Oilers Look To Make History, Force Game 7 In Florida
Only four teams have ever forced a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final after trailing 0-3
Matthew Horner - Jun 20, 2024, 4:43pm EDT
The Series So Far
When the Oilers fell behind 0-3 in their Stanley Cup Final series against the Panthers, many wrote them off immediately, expecting a sweep or a "gentleman's sweep" if you will where Edmonton might manage to win one game. Instead, we now have a series again, with the Oilers winning two straight after losing the first three.
They dug themselves a hole early in this series due to their inability to solve Florida's goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who stifled them and made their offense look like child play. However, with their backs against the wall in Game 4, Edmonton's offense came to life. They scored eight goals and forced Bobrovsky from the game in a massive win to force a Game 5 in Florida. Most thought that the Panthers would end it there and win the Stanley Cup on their own ice, but the Oilers had other ideas. They won 5-3, and now, we are headed back to Canada.
Edge Of History
Edmonton has a chance to make history if they do manage to force a Game 7 in this series, which would be incredible. Only nine teams have ever managed to come back from an 0-3 deficit in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to tie the series, and only four of them have been able to overcome it. The last team to come back and win a series after being down 0-3 was the 2014 Los Angeles Kings, who defeated the San Jose Sharks in Game 7. The Kings won three Game 7s in that playoff year, and hold the record for most elimination games won in a single playoff year for a Stanley Cup Champion.
Only one team has ever managed to win the Stanley Cup after being down 0-3 in the Final, and that was the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs against the Detroit Red Wings.
Odds & Best Bets For Game 6
The Oilers are favored to win Game 6 at home in Edmonton and force a Game 7 with the Panthers in Florida. Right now, they are -118 favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total being 5.5. Interestingly, when the game has gone over the total, Edmonton has won. When the game has gone under the total, Florida has won.
As per usual, the goaltending will decide who wins this series. If Bobrovsky can get back to the form that he displayed in the first three games, Florida should close them out here. However, if Skinner manages to keep outshining him, we could see history in the making.
Our model likes the Oilers to force a Game 7, making it just a two-star bet though. I personally think that Florida is going to put an end to this run in Game 6 and win the Cup in Canada.