Watch: Panthers, Oilers trade goals early in Game 7 of SCF

Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe (23) tips the puck in to score against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Skinner Stuart (74) during the first period in Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Panthers, Oilers trade goals early in Game 7 of Stanley Cup Final

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Jun 24, 2024 9:18 PM ET

The Panthers and Oilers traded fireworks early in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE GAME 3 THE PANTHERS TAKE THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/D6q8IBag61
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 25, 2024

THE OILERS RESPOND WITH A GOAL OF THEIR OWN

ABC/ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/ma1lAPeLBn
— ESPN (@espn) June 25, 2024

The teams exchanged two goals in the first seven minutes to give the do-or-die game a thrilling start.

Florida scored the game's first goal on a tip-in from Carter Verhaeghe after Evan Rodrigues ripped the puck toward the net.

Edmonton quickly responded, scoring 2:17 later to erase the early one-goal deficit on a Mattias Janmark breakaway.

Based on how the series started, it's a miracle for neutral fans that there even is a Game 7. The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead before a 5-1 Oilers Game 4 win turned the series around.

Win a win on Monday, Florida will earn its first NHL championship in franchise history. Meanwhile, Edmonton is seeking its first league title since 1990.

It's also trying to become just the fifth team in NHL history to win a series it trailed 0-3 and the first since the 1941-42 Maple Leafs to accomplish the feat in the Stanley Cup Final.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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