked the third straight time that the road team was victorious in Game 7 of the Cup Final; the Pittsburgh Penguins won 2-1 at the Detroit Red Wings in 2009 and the Bruins won 4-0 at the Vancouver Canucks in 2011.

Florida (52-24-6), the No. 1 seed from the Atlantic Division, defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games in the first round, Boston in six games in the second round and the New York Rangers in six games in the second round. Final of the Eastern Conference.

The Panthers, who are 2-1 in Game 7s, including 0-1 at home, have never won the Stanley Cup.

“I think we’re doing well,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. “Obviously we had three match points, but Game 7 is everyone’s dream and that’s why we have to be ready for Game 7.”

Forward Vladimir Tarasenko has played the most Game 7s among Florida skaters, going 4-1 with two points (one goal, one assist), including in the 2019 Cup Final with St. Louis. Forward Matthew Tkachuk (one goal, two assists) and defenseman Brandon Montour (two goals, one assist) are each 2-0.

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is 1-0 and made 33 saves in Game 7 against the Bruins in the first round last season. Backup Anthony Stolarz did not play a Game 7.

Panthers coach Paul Maurice is 4-0 in Game 7s.

“I think we’re a confident group,” Florida forward Carter Verhaeghe said. “They’re here for a reason, we’re here for a reason and I mean it’s the Stanley Cup Final. They’re a really good team and it’s up to us to come back and respond the next game.”

Edmonton (49-27-6), ranked No. 2 in the Pacific Division, defeated the Los Angeles Kings in five games in the first round and Vancouver in seven games in the second round before eliminating the Dallas Stars in six games in the Western Conference Final.

The Oilers, who are 8-4 in Game 7s, including 4-3 on the road, last won the Stanley Cup in 1990. They are 1-1 in Game 7 of the Cup Finals, defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in 1987 and lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.

Edmonton forward Corey Perry has played 10 Game 7s (5-5), with six points (four goals, two assists) in those games. Forward Zach Hyman has played five (2-3, one goal), and forward Evander Kane has played four (4-0, one assist). Centers Connor McDavid (one goal, one assist) and Leon Draisaitl (two assists) have each played in three Game 7s (2-1).

Stuart Skinner made 15 saves in a 3-2 win over the Canucks in the second round, his only appearance in a Game 7. Backup Calvin Pickard has never played in a Game 7.

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch is 1-0 in Game 7.

“That’s why sports are great, because the unthinkable can happen,” Hyman said. “We’re at a point where we thought it could happen, when I don’t think anyone else believed it could happen. We have an opportunity now and that’s all you can ask for.”