“We really haven’t done anything yet”: Hockey World Reacts to Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final
**Game 7: Live Blog, Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers, Stanley Cup Final**
The much-anticipated Game 7 between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers unfolded across social and mainstream media, capturing highlights and reactions from the hockey world.
Pre-Game Commentary:
Chris Pronger (@chrispronger), Oilers Alumni and NHL Hall-of-Famer:
“Game 7 tonight! Where heroes are created!”
Bob Stauffer, Host of Oilers Now:
“They’ve outscored the Panthers 18-5 in the last three games and have a chance for hockey immortality tonight. If they win, this team will become legends.”
Salim Nadim Valji (@salimvalji), TSN Reporter:
“Edmonton Oilers say 31,000 people expected at the arena viewing party, fan park across the street, and the Moss Pit, which is now open and starting to fill up.”
Craig MacTavish, Former Oilers Coach and Player:
“I wouldn’t read too much into the goal discrepancies of the last three games. It’s likely to be a highly-contested, low-scoring game. While the Oilers have an advantage, they could still lose.”
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers Captain:
“It’s not an ordinary game, but we have to make it feel as normal as possible in our heads. We haven’t accomplished anything yet. It comes down to this one game, and we’ll be ready.”
Nick Kypreos, Former NHLer and Toronto Radio Host:
“We know what this would mean to Canada and Oilers fans. However, for Paul Maurice and the Florida Panthers, a loss could be life-altering and haunt them forever.”
Jeff Marek, Sportsnet:
“How do you not watch this game? Even non-hockey fans should tune in. It could be the greatest collapse in sports history. If the Oilers win, we’ll be talking about it for years.”
Meghan Chayka (@MeghanChayka), Analytics Expert:
“Less than 4% of the Oilers’ shots on goal in Games 1-3 came with the goalie in motion, compared to nearly 24% in Games 4-6.”
Paul Bissonnette, Hockey Commentator:
“My prediction: overtime, with Oliver-Ekman Larsson scoring the OT winner for Florida to take the Cup.”
Travis Yost (@travisyost), TSN:
“Let this be a lesson to US broadcasters—superstars draw viewers. Tonight’s ratings will be huge. No one wants to watch the Blackhawks fifteen times a year.”
Mattias Ekholm, Edmonton Oilers Defenseman:
“I’m treating this game like Game 4 when we were down 0-3. Nothing changes for us. Blowing this game up in your mind only makes you nervous.”
JFresh (@JFreshHockey), Hockey Data Analyst:
“If Florida loses tonight, their SCF performance will be forgotten. But if they win, it will define Aleksander Barkov’s legacy given his exceptional play against the world’s best player.”
Zac Dalpe (@ZacDalpe22), Florida Panthers System Player:
“Hockey seems to be in a great place right now. Game 7 feels like those driveway or pond game-winning moments. Every media outlet is involved, and it’s exciting to see.”
Oil In Goal (@oilingoal), Edmonton Goalie Expert:
“Bobrovsky showed clear weaknesses throughout the playoffs, especially on shots from a distance and his blocker side. The Foegele goal in Game 6 exemplified this with a perfect feed from Draisaitl.”
Craig MacTavish on Losing Game 7 in 2006:
“Even 18 years later, I’m still wounded by that loss to Carolina. We didn’t play our best, and it haunts me. I feel terrible for the guys who never won a Cup, like Ryan Smyth and Shawn Horcoff. You don’t want to look back with regret as we do.”
