Stanley Cup Finals: Oilers on the verge of historic 3-0 comeback after beating Panthers to force Game 7

The Edmonton Oilers are one win away from the Stanley Cup title, a historic comeback and the first Canadian championship in 31 years.

As for the Florida Panthers, it just has to hurt right now.

With a 5-1 victory in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers became the first team in 78 years to force a Game 7 in an SCF where they had ever trailed 3-0. Game 7 is scheduled for Monday at 8 p.m. ET in Florida (ABC, ESPN+).

An Edmonton win would make the team only the second in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup from a 3-0 deficit, joining the stunning feat of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1942 against the Detroit Red Wings. Only four teams have overcome a 3-0 playoff deficit, the most recent being the Los Angeles Kings in 2014.

The good news for the Panthers is that teams that once trailed 3-0 are actually 4-5 in Game 7, with the 1945 Maple Leafs holding off a reversal of fortunes by the Red Wings. Of course, optimism on Florida’s part is likely low due to the lopsided nature of Games 4 through 6.

It was a familiar story in Game 6, with the Oilers taking a three-goal lead in the second period for the third straight game. It started with Leon Draisaitl finding Warren Foegele with a beautiful pass on a first-period breakaway.

Edmonton took a 2-0 lead 46 seconds into the second period, but controversy ensued afterward.

Panthers have goal disallowed after wafer-thin offside assessment

Ten seconds after the Oilers’ Adam Henrique found the net, Aleksander Barkov appeared to make it straight away with what would have been his second goal of the series.

The Oilers, however, contested the goal, arguing that Sam Reinhart was offside for the goal. Replays showed that Reinhart’s skate completely crossed the blue line within milliseconds of the puck crossing, but the officials ultimately ruled it was clear enough to overturn the goal.

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice was furious after the decision was announced.

While it seemed impossibly close on the ABC broadcast, Sportsnet had an angle that made the turnaround more explainable.

The Oilers scored one more time late in the second period through Zach Hyman, putting the Panthers in a situation where they needed to overcome a 3-0 deficit to avoid losing a 3-0 lead.

Barkov made amends with a beautiful goal early in the third period, but that was all Florida would get. Edmonton’s Ryan McLeod scored an empty-net goal with 3:15 left to tie the game, followed by another from Henrique for good measure. The Panthers could have made things harder for the Oilers, but they fell short on three power plays, continuing a streak of 46 penalty kills in 47 short-handed situations for the Oilers.

To avoid humiliation, the Panthers need to completely reverse their performance of the last three games. At least they can say that has already happened once in this series.

2024 Stanley Cup Finals (Series Tied: 3-3)

Game 1: Panthers 3, Oilers 0
Game 2: Panthers 4, Oilers 1
Game 3: Panthers 4, Oilers 3
Game 4: Oilers 8, Panthers 1
Game 5: Oilers 5, Panthers 3
Game 6: Oilers 5, Panthers 1
Game 7: Oilers at Panthers | Monday, June 24, 8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)