NHL Stanley Cup Final 2024: Early Comments, Preview for Game 7

The Stanley Cup Final has flipped from a dominant performance by the Florida Panthers to a potentially legacy-defining series for Connor McDavid.

McDavid hauled the Edmonton Oilers back into the series, starting in Game 4, and that led to the culmination of the series in Monday's Game 7.

Edmonton has all the momentum in the series after its three consecutive victories. The Oilers took the game to the Panthers in every one of their ones and now they seem more likely to hoist the Stanley Cup than Florida.

Florida lost control of the series at the start of Game 4 and never got it back, Paul Maurice's team needs to re-discover the form from its first three wins, but it is difficult to see that happening after how Games 4-6 played out.

The Oilers look like they can't be stopped.

Edmonton rolled to an 8-1 victory in Game 4 and never looked back after that point, The Oilers outscored the Panthers 18-5 over Games 4-6.

The Oilers had a built-in back-against-the-wall mentality from the start of the season that they banked on during the last three contests.

"There was an unshakable belief," Oilers forward Zach Hyman said, per ESPN.com. "No matter what happened throughout the year, we always believed we could pull through. No matter how dire the circumstances, we think we have a chance. It was a long season facing adversity, which prepared us. The next one will be the hardest. It feels unbelievable to do it in front of this crowd. To have a chance to win now, this is our first opportunity to win."

Edmonton lost 10 of its first 12 regular-season games and did not hit its stride until two long winning streaks in November and December.

The key to the series comeback has been fast starts. The Oilers outscored the Panthers 5-1 in the first period over Games 4-6.

"Anytime you score first, one, it calms a lot of jitters," Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said, per NHL.com's Gerry Moddejonge. "It also forces the opposition to open things up a little bit more and maybe not play with as much defensive structure as they would like, because they're trying to get back in the game and forcing to score that next goal."

The Oilers just have to keep playing the same way they have been since Game 4 to bring the first Stanley Cup back to Canada in 31 years.

They have the biggest star in the series in McDavid and the supporting cast around him has come alive over the last three games.

it is hard to imagine Edmonton reverting back to its form from Games 1-3, but that is what Florida needs to force to be competitive in Game 7.

It would be easy for the Panthers to dwell on the failures of Games 4-6, but head coach Paul Maurice opted not to think that way at all in the buildup to Game 7.

"Our plan is set. It started last night after the game. Met this morning, did video, do the same tomorrow, get ready to play. I know it's 3-3. The concern of the previous three games certainly didn't affect Edmonton, and it won't affect us," Maurice said, per NHL.com's George Richards.

it's one thing to say that and another to play without any doubt in Game 7 after losing three consecutive games.

Florida must find a way to get back to the strong defensive play from Games 1-3 in which McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman were afterthoughts in the series conversation. McDavid is now the overwhelming favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.

The Panthers held a 10-4 edge in goals through three games. Edmonton did not score until the 71st minute of the series.

Florida forward Carter Verhaeghe knows the pressure is on his team to finally respond to Edmonton's surge in the series.

"I think we're a confident group. 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 for us to come back and respond next game," Verhaeghe said, per Sportsnet's Luke Fox.

Florida may not be able to keep McDavid off the score sheet now that he's taken over the series, but it has to do the best to at least contain his production in the offensive zone to avoid a total Edmonton takeover of Game 7.

Game 7 is going to be all about McDavid.

If the Oilers superstar continues his stellar play from Games 4-6, the Canadian Stanley Cup drought most likely ends on Monday night.

McDavid recorded eight points across Games 4 and 5. His impact was felt in Game 6 despite not earning a point or putting a shot on goal.

Florida has to expect McDavid to come out on fire in an attempt to give the Oilers yet another early lead and put all of the pressure on the Panthers to come back, which they have not been able to do in the last three games.

The Panthers' best attempt at a comeback came on home ice in Game 5, when they got within one goal. Edmonton shut down any more advances and McDavid finished off that win with an empty-netter.

Verhaeghe, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart must be more active in the offensive zone for the Panthers. They need to at least match the offensive output of McDavid, Draisaitl and Hyman.

Reinhart, who had 57 regular-season goals, has been silent for most of the series. He has a single on goal and ranks sixth on the Panthers roster in shots on goal.

He has the potential to be Florida's counter to McDavid's heroics. The same could be said about Tkachuk or Verhaeghe stepping up.

Game 7 may not be all about the stars. Florida's Evan Rodrigues leads the series with four goals. Edmonton's Ryan McLeod and Warren Foegele stepped up in depth roles from Games 4-6. McLeod is tied with McDavid for the most series goals on the Edmonton roster.

Edmonton will bring the attack to the Florida net, and if Florida rebounds to do the same thing, we could witness quite the finish to an exciting series.