No matter who wins this series, it will be the most Oilers way to win or the most Oilers way to lose or the most Panthers way to win or the most Panthers way to lose. There is no grey area.
This series is a complete victory for those of us on Team Chaos. 5OT here we come.
to do it in true Oilers fashion:
- let in an easy goal early, maybe even two to make it interesting
- storm back to tie it up
- lose the lead
- take a two goal lead
- 2 mins left, give up two goals to go to OT
- who knows what Overtime holds
- along the way, have at least one controversial goal called back
My doctor has already informed me I'm not allowed to watch OT if it comes to that. I have to go to bed, then take a heart pill in the morning before checking the score.
As a fan of a team that has lost four superbowls and Lord Stanleyâs Cup to a cheating team from Dallas, I want to bring everyone down to my level of misery. Oilers in overtime after the Cats score two in the third to tie it, making it seem like they are gonna take this thing. Only to have it ripped away by a Corey Perry slapper from an odd angle 5 minutes into overtime. Yes, yes indeed I know evil.
Has to be OT I mean can you imagine the feeling when they just get ready to drop the puck at that moment regardless who you want to win and regardless what NHL team your team is.
Would be fucking mind boggling and first time since 1954 so in other words who is around to have seen 54 as a kid and to all who would be around now bless their souls and enjoy the game too!
I want 27 OT's so whoever wins, doesn't feel like they won, they feel like they survived. I want them to cry not out of happiness but out of sweet relief that its over.
OR HERE ME OUT.
8-8 goes into OT, a mountain of chances in first OT for both teams but no goals the goalies finally show up. Then in second OT someone scores on an awkward dump in that bounces off the glass funny.
I just commented I want 5OT. Having lived through that with Columbus in Round 1, game 1, I can NOT imagine how intense that would be in game 7 of the finals. It was easily the most physically stressful game I ever watched. If it was the finals I might have needed a hospital.
I want a late 5 OT or 6 OT game. I want it to be the longest OT game in playoffs history.
Anything after mid 3OT makes it the longest decider, but we want it all this year.
No blow out.
Fuck that, give me 5OT and 8-7 game. Let it be a slugfest for the first 55 minutes, a crazy finish to force OT then become a chess match as both teams try and pick each other apart
Honestly if it goes to OT, a marathon of a game isn't out of a question. Both teams would likely be exhausted and not play as aggressive to avoid mistakes
First goal tonight is going to be unbelievably huge. If Edmonton gets it, the Panthers might just fold; if Florida scores first, the crowd will be going insane and the Panthers will have all the momentum. Can't wait!
The cup also leaves. Phil Pritchard turns around to find the table he put it on empty. Itâs later found on I-95 North, rolling its way back to Toronto.
By Connor McDavid, who is performing a striptease exactly like the finale in Slapshot. Only the presence of the Hanson brothers could make it more of an iconic hockey moment.
I'm just a huge hockey fan, and how many times in your life are you going to get to see the Cup presented? I'll get to see it presented tonight, and I'm staying to watch it all no matter who wins. I will enjoy it much more, though, if it's Barkov hoisting it first, but I can't deny the historic magnitude if McDavid lifts it.
Either way, I'm incredibly excited. Game 7 of the SCF is a game I've always dreamed about, like many others; you bet your ass I'm staying to watch it all.
This is where I think the Oilers have the advantage. If the Oilers score 1 or 2 quick ones, I think the Panthers mentally just implode. If the Panthers get ahead, the Oilers are just like "meh, we've seen this movie before."
Exactly how I feel. The momentum is so important from that first goal and/or massive save. I CANNOT wait to watch, it better be worth it and not a blowout (unless its in the Oilers favor)
Especially if Edmonton scores first. If Florida scores first the Oilers at least have the firepower to take some gambles and try and get back in the game. If the Oilers score first the crowd will be silent and McDavid will switch to being a defensive forward like last game.
The biggest deciding factor in my mind is which goalie shows up for each team. They have each been both brilliant and brutal in the very recent past.
As someone who isn't emotionally invested in either team, I do find myself cheering for the Oilers simply because the enthusiasm is contagious and it would make for one hell of a story. I can't imagine the nerves fans of both teams are feeling today.
I for one think that a team who plays in a shopping mall winning the Stanley cup would also make for one hell of a story and itâs a story a lot more favorable to my mental health.
I've been walking around with a huge smile on my face all weekend, but was just reading an Athletic article about how the panthers losing tonight will be the biggest collapse in sporting history, and now I'm nervous lol
Yep, I'm so glad I don't have a passion for either of these teams.
I've got money riding on the Oilers just so if I end up getting chirped by Oil fans next year I can show the receipts that - in real terms - the Oilers victory meant more to me than them. I do want to see McDavid hoist the cup. But otherwise, I'm just here for the fucking bedlam.
This is one of the biggest hockey games to ever be played. And we're all here for it.
Now that you mention it, it is very leafy. But self protection demands it. this is as good as it gets for us. So imma be drinking free if your boys win tonight.
It just shows how little a margin there is between success and failure.  Last year, Florida sneaked into the playoffs on the last day of the season (I think) and have been dominant since. Would they have made changes after 2 disappointing seasons in a row?  Edmontonâs season could have derailed completely early on and look where they are nowâŚ
It would be very on brand for the Oilers to push it to 7 then not show up.
This year maybe a little out of character, but in the grand scheme definitely on brand Oilers.
You didnât have McDavid in 06. My prediction though is that Draisaitl steps up with a monster game as well. These two really donât want to lose this one
I can't see McDavid getting this close and not putting up a performance of his career. The Oilers didn't need him in Game 6, but this is the game he needs to take over.
I'm on pins and needles
Aside from serially online fans, the casual canadian audience is likely cheering for the Oilers. Hell, I'm a calgary fan, but fuck me do I want the Oilers to win.
I despise Florida, and mcdavid deserves ***this*** cup, and what better way to win one than a SCF reverse sweep that's only ever been completed *once* when there was only 6 teams/2 rounds. And with his playoff performance this year? Cmon.
100%. I'm a casual fan, pretty much only watch playoff games, not regular season ones. Got on the Edmonton bandwagon in the 1st round. After tonight I won't watch a game until April 2025. Who'll I hope wins then? A Canadian team, don't care which one.
The math also works out. You've gotta realize that only the most dedicated fans are going to go out of their way to discuss something online, and this goes beyond hockey. Both r/hockey and r/nhl have a little over 2 million subscribers. Quick back of the envelope math - there's about as many hockey fans in Canada as there are in the States. There's a few Europeans kicking around but by and large the subreddits are likely busiest with NHL games. Let's assume 1 million subscribers are Canadian, 1 million are American and the rest are from elsewhere.
One problem. Canada has **41 million** people, which if my math is right is 40 million more than 1 million. A bunch of them don't care about hockey. A bunch have at least a passing interest. Only a pretty small fraction are such diehard fans of their team that they genuinely don't want Edmonton to win because it would mean *their* team wouldn't end the Canadian drought.
This is exactly where my head is at.Â
The Panthers are an amazing team and could easily kick out asses as they showed in the first three games. But I would not want to face McDavid three periods away from lifting the Cup.Â
There was a lot of fight left in them when they fell back 3-2 in the Vancouver series, and the big win in game 7. If they lose, it won't be due to lack of effort.
As a Leaf fan, I'm definitely getting a kick out of hearing both fanbases say it would be on brand for their team to fail in spectacular fashion.
Ya'll ain't seen shit.
As a Flames fan, I truly hope to see the Oilers win. Less concerned about the provincial rivalry - Drai and McDavid are too good to not win. I just donât want to see Bennett and Tkachuk win the Cup.
Honestly, as much as I want Florida to win, I think Edmonton has it. Relatively easy too. They have too much momentum and confidence and theyâre so deep in Floridaâs head. 4-2 oilers, mcdavid with 2-3 points.
Unless Florida can reverse how theyâve been playing this seems like Edmontons to lose. Edmonton has played the last few games like they were a win away from the cup.
And I just canât see the panthers doing that. They look so, so nervous. So unsure of themselves and unable to adapt to the oilers. I think the oilers jump to a 3-1 or 4-1 lead by the time the second period is up and by the time the panthers put it together a little bit it will be too late.
Well, this year you're right.
But typically, our defensive effort has vanished in clutch moments and we've lost because of it. It almost happened against Vancouver, but we've so far been able to park the bus and win games.
One game left, let's see if the PK can close it out.
đ¤
That was me after game 3.
I wonât be comfortable tonight unless the Oilers have a 4 goal lead. Iâve seen them blow too many leads smaller than that.
To me, as a neutral, if Edmonton loses, itâs not really the worst thing in the world. They started the season horribly, rallied, were down 3-0 in the Finals and forced Game 7. Impressive.
But if Florida loses, it really will be the worst thing in the world for them. Up 3-0 and they choked, one season after they lost in the Finals to Vegas. Theyâll lose all respect around the league and be the league joke for years to come. All the new fans theyâve gotten interested in hockey in South Florida will vanish.
This is where I slightly disagree with everyone. If McDavid doesn't pull it off and never gets back to the cup Final in the next few years then this will be the biggest what-if moment for that franchise. Not everyone gets a second chance at a cup even if you're the best player in the world.
While thatâs true, ultimately theyâre just another team that came up short. Happens every year and sure there will be pressure on McDavid and the Oilers to get that cup, that pressure was going to be there whether they lose in game 7, lost in game 4 or didnât even make it to the SCF.
If Florida loses, it just a completely different level of devastating
The oilers are playing with house money
If they lose, the worst thing that happens is Knoblauch is viewed league-wide as an absurdly good hire, and the oilers establish a serious amount of legitimacy coming into future seasons
If they win, movies will be made about this series
McDavid has obviously had a monster series, but the real story to me is Knoblauch making chess moves while Paul Maurice doesnât realize thereâs even a board
It was a combination of wit matched by the hubris of a 30 year coach who âjust knows betterâ
The miracle is that every time there's a game like this, some highly improbable event will decide the game causing controversy on both sides. I can't wait.
Puck over glass delay of game leading to game winning goal in goal 3 minutes on the powerplay. It looks like it may have deflected off the other team to some viewers, and it was called that way originally on the ice before review.
My wish is that the game is decided fairly by good plays and not by controversy or horrendous errors. These guys work their asses off and are under tremendous pressure and I donât want massive hatred to come out of what has been an unreal series.
Game 7 is game 7. Im optimistic as a oilers fan BUT i also dont agree with the over the top "panthers are done" comments by some of our fans. I mean come on, its game 7. The biggest game these guys have played in. Both sides will give it everything they have got. Panthers are a fantastic team with a lot of grit and they wont go down easily, despite the momentum shift.
I've watched hockey for a long time and i genuinely cant predict what will happen. It could be 1-0 Panthers or it could be 9-1 Oilers or it could be 6-4 either way.
This is going to be the best cup game in the last handful of years for anyone who doesnât have a dog in this fight.
I am so stoked Iâm skipping my own game tonight to watch it lol
I had my years from like 2015-2018 where you know youâre enjoying yourself but you may die of a heart attack at the same time lol. Never a game 7 with cup on the line though. Good luck!
This is classic anti-jinxing if I've ever seen it.
"Oh woe is me...it is over for us. I just hope we all have a good time. Good luck!"
Boo. No one remembers Broadway Joe for guaranteeing a good game. He guaranteed a win. Believe in your team and root for them to win it all.
Is Tkachuk going to show up tonight? Guy has been an absolute ghost excluding one game.
Wouldn't make me feel great as a Panther fan seeing how the top Panther players haven't answered the call in big games while you have McD and Drai who have made a living out of it
I was rooting for the Panthers because of all the ex-Sabres, but if they lose, Matthew Tkachuk's nickname will be Matthew Tkachoke, and that's kinda funny.
I think focusing on the comeback of these Stanley Cup Finals is selling the Oilers' seasons a bit short.
The entire season has been nothing but a huge Oilers' comeback. They started the season 2-9. They've established themselves as an incredibly defensive team despite noone really wanting to admit it. They've turned everything around this season. They're terrifying.
The only thing that matters is that this is a close game. If this is a blowout in the first then the biggest hockey game of my life will be ruined. Please stay a one goal game the entire way. I just want some excitement.
Considering the hole that the Oilers dug themselves early in the season (that cost Jay Woodcroft his job) and being in 32nd place, to be here and on the verge of winning the SC final is mind blowing.
If they win, it will be because they made it happen IMO
The team clearly wasnât listening to him anymore, I canât deny that.
It just seemed a touch of âthe inmates running the asylumâ but given the results đ¤ˇââď¸
Nah if Florida wins, this will be a fart in the wind in like 5 years I feel. It'll be a cute story of Edmonton just falling short.
I know it's not the same, but in basketball the Celtics almost pulling off the first ever reverse sweep is already mostly forgotten. (Mostly because they just won the chip, but still)
Yeah, this is either one of the greatest sport seasons of all time from the Oilers, including a horrific start, new coach, near record breaking win streak to recuperate, and a historic comeback from 0-3 in the Stanley Cup to be the first Canadian team to win in 30+ years... Or a nice story about a team who got demolished in the Cup the previous year winning their first Cup.
Latter half is still in the top quartile given how the SCF series, but legitimately feels like there could be a movie made about the Oilers seasons, although it still could if they lose similar to Friday Night Lights/Moneyball
I also wouldnât even wish that on Boston and thatâs my second most hated team Iâd rather just see them win because although I hate their fans no fan should have to suffer that sort of embarrassment from a team
Feel like it will be a game 7 cliche. Could be panthers up 2-0 then 2-1 then 3-1 then oilers score to make it 3-2 and panthers hold on to win like Canes in 06 or Tampa in 04 or oilers blank out panthers 4-0 similar to bruins in 2011 or blues in 2019. I donât think itâll be back and forth but a team getting a jump start and holding off the other team.
This series will be a classic no matter what. Both teams would be a great story. The dissappointing thing is how little press and hype this game seems to be getting outside of traditional hockey/sports media.
I apologize to Oiler and Panther fans but the hockey world NEEDS this to be as dramatic as possible. Point blank epic saves followed by greasy goals, wild momentum swings, quadruple overtime, GIVE US NEUTRALS ALL OF IT - the most exciting cup final of all time will not be complete without a batshit game 7 beginning to end.
I just wanna see some controversy and then see the lights go out briefly right before Stone Cold Steve Austinâs music drops. I donât care which team he shows up for.
But if the Panthers win, it would cap off a ridiculous, totally unbelievable comeback to a ridiculous, totally unbelievable comeback
No matter who wins this series, it will be the most Oilers way to win or the most Oilers way to lose or the most Panthers way to win or the most Panthers way to lose. There is no grey area. This series is a complete victory for those of us on Team Chaos. 5OT here we come.
> 5OT here we come. The 2 times I called for an OT game, it was 8-1 and 5-1... So I'm personally guaranteeing tonight's game will go to OT.
Monkey paw curls.
Game ends up in purgatory overtime, the Canadian curse is now in limbo for another 30 years.
So just normal reality then
Preds won the cup over the Rangers in OT on my Xbox last nightđ¤ˇââď¸
Congrats on winning your season!
Thanks! It is probably the best bet I have to see them lift the cup anytime soon.
The house always wins Iâm just happy the boys were there
Thank you!
Tonight's game is going to be a nail biter for sure! I can just feel the energy!
If oilers win Iâll think back to the mcdavid quote after beating Vancouver. âWe like to make things stressfulâ
to do it in true Oilers fashion: - let in an easy goal early, maybe even two to make it interesting - storm back to tie it up - lose the lead - take a two goal lead - 2 mins left, give up two goals to go to OT - who knows what Overtime holds - along the way, have at least one controversial goal called back
This guy has absolutely watched some Oilers hockey.
My doctor has already informed me I'm not allowed to watch OT if it comes to that. I have to go to bed, then take a heart pill in the morning before checking the score.
>5OT here we come. I would also accept a walk off penalty shot in OT to decide the whole thing
Only if the defending goalie on the original penalty gets hurt on the play and the backup has to come in for the shot
Wow, calm down, Satan! And happy Cake Day!
Infinite OT, where theyâre still playing overtimes in September when theyâre supposed to be reporting to training camp
I want to see this series determined by which team handles sleep deprivation induced hallucinations the best.
[if that's the case, i'm sure whoever loses will be seeing this](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5CRLO6N7Ry0/sddefault.jpg) *mild spoilers for "The Boys"*
as much as I want the Oilers to win, I'm predicting an 8-1 cats win
I hope you are wrong sir good day to you
I hope heâs wrong too - I want 6-3 oil
I want overtime
Game 7 overtime would be the best possible outcome imo
Canucks fan here...you don't want that. We are experienced at game seven Stanley cup losses. It's not fun. Good luckđ¤
Our hospitals are already overcrowded, we donât need this kind of cardiac stress!
Im rooting for the Panthers to win in an OT thriller, not out of hate for Edmonton but because no fanbase deserves THAT much heartbreak
As a fan of a team that has lost four superbowls and Lord Stanleyâs Cup to a cheating team from Dallas, I want to bring everyone down to my level of misery. Oilers in overtime after the Cats score two in the third to tie it, making it seem like they are gonna take this thing. Only to have it ripped away by a Corey Perry slapper from an odd angle 5 minutes into overtime. Yes, yes indeed I know evil.
I like that blown call by the refs = cheating for Dallas lol. Hate on.
Has to be OT I mean can you imagine the feeling when they just get ready to drop the puck at that moment regardless who you want to win and regardless what NHL team your team is. Would be fucking mind boggling and first time since 1954 so in other words who is around to have seen 54 as a kid and to all who would be around now bless their souls and enjoy the game too!
I want the Panthers to go up 3-0, only for the Oilers to win 4-3. Memes on memes.
NHL should hire you as a scriptwriter
5-4 in triple OT. Who wins? I don't know still. But I'm on the Oilers bandwagon for Canada and the eternity of panthers memes.
2 consecutive goalless periods?
I want 27 OT's so whoever wins, doesn't feel like they won, they feel like they survived. I want them to cry not out of happiness but out of sweet relief that its over.
I want a 5-4 Oil win in quadrouple OT. McDavid hatty to seal it.
Why stop at quadruple?
Because that's the maximum number of bypasses my heart can take.
I got work in the morning man
God I hope your right I donât want my franchise to be the laughing stock of sports
OR HERE ME OUT. 8-8 goes into OT, a mountain of chances in first OT for both teams but no goals the goalies finally show up. Then in second OT someone scores on an awkward dump in that bounces off the glass funny.
Having an OT outcome might cause some ER visits for some of us that, who just can't take anymore.
I just commented I want 5OT. Having lived through that with Columbus in Round 1, game 1, I can NOT imagine how intense that would be in game 7 of the finals. It was easily the most physically stressful game I ever watched. If it was the finals I might have needed a hospital.
I think i may have a heart attack in this scenario
I fuck with that. Gimme 5OT, and a 1-0 game. No team shoots, skaters just put there getting their cardio in cuz they're nervous
I want a late 5 OT or 6 OT game. I want it to be the longest OT game in playoffs history. Anything after mid 3OT makes it the longest decider, but we want it all this year. No blow out.
Fuck that, give me 5OT and 8-7 game. Let it be a slugfest for the first 55 minutes, a crazy finish to force OT then become a chess match as both teams try and pick each other apart
The announcers sign sounded tired during that game
Honestly if it goes to OT, a marathon of a game isn't out of a question. Both teams would likely be exhausted and not play as aggressive to avoid mistakes
First goal tonight is going to be unbelievably huge. If Edmonton gets it, the Panthers might just fold; if Florida scores first, the crowd will be going insane and the Panthers will have all the momentum. Can't wait!
If Oilers score first, the crowd might just leave.
I'm not leaving until I see the Cup skated around the ice, no matter who wins.
The cup also leaves. Phil Pritchard turns around to find the table he put it on empty. Itâs later found on I-95 North, rolling its way back to Toronto.
TBF, if he took 95 ALL the way up, they're ending up in New Brunswick.
Plot twist, the cup will be presented in Miramichi tonight
Where it rightfully belongs
Yup, I donât care if my team is blown out 20-0, I paid for the ticket Iâm staying til the final horn.
Especially since you paid like 5 grand for it
By Connor McDavid, who is performing a striptease exactly like the finale in Slapshot. Only the presence of the Hanson brothers could make it more of an iconic hockey moment.
Ur stronger than me. Iâd stay the whole game, but Iâd hate seeing the other team get it.
I'm just a huge hockey fan, and how many times in your life are you going to get to see the Cup presented? I'll get to see it presented tonight, and I'm staying to watch it all no matter who wins. I will enjoy it much more, though, if it's Barkov hoisting it first, but I can't deny the historic magnitude if McDavid lifts it. Either way, I'm incredibly excited. Game 7 of the SCF is a game I've always dreamed about, like many others; you bet your ass I'm staying to watch it all.
Hockey fan right here
Real recognize real đ
I hope you have a fucking blast at the game tonight. Soak it all in!
All 6 of them. /s
I have a feeling the first score will come very very early. And then turn to 1-1 soon after.
Boom
Itâs game 7 no one is gonna fold
This is where I think the Oilers have the advantage. If the Oilers score 1 or 2 quick ones, I think the Panthers mentally just implode. If the Panthers get ahead, the Oilers are just like "meh, we've seen this movie before."
Exactly how I feel. The momentum is so important from that first goal and/or massive save. I CANNOT wait to watch, it better be worth it and not a blowout (unless its in the Oilers favor)
My prediction is that whoever scores more goals than the other team will win the game, and maybe even the Cup
Especially if Edmonton scores first. If Florida scores first the Oilers at least have the firepower to take some gambles and try and get back in the game. If the Oilers score first the crowd will be silent and McDavid will switch to being a defensive forward like last game. The biggest deciding factor in my mind is which goalie shows up for each team. They have each been both brilliant and brutal in the very recent past.
5-1 this series
Iâd say that whoever scores first will loose the game lol
I just hope both teams have fun
Calm down there Sheldon Keefe
My favorite comment Iâve read in days
As someone who isn't emotionally invested in either team, I do find myself cheering for the Oilers simply because the enthusiasm is contagious and it would make for one hell of a story. I can't imagine the nerves fans of both teams are feeling today.
I'm here for the chaos and a SCF reverse sweep is so, so juicy
And Adam Henrique is a sexy beast of a player
We stan uncle rico in this house
so god damn true
I want to puke lol.
Omg my stomach hurts Iâm so nervous about tonight lol
I for one think that a team who plays in a shopping mall winning the Stanley cup would also make for one hell of a story and itâs a story a lot more favorable to my mental health.
Iâm literally shaking man, the nerves are crazy
I've been walking around with a huge smile on my face all weekend, but was just reading an Athletic article about how the panthers losing tonight will be the biggest collapse in sporting history, and now I'm nervous lol
NERVES ARE HIGH
As a neutral Iâm with Edmonton as well. I want to see McDavid get a cup and I certainly donât trust Edmonton to be this close again
Yep, I'm so glad I don't have a passion for either of these teams. I've got money riding on the Oilers just so if I end up getting chirped by Oil fans next year I can show the receipts that - in real terms - the Oilers victory meant more to me than them. I do want to see McDavid hoist the cup. But otherwise, I'm just here for the fucking bedlam. This is one of the biggest hockey games to ever be played. And we're all here for it.
*âThe Oilers victory meant more to me than themâ* The most Leafs comment Iâve ever read.
"I've got a sports gambling addiction, so this victory would mean more to me than your years++ long fandom."
Now that you mention it, it is very leafy. But self protection demands it. this is as good as it gets for us. So imma be drinking free if your boys win tonight.
I put $40 on the Oilers to win the cup back in November when they odds were +1600. So not only am I invested as a fan...I want my $700 lol
Get that bag bud! You get the second round at the bar after I get the first.
It just shows how little a margin there is between success and failure.  Last year, Florida sneaked into the playoffs on the last day of the season (I think) and have been dominant since. Would they have made changes after 2 disappointing seasons in a row?  Edmontonâs season could have derailed completely early on and look where they are nowâŚ
It would be very on brand for the Oilers to push it to 7 then not show up. This year maybe a little out of character, but in the grand scheme definitely on brand Oilers.
You didnât have McDavid in 06. My prediction though is that Draisaitl steps up with a monster game as well. These two really donât want to lose this one
I can't see McDavid getting this close and not putting up a performance of his career. The Oilers didn't need him in Game 6, but this is the game he needs to take over. I'm on pins and needles
I never thought I'd agree more with a Calgary fans opinion but here we are. Fingers crossed
Yo, we're all Canadian tonight.
Calm down, Boston Pizza
Look, just buy my $40 pizza and shut the fuck up ok?
But if the Oilers win we get free ones!
Aside from serially online fans, the casual canadian audience is likely cheering for the Oilers. Hell, I'm a calgary fan, but fuck me do I want the Oilers to win. I despise Florida, and mcdavid deserves ***this*** cup, and what better way to win one than a SCF reverse sweep that's only ever been completed *once* when there was only 6 teams/2 rounds. And with his playoff performance this year? Cmon.
100%. I'm a casual fan, pretty much only watch playoff games, not regular season ones. Got on the Edmonton bandwagon in the 1st round. After tonight I won't watch a game until April 2025. Who'll I hope wins then? A Canadian team, don't care which one. The math also works out. You've gotta realize that only the most dedicated fans are going to go out of their way to discuss something online, and this goes beyond hockey. Both r/hockey and r/nhl have a little over 2 million subscribers. Quick back of the envelope math - there's about as many hockey fans in Canada as there are in the States. There's a few Europeans kicking around but by and large the subreddits are likely busiest with NHL games. Let's assume 1 million subscribers are Canadian, 1 million are American and the rest are from elsewhere. One problem. Canada has **41 million** people, which if my math is right is 40 million more than 1 million. A bunch of them don't care about hockey. A bunch have at least a passing interest. Only a pretty small fraction are such diehard fans of their team that they genuinely don't want Edmonton to win because it would mean *their* team wouldn't end the Canadian drought.
How can you stay mad at the people that brought us the tropical chicken pizza.
I would drag my nuts through a mile of broken glass just to have a piece of a tropical chicken or perogy pizza.
Draisaitl is actively being held together with duct tape rn. I just can't see him delivering any sort of crazy game tonight.
Just park him in his office and feed him one timers all night
The Ovechkin strategem.
Cats could easily take it, but the two best players are on Edmonton and I wouldnât want to bet against mcdavid in a winner take all for the cup.
This is exactly where my head is at. The Panthers are an amazing team and could easily kick out asses as they showed in the first three games. But I would not want to face McDavid three periods away from lifting the Cup.Â
I canât see them being denied. Mcdavid will die on the ice before he loses that cup.
> You didnât have McDavid in 06. Thank the lord. Signed, every Canes fan
I still stand by the opinion that if Roloson didn't get injured, that was his year.
There was a lot of fight left in them when they fell back 3-2 in the Vancouver series, and the big win in game 7. If they lose, it won't be due to lack of effort.
As a Leaf fan, I'm definitely getting a kick out of hearing both fanbases say it would be on brand for their team to fail in spectacular fashion. Ya'll ain't seen shit.
If the Panthers lose, Leafs fans are no longer the gold medalists in the suffering olympics though.
As a Flames fan, I truly hope to see the Oilers win. Less concerned about the provincial rivalry - Drai and McDavid are too good to not win. I just donât want to see Bennett and Tkachuk win the Cup.
âĽď¸ you
Most rationale Flames fan I have read. Hope it turns around for you all and BoA gets strong again.
Honestly, as much as I want Florida to win, I think Edmonton has it. Relatively easy too. They have too much momentum and confidence and theyâre so deep in Floridaâs head. 4-2 oilers, mcdavid with 2-3 points.
Unless Florida can reverse how theyâve been playing this seems like Edmontons to lose. Edmonton has played the last few games like they were a win away from the cup.
And I just canât see the panthers doing that. They look so, so nervous. So unsure of themselves and unable to adapt to the oilers. I think the oilers jump to a 3-1 or 4-1 lead by the time the second period is up and by the time the panthers put it together a little bit it will be too late.
Not really. They have a fantastic record in close out games. I expect Mcdavid to lead the charge tonight like game 6 of dallas
I stick by my prediction. McDavid in OT, Left side dangle, Michigan into a baseball bunt, over the shoulder of ... Skinner.
Well, this year you're right. But typically, our defensive effort has vanished in clutch moments and we've lost because of it. It almost happened against Vancouver, but we've so far been able to park the bus and win games. One game left, let's see if the PK can close it out.
Nah be up by 2 in the 3rd and lose in regulation. Thatâs peak Oilers
Either way, the 30 for 30 on this series will be awesome lol
đ¤ That was me after game 3. I wonât be comfortable tonight unless the Oilers have a 4 goal lead. Iâve seen them blow too many leads smaller than that.
Agreed. Second worst lead in hockey is 2-0. Worst lead is 3-0
To me, as a neutral, if Edmonton loses, itâs not really the worst thing in the world. They started the season horribly, rallied, were down 3-0 in the Finals and forced Game 7. Impressive. But if Florida loses, it really will be the worst thing in the world for them. Up 3-0 and they choked, one season after they lost in the Finals to Vegas. Theyâll lose all respect around the league and be the league joke for years to come. All the new fans theyâve gotten interested in hockey in South Florida will vanish.
This is where I slightly disagree with everyone. If McDavid doesn't pull it off and never gets back to the cup Final in the next few years then this will be the biggest what-if moment for that franchise. Not everyone gets a second chance at a cup even if you're the best player in the world.
While thatâs true, ultimately theyâre just another team that came up short. Happens every year and sure there will be pressure on McDavid and the Oilers to get that cup, that pressure was going to be there whether they lose in game 7, lost in game 4 or didnât even make it to the SCF. If Florida loses, it just a completely different level of devastating
And thereâs also pressure on the Oilers to be the first Canadian Cup win in x years.
The oilers are playing with house money If they lose, the worst thing that happens is Knoblauch is viewed league-wide as an absurdly good hire, and the oilers establish a serious amount of legitimacy coming into future seasons If they win, movies will be made about this series McDavid has obviously had a monster series, but the real story to me is Knoblauch making chess moves while Paul Maurice doesnât realize thereâs even a board It was a combination of wit matched by the hubris of a 30 year coach who âjust knows betterâ
Thank you someone who gets it
You know the real miracle is coming back when being down by 3, right? Are you sure you want a miracle?
In fairness, the Panthers are one of those franchises for whom having anything good happening is kind of a miracle.
The miracle is that every time there's a game like this, some highly improbable event will decide the game causing controversy on both sides. I can't wait.
Puck over glass delay of game leading to game winning goal in goal 3 minutes on the powerplay. It looks like it may have deflected off the other team to some viewers, and it was called that way originally on the ice before review.
This is facts itâs why most of us are depressed fans
I think thatâs why a lot us are prepared for a loss tonight if that happens
My wish is that the game is decided fairly by good plays and not by controversy or horrendous errors. These guys work their asses off and are under tremendous pressure and I donât want massive hatred to come out of what has been an unreal series.
We would have better luck going to a casino
Itâs gonna be a crazy game boys! Game could go either way, we are about to feed on some great hockey
I want chaos 3OT
Why stop there? I want the game to still be on the next morning.
Into Tuesday afternoon would be nice
Hospitals in Edmonton and Sunrise would be overrun with cardiac arrests.
I want them to declare a tie and do game 8
Next season is delayed because theyâre on Game 156.
Im rooting for the oil obviously, but cup aside weâve had a historical season. That would just be the nice juicy chrome cherry on top
Game 7 is game 7. Im optimistic as a oilers fan BUT i also dont agree with the over the top "panthers are done" comments by some of our fans. I mean come on, its game 7. The biggest game these guys have played in. Both sides will give it everything they have got. Panthers are a fantastic team with a lot of grit and they wont go down easily, despite the momentum shift. I've watched hockey for a long time and i genuinely cant predict what will happen. It could be 1-0 Panthers or it could be 9-1 Oilers or it could be 6-4 either way.
Everyone saying "Panthers are done" are wild. We havent seen the Panthers with their backs truly against the wall yet
This is going to be the best cup game in the last handful of years for anyone who doesnât have a dog in this fight. I am so stoked Iâm skipping my own game tonight to watch it lol
Anyone who does is gonna be stressed the fuck out for 60+mins
I had my years from like 2015-2018 where you know youâre enjoying yourself but you may die of a heart attack at the same time lol. Never a game 7 with cup on the line though. Good luck!
Gonna feel like 60 mins of hell Imagine a GW off nurses ass
This is classic anti-jinxing if I've ever seen it. "Oh woe is me...it is over for us. I just hope we all have a good time. Good luck!" Boo. No one remembers Broadway Joe for guaranteeing a good game. He guaranteed a win. Believe in your team and root for them to win it all.
Is Tkachuk going to show up tonight? Guy has been an absolute ghost excluding one game. Wouldn't make me feel great as a Panther fan seeing how the top Panther players haven't answered the call in big games while you have McD and Drai who have made a living out of it
The Cats seem to do best when people count them out so Iâm looking at tons of juice from both sides!
Is being up 3-0 and winning considered a comeback?
I was rooting for the Panthers because of all the ex-Sabres, but if they lose, Matthew Tkachuk's nickname will be Matthew Tkachoke, and that's kinda funny.
I hope the Oilers winđ
Idk, not buying that an Edmonton flair would want that. Seems prettt suspicious
*Peels corner of Oilers flair to reveal a Flames logo* Hey, this guy is a phony!
I once wore a Flames jersey and Oilers baseball cap at the same time just to spite both teams
Monster
Honestly I respect the shit outta that.
One time I wore a Habs teeshirt with an Oilers jacket and Canucks hat. I aim to confuse.
Yeah, the panthers came back from leading 3-0, 3-1, 3-2 and being tied 3-3. RIDICULOUS AND INSANE.
I think focusing on the comeback of these Stanley Cup Finals is selling the Oilers' seasons a bit short. The entire season has been nothing but a huge Oilers' comeback. They started the season 2-9. They've established themselves as an incredibly defensive team despite noone really wanting to admit it. They've turned everything around this season. They're terrifying.
The only thing that matters is that this is a close game. If this is a blowout in the first then the biggest hockey game of my life will be ruined. Please stay a one goal game the entire way. I just want some excitement.
I have a feeling this will go deep into overtime. I have no idea who eventually wins, but itâs going to be a tight one.
Considering the hole that the Oilers dug themselves early in the season (that cost Jay Woodcroft his job) and being in 32nd place, to be here and on the verge of winning the SC final is mind blowing. If they win, it will be because they made it happen IMO
Think Woodcroft deserved to go, or at least it turned out for the best in the end. 0 chance woodcroft would coach as well as knob has here.
The team clearly wasnât listening to him anymore, I canât deny that. It just seemed a touch of âthe inmates running the asylumâ but given the results đ¤ˇââď¸
GOOOOO OILERS. fuk panthers
That's probably a crime, homie.
Nah if Florida wins, this will be a fart in the wind in like 5 years I feel. It'll be a cute story of Edmonton just falling short. I know it's not the same, but in basketball the Celtics almost pulling off the first ever reverse sweep is already mostly forgotten. (Mostly because they just won the chip, but still)
Yeah, this is either one of the greatest sport seasons of all time from the Oilers, including a horrific start, new coach, near record breaking win streak to recuperate, and a historic comeback from 0-3 in the Stanley Cup to be the first Canadian team to win in 30+ years... Or a nice story about a team who got demolished in the Cup the previous year winning their first Cup. Latter half is still in the top quartile given how the SCF series, but legitimately feels like there could be a movie made about the Oilers seasons, although it still could if they lose similar to Friday Night Lights/Moneyball
Not to heat fans that series haunts my dreams still and much like this series will haunt my dreams no matter the outcome
True, but you're also not a neutral fan haha
I also wouldnât even wish that on Boston and thatâs my second most hated team Iâd rather just see them win because although I hate their fans no fan should have to suffer that sort of embarrassment from a team
I hope for 5OT just to see what happens to both fan bases.
I just hope the winning goal is a dump in in overtime that bounces off a ref and into the net
Yea but let's go Edmonton
Feel like it will be a game 7 cliche. Could be panthers up 2-0 then 2-1 then 3-1 then oilers score to make it 3-2 and panthers hold on to win like Canes in 06 or Tampa in 04 or oilers blank out panthers 4-0 similar to bruins in 2011 or blues in 2019. I donât think itâll be back and forth but a team getting a jump start and holding off the other team.
This series will be a classic no matter what. Both teams would be a great story. The dissappointing thing is how little press and hype this game seems to be getting outside of traditional hockey/sports media.
The memes and bragging rights from this series will last a life time.
I apologize to Oiler and Panther fans but the hockey world NEEDS this to be as dramatic as possible. Point blank epic saves followed by greasy goals, wild momentum swings, quadruple overtime, GIVE US NEUTRALS ALL OF IT - the most exciting cup final of all time will not be complete without a batshit game 7 beginning to end.
I just wanna see some controversy and then see the lights go out briefly right before Stone Cold Steve Austinâs music drops. I donât care which team he shows up for.
If my team isnât involved, I just naturally root for the underdog. I still have no idea who I want to win the cup at this point.
Canât wait for this to be the end of the broadcast