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Oilers, Panthers will meet in extraordinary Game 7 for Stanley Cup

The Canadian Press photo by Jeff McIntosh via AP / The Florida Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk (19) checks Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid during the third period of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Friday night. The host Oilers won 5-1 to force a decisive Game 7 in the NHL's title series.
The Canadian Press photo by Jeff McIntosh via AP / The Florida Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk (19) checks Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid during the third period of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Friday night. The host Oilers won 5-1 to force a decisive Game 7 in the NHL's title series. The Canadian Press photo by Jeff McIntosh via AP / The Florida Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk (19) checks Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid during the third period of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Friday night. The host Oilers won 5-1 to force a decisive Game 7 in the NHL's title series.

By STEPHEN WHYNO / The Associated Press 5 min read

SUNRISE, Fla. — Connor McDavid admired and looked up to Sidney Crosby as the kind of hockey player he wanted to become one day.

However, when McDavid was pretending as a kid to score the goal to win the Stanley Cup, he always imagined himself — not one of his NHL idols — being in that position.

“You’re not sure you’re ever going to get that opportunity,” McDavid said. “Here we are with that opportunity.”

That opportunity is possible only after McDavid led the Edmonton Oilers back from a 3-0 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final to set up a decisive Game 7 against the host Florida Panthers on Monday night with hockey’s hallowed trophy at stake.

McDavid and his teammates are on the verge of completing one of the biggest comebacks in sports history, all the while attempting to block out the ramifications of the final game of the season to focus on accomplishing something not done in the NHL since 1942.