Oilers beat Panthers to force Game 7 of Stanley Cup Final
From the brink of elimination the Oilers cruised to their third straight win to force Game 7
Miami survives as Hokies Hail Mary TD overturned
Connor McDavid was held without a point, so Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers' other top players stepped up to put them one win from the Stanley Cup.
Draisaitl made his first major impact in the Final by setting up Warren Foegele's early goal, Adam Henrique and Zach Hyman scored in the second period, and the Oilers forced a Game 7 by beating the Florida Panthers 5-1 in Game 6 on Friday night.
"At the end of the day, we play to win and this is going to be the hardest game for us," Draisaitl said. "We have to bring our game again."
The Oilers are the third team to tie the Final after falling behind 3-0 in the series, and the first since the Detroit Red Wings in 1945. The Oilers have the chance Monday night in Sunrise, Florida, to join the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs as the only NHL teams to come all the way back from that deficit to hoist the Stanley Cup.
"There was an unshakable belief," Hyman said. "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."
After falling into a 3-0 series hole, the Oilers have rallied by scoring five-plus goals in three straight games, the longest streak in a Stanley Cup Final since the Pittsburgh Penguins did it in 1991, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The opportunity to make hockey history and end Canada's three-decade-long Cup drought exists only after McDavid's heroics with four points apiece in Games 4 and 5 to take the Oilers from the brink to belief. This was the first time in his nine-year career Edmonton has won a game in which he did not have a point or put a shot on net.
Draisaitl, his longtime running mate from Germany who has also been league MVP and is considered among the best players in the world, lit the spark in Game 5 after being largely ineffective against the Panthers.
"He's a horse," defenseman Darnell Nurse said. "He's always showing up at the biggest moments. You look at all his playoff performances, he's one of the best to ever do it."
Draisaitl got the puck at center ice, skated around and through Florida defenders and put the puck on the tape of Foegele's stick for a tap-in that Sergei Bobrovsky had nearly no chance of stopping. That, of course, did not stop the fired-up sellout crowd of 18,000-plus from mockingly chanting, "Ser-gei! Ser-gei!"
The goalie everyone calls "Bob" was hardly to blame, though, with mistakes in front of him also contributing to the 2-on-1 rush that ended with Henrique beating Bobrovsky off a perfect pass from Mattias Janmark. The Panthers in front of their goaltender looked tight and timid and unlike the juggernaut that reached the Final for a second consecutive year and won the first three games to move to the verge of the first title in franchise history.
"We have one game to go," Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov said. "We were ready right from the start to play a seven-game series, and nothing changes now. We got up three, and they played three good games. Now it's up to us to win at home."
Florida had just six shots on net midway through the game and finished with 21. Continuing a trend of being there when the Oilers need him the most, goaltender Stuart Skinner made timely saves to stymie the Panthers, allowing just a goal to Aleksander Barkov less than 90 seconds into the third period.
"He's been lights-out when we've needed him," Janmark said of Skinner.
The first time Barkov got the puck past him, 10 seconds after Henrique scored, the goal came off the board when Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch successfully challenged for offside. A lengthy review found Sam Reinhart entered the offensive zone perhaps an inch or less before the puck, the announcement of which was followed by a roar from fans.
"I actually didn't think it was that close," Knoblauch said. "In my mind, it was definitely offside."
That was not the loudest Rogers Place got, and there were plenty of candidates for that distinction. The decibel meter shown on video screens reached 113.8 when the Oilers stepped on to the ice to the tune of Metallica's "Enter Sandman."
It might have approached that noise level when Ryan McLeod and Nurse scored empty-netters in the final minutes, setting off chants of "We want the Cup!" "We want the Cup!" and a wild celebration at the viewing party outside.
That was the fever pitch of a city that was awash in a sea of blue and orange downtown in the hours before puck drop. Friday might as well have been a holiday in Edmonton, the home of nearly a million people now fully able to let themselves dream of the Oilers adding another white championship banner to the rafters -- and do so in the most improbable way possible.
"We're just excited to keep our season going," McDavid said. "That's what it's been about. One game at a time, one day at a time. Looking forward to the next one."
Stone Garrett homered in his first major league plate appearance in more than a year in a three-hit three-RBI effort and the Washington Nationals ended a four-game losing streak with a 9-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night
Alex Pereira who will fight for the third time in under six months at UFC 307 on Oct 5 revealed he fought through a knee injury last year but is now fully healthy and wants to fight all the time
Riley Greene hit an RBI double and the a href https apnews com hub detroit-tigers Detroit Tigers a scored two runs on wild pitches in a 4-1 win over the record-breaking Chicago White Sox on Friday night clinching a spot in the a
Max Fried pitched three-hit ball over 8 2 3 innings to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 3-0 victory over Kansas City on Friday night but the Royals still got a chance to pop the corks on their first postseason berth since 2015
["Friday Flakes: Reported that Nebraska\u2019s Micah Mazzccua is on a Flight to \nSan Francisco Today - So Won\u2019t Play at Purdue? H\/T to @HuskersX for catching this. Tim Verghese, writer for Nebraska \nRivals, said that his co-worker Steve Marik was at the Omaha airport","Nebraska football rumors have offensive line getting more bad news? The Nebraska football game has an important contest against Purdue on \nSaturday but the offensive line took another hit.","Nebraska travel roster: Micah Mazzccua out, Javin Wright and Tommi Hill \nmake the trip to Purdue? WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. \u2013 As Nebraska arrived at Ross-Ade Stadium for its \nfirst road game of the season on Saturday, it was without a notable","Friday Flakes: Reported that Nebraska\u2019s Micah Mazzccua is on a Flight to \nSan Francisco Today - So Won\u2019t Play at Purdue? H\/T to @HuskersX for catching this.Tim Verghese, writer for Nebraska \nRivals, said that his co-worker Steve Merritt was at the Omaha airport","Arsenal 4-2 Leicester: Stoppage-time goals earn Gunners late victory? Arsenal scored twice in stoppage time to earn a dramatic victory over \nLeicester. A Wilfred Ndidi own goal in the 94th minute and a","Arsenal conjure stoppage-time double to thwart Leicester comeback? For Arsenal, it had to be from a corner and, after the week that had gone, \nit had to be Leandro Trossard who made the difference.","Arsenal 4-2 Leicester \u2013 player ratings? Arsenal got themselves into a comfortable position after goals from Gabriel \nMartinelli and Leandro Trossard gave us a 2-0 half-time lead","'We didn't deserve to suffer that much' - Arsenal goal scorer Gabriel \nMartinelli reacts to win over Leicester? Arsenal survived a nervy second half to defeat visiting Leicester City 4-2 \non Saturday, with the hosts squandering an early two-goal lead","Report: Arsenal 4-2 Leicester City? Late goals from Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz saw us edge a six-goal \nthriller at Emirates Stadium.","Arsenal score 2 stoppage-time goals to extinguish Leicester's comeback? Arsenal moved level on points with Manchester City thanks to a last-gasp \n4-2 win against Leicester City on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium.","Arsenal ratings: Saka, Trossard star in dramatic win vs. Leicester? Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard were stellar for Arsenal, who bounced back \nafter losing a two-goal lead to win it late against Leicester","Arsenal XI vs Leicester: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury \nlatest for Premier League game today? David Raya fit to start in a huge boost for the Gunners.","How to watch Arsenal vs. Leicester in Canada: Live stream, channel, time, \nlineups for Premier League match? Arsenal vs. Leicester kickoff time: Here's how to watch the Premier League \nmatch on TV and live stream in Canada as well as the latest team","Nwaneri question, Havertz decision, Trossard return - Best Arsenal midfield \nfor Leicester named? Mikel Arteta has some tough decisions to make when it comes to Arsenal's \nmidfield against Leicester City.","Gary Neville critical of Liverpool ace for what he \u2018stupidly\u2019 did in first \n10 minutes v Wolves? Gary Neville was critical of one Liverpool player for a moment of silliness \nin the early stages of this evening's clash against Wolves.","Gary Neville critical of Liverpool ace for what he \u2018stupidly\u2019 did in first \n10 minutes v Wolves? Gary Neville was critical of one Liverpool player for a moment of silliness \nin the early stages of this evening's clash against Wolves.","Bundesliga Bayern Munich 0 Bayer Leverkusen 1 34 minutes played. In progress? Follow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Bayern \nMunich vs Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.","FC Bayern Munich - Bayer 04 Leverkusen live: Bundesliga - Football? FREE KICK JUST OUTSIDE THE BOX FOR BAYERN. Musiala is brought down on the \nedge of the area by Xhaka. Kompany wants a penalty but it's","Battle of Bundesliga titans? WHAT happens when an immovable object encounters an irresistible force? \nIt's a riddle that physicists have wrestled with for as long as","Leverkusen must address deficiencies to keep free-scoring Bayern at bay? The Bundesliga holders have made a solid but leaky start to their campaign \nbefore Saturday's clash with the habitual champions.","Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen: What will be the key factors in \nSaturday's Bundesliga game involving the top two?? Bayern top the table with a 100 per cent record, while Leverkusen sit \nsecond after winning three of their opening four games.","Bundesliga preview: Wirtz, Musiala headline Bayern-Leverkusen showdown? Pulling the strings in Saturday's early Bundesliga title showdown between \nBayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen will be 21-year-old Germany","Leverkusen will be the true test of Kompany's Bayern revival? Vincent Kompany has Bayern Munich playing football worth celebrating, but \nBayer Leverkusen threaten to put a damper on Oktoberfest's","'No ego' before Alonso clash, says Bayern boss Kompany? Speaking ahead of Saturday's top-of-the-table game, Kompany said taking on \nAlonso -- who Bayern attempted to hire before settling on the","Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen aim to spoil Bayern Munich\u2019s Oktoberfest party \nmood? FC Bayern Munich's player Harry Kane, front, and his wife Katie Goodall, \nleft, arrive for a team's visit at the Oktoberfest beer festival in","Bayern Munich's Thomas M\u00fcller analyzes looming clash of titans against \nBayer Leverkusen? Bayern Munich prepare to face reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen in what \nis set to be the match of the week. As the clash between the two","Tim Walz To Meet Young Voters At University Of Michigan Football Game? BELLEVILLE, Mich. (AP) \u2014 Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is \nset to make his final major campaign appearance before the","Walz attends the University of Michigan football game before final prep for \nTuesday\u2019s debate? ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) \u2014 Tim Walz's dual role as Minnesota's governor and \nVice President Kamala Harris' running mate was on full display","Walz Is to Attend the University of Michigan Football Game Before Final \nPrep for Tuesday's Debate? Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is traveling to Ann Arbor, \nMichigan, to attend a football game between the University of","Walz is to attend the University of Michigan football game before final \nprep for Tuesday's debate? Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is set to make his final \nmajor campaign appearance before the coming week's debate at a football \ngame","Tim Walz sparks outrage? Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz sparks outrage after he \ndecides to attend Saturday's Michigan vs. Minnesota game.","Walz attends the University of Michigan football game before final prep for \nTuesday's debate? Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz has traveled to Ann Arbor, \nMichigan, to attend a football game between the University of","Walz attends the University of Michigan football game before final prep for \nTuesday's debate? Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz has traveled to Ann Arbor, \nMichigan, to attend a football game between the University of","Walz is to attend the University of Michigan football game before final \nprep for Tuesday's debate? Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is set to make his final \nmajor campaign appearance before the coming week's debate at a","Walz is to attend the University of Michigan football game before final \nprep for Tuesday's debate? BELLEVILLE, Mich. (AP) \u2014 Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is \nset to make his final ma.","Walz to attend Michigan football game before final prep for debate? BELLEVILLE, Mich. \u2014 Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is set \nto make his final major campaign appearance before the coming","Chelsea 4-2 Brighton: Cole Palmer scores four first-half goals in stunning \nPremier League win? 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The midfielder has barely featured for the club so far this term, despite \nhaving been fit in preseason. Advertisement. Advertisement.","For BYU\u2019s Crew Wakley, the future is now? Crew Wakley's reason to attend BYU is the same as the other 36,000 students \non campus \u2014 to get a job after graduation. Saturdays in the fall","Thiago Motta explains Juventus line-up decisions against Genoa? Thiago Motta insists Jonas Jakob Rouhi 'deserves' to start but admits that \nJuventus must improve against teams that defend deep.","Preview: Genoa vs. Juventus - prediction, team news, lineups? Sports Mole previews Saturday's Serie A clash between Genoa and Juventus, \nincluding predictions, team news and possible lineups.","Training Center | Final preparations for Genoa? The Men's First Team will be back in Serie A action this coming weekend, \ntravelling to take on Genoa on the road on Saturday.","Juventus vs. Genoa CFC Prediction, Picks, Live Odds - September 28? Juventus (fifth) is currently well above Genoa CFC (16th) in Serie A, but \nit plays at Genoa on Saturday at 12:00 PM ET.","\"\"[En Vivo] G\u00e9nova-Juventus en directo? Juventus will look to return to winning ways as they travel to Genoa for \ntheir next Serie A match on Saturday. The Old Lady drew 0-0 with","Juventus boss Motta relishing return to old club Genoa? Juventus head coach Thiago Motta said he was eagerly looking forward to \nSaturday's Serie A clash away at former club Genoa, as his side aim","Game Time Thread: Juventus vs. Genoa? When: Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Where: Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Italy. \nOfficial kickoff time: 6 p.m. in Italy and the Central European","No love lost for Motta ahead of Genoa return? After playing and managing Genoa, Thiago Motta returns to the Stadio Luigi \nFerraris on Saturday as Juventus head coach.","Thiago Motta on offensive production, Vlahovic and \u2018surprising\u2019 Juventus \nplayer? Thiago Motta insists he's not worried about Juventus' offensive production \nand Dusan Vlahovic and admits Carlo Pinsoglio surprised him: 'From the \noutside,","Juventus coach Motta names line-up for Genoa trip (full presser Q&A)? Genoa are bristling after their derby defeat to Sampdoria in the Coppa \nItalia. Motta, at today's pre-match media conference, concedes Juve"]
Friday Flakes: Reported that Nebraska’s Micah Mazzccua is on a Flight to
San Francisco Today - So Won’t Play at Purdue? H/T to @HuskersX for catching this.Tim Verghese, writer for Nebraska
Rivals, said that his co-worker Steve Merritt was at the Omaha airport
'We didn't deserve to suffer that much' - Arsenal goal scorer Gabriel
Martinelli reacts to win over Leicester? Arsenal survived a nervy second half to defeat visiting Leicester City 4-2
on Saturday, with the hosts squandering an early two-goal leadArsenal XI vs Leicester: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury
latest for Premier League game today? David Raya fit to start in a huge boost for the Gunners.
Gary Neville critical of Liverpool ace for what he ‘stupidly’ did in first
10 minutes v Wolves? Gary Neville was critical of one Liverpool player for a moment of silliness
in the early stages of this evening's clash against Wolves.
Leverkusen must address deficiencies to keep free-scoring Bayern at bay? The Bundesliga holders have made a solid but leaky start to their campaign
before Saturday's clash with the habitual champions.'No ego' before Alonso clash, says Bayern boss Kompany? Speaking ahead of Saturday's top-of-the-table game, Kompany said taking on
Alonso -- who Bayern attempted to hire before settling on the
Walz attends the University of Michigan football game before final prep for
Tuesday’s debate? ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Tim Walz's dual role as Minnesota's governor and
Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate was on full display
Walz attends the University of Michigan football game before final prep for
Tuesday's debate? Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz has traveled to Ann Arbor,
Michigan, to attend a football game between the University ofWalz to attend Michigan football game before final prep for debate? BELLEVILLE, Mich. — Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is set
to make his final major campaign appearance before the coming
How to watch Chelsea vs. Brighton in Canada: Live stream, channel, time,
lineups for Premier League match? Former champions Chelsea host Brighton in a Premier League fixture on
Saturday at the Stamford Bridge. Enzo Maresca's team come into the
Noni Madueke and Moises Caicedo drop Chelsea team news hint as Enzo Maresca
confirms injury blow? Chelsea will be looking to extend their winning streak when they welcome
Brighton to Stamford Bridge.Thiago Motta explains Juventus line-up decisions against Genoa? Thiago Motta insists Jonas Jakob Rouhi 'deserves' to start but admits that
Juventus must improve against teams that defend deep.
""[En Vivo] Génova-Juventus en directo? Juventus will look to return to winning ways as they travel to Genoa for
their next Serie A match on Saturday. The Old Lady drew 0-0 with
Thiago Motta on offensive production, Vlahovic and ‘surprising’ Juventus
player? Thiago Motta insists he's not worried about Juventus' offensive production
and Dusan Vlahovic and admits Carlo Pinsoglio surprised him: 'From the
outside,