Last season, the Vegas Golden Knights tripled up the Florida Panthers in game five of the Stanley Cup Final, 9-3, to win their first championship. Behind Mark Stone's hat trick, Vegas finished its story and sent Florida packing. T-Mobile Arena was a house of horrors for Florida, for they collapsed defensively.
This season, the Panthers are on the verge of the worst playoff collapse in Stanley Cup playoffs history. Originally up 3-0, the team suddenly lost its special teams bite and watched Bobrovsky fall off the cliff in the Conn Smythe race. It's a frightening scenario for those in the South Florida area, where they're on the verge of being meme fodder for hockey fans.
That led to Connor McDavid emerging as the leader in the Conn Smythe race. He has 42 points in the Stanley Cup playoffs, putting the Edmonton Oilers within a win of their first title since 1990. McDavid and the Oilers would put the playoff shortcomings argument to rest, while Florida would be subjected to eternal ridicule.
While Monday will provide plenty of fun and intrigue across the sports world (specifically in Canada), it also raises a question about the home team in game seven. Does Florida hold an advantage or will Edmonton finally end the Stanley Cup Final drought plaguing its home nation?
The home team is 12-5 in the deciding game of the Stanley Cup Final
The good news for the Florida Panthers is the home team is 12-5 in the deciding game of the Stanley Cup Final. That bodes well for a team looking to erase doubts about winning the Stanley Cup and defeat the incoming Edmonton Oilers. That also helps any U.S. hockey fans pulling for Canada to lose in the championship round.
The last time there was a game seven in the last round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the St. Louis Blues routed the Boston Bruins, 4-1, in 2019. It was the franchise's first championship, leading to Brett Hull's legendary speech. Oilers fans are hoping for that same magic on Monday so they can hear a drunken speech from one of their own.
As for the Vegas Golden Knights, Monday will be the last day they're the most recent Stanley Cup champions. Parting with the most coveted prize in sports will be saddening. However, it offers the team the chance to come back next season and fight for the title. Who knows? There might be an epic moment in game seven where the Golden Knights win the championship.