UPDATE: After the Florida Panthers won the first three games of the series, the Edmonton Oilers stormed back to win the next three and force a Game 7. If the Oilers can pull it off, this would be the biggest comeback not only in the history of the NHL, but any 7-game Championship Round in hockey, baseball, or the NBA. Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final is Monday, June 24 at 8:00pm ET on ABC. For more on how we got here, read our game-by-game recap below.
32 NHL teams have battled and, following an exciting Playoffs, only two remain: The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers. Will the Panthers finally be able to take home the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history or will three-time Hart Trophy winner Conner McDavid finally get the happy ending that has escaped him his past nine seasons with the Oilers? This year’s Stanley Cup Final will hold the record for the greatest distance between two cities facing each other. Both teams have proven themselves at home and on the road and look to be evenly matched with the depth, speed, and goaltending to make this an exciting Final.
Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup and how to watch the Stanley Cup Final with DISH.
How to Watch the 2024 Stanley Cup Final
The Stanley Cup Final will air exclusively on ABC in the U.S. If you’re not at home when the games are on, you can access your internet-connected Hopper device to watch on the go with DISH Anywhere.
Game 7 of the Final is on Monday, June 24 at 8pm ET on ABC. Here’s a look at each game:
Game 1: Oilers 0, Panthers 3 – Led by Sergei Bobrovsky’s 32 saves, the Panthers shut out the Oilers in their series-opening win.
Game 2: Oilers 1, Panthers 4 – Evan Rodrigues scored two goals and Anton Lundell added two assists as the Panthers take care of home ice once again.
Game 3: Panthers 4, Oilers 3 – Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart each have a goal and assist as the Panthers close to within one game of their first championship.
Game 4: Panthers 1, Oilers 8 – Behind Connor McDavid’s goal and 3 assists, Edmonton bounces back in a big way to get their first win of the series.
Game 5: Oilers 5, Panthers 3 – An instant classic, the Oilers got out to a 3-0 lead before the Panthers rally came up just a little short. McDavid adds another four points on two goals and two assists.
Game 6: Panthers 1, Oilers 5 – Urged on by their raucous home crowd, the Oilers complete their comeback to force a decisive, winner-takes-all Game 7.
Edmonton Oilers Preview
Leading the Oilers to their first Final since 2006 is Captain Connor McDavid. This will be his first Final appearance in his nine seasons in the NHL, despite winning the Hart trophy three times in his career. McDavid currently has an impressive 31 points in his 18 games this postseason. In goal, Stuart Skinner will be put to the test against a strong Panthers offense and power play. Bolstered by high-powered forwards Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman, and solid defensive capabilities with a strong penalty kill, the Oilers are looking strong all-around as they attempt to become the first Canadian team to hoist the Cup in over 30 years.
Keys to Victory:
While the Oilers have some of the biggest offensive stars in McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, secondary players like Nugent-Hopkins and Evander Kane will be crucial. Defense and special teams could be the deciding factors, so the Oilers need to capitalize on power play opportunities and minimize careless penalties that give easy chances to Florida’s offense.
Florida Panthers Preview
Although the Panthers were the underdogs of last year’s finals while facing some key injuries, they have proven that their star power, scoring depth, and top-tier goaltender can seal the deal. Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk are both equipped to score big goals and agitate opponents. The Final this year will be a test to see if Florida can continue to establish their forecheck and maintain a high level of physicality to slow down the speedy Edmonton offense. The Panthers were able to win the special teams battle against a New York Rangers team that had been dominant on the power play and penalty kill in the first two rounds.
Keys to Victory:
Defensive matchups and tight coverage will be a necessity to limit the Oilers top-tiered offensive playmakers. If the Panthers defense can limit McDavid and Draisaitl the way they have other top offensive players, they could be unstoppable. Goaltending could also be a deciding factor; Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky will need to outplay the Oilers’ Stuart Skinner, who will make it a tough series if it comes down to a close-out Game 7.
– Mari Dietz
