The puck was pinned along the boards and there was nothing the Edmonton Oilers, down by a goal, could do about it. With only seconds remaining in Game 7, the Florida Panthers allowed their defense to get the job done and it did. They let the clock expire on a 2-1 victory to secure the first Stanley Cup title in franchise history.
In a series that quite literally went back and then forth with the Panthers taking the first three and the Oilers taking the next three, to set up a “Cup or bust” situation for both teams. Ultimately, defensive play was what decided it. Game 7 was low-scoring and the Panthers, who were led by the league’s best defense all season, secured the game with a remarkable showing in their own end.
Considering all the factors, it was remarkable that the Panthers shut down the Oilers in the most important game of the season. They allowed 18 goals in the previous three games and were facing a team with one of the most dominant offenses in the NHL. Yet, when it mattered most, the Panthers delivered.
Panthers Limited Shots The Panthers blocked 17 shots in the deciding game with Brandon Montour , Aaron Ekblad, and Niko Mikkola, three defensemen in need of bounce-back performances, blocking seven of those shots. They didn’t let the Oilers find opportunities near the net and they dared the opposition to work for their shots. Instead of Connor McDavid , Leon Draisaitl, or Zach Hyman beating them, the offense would have to come from Evan Bouchard or Darnell Nu.
