Reinhart scores game-winner, three former Sabres with points in Cup win
The Florida Panthers avoided becoming the New York Yankees of hockey and blowing a 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final, winning Game 7 2-1 over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night, and three former members of the Buffalo Sabres had a big part in for the first championship in Panthers franchise history.
After being held scoreless and going -6 in the three Edmonton victories that evened the best-of-seven series, 57-goal scorer and pending unrestricted free agent Sam Reinhart scored the Cup-winning goal late in the second period of a hard-fought contest.
Evan Rodrigues was the most consistent of the Panthers forwards in the series, scoring three goals in the wins in Games 1 and 2, and setting up Carter Verhaeghe for the opening goal at 4:27 of the first period. Dmitry Kulikov made arguably the most critical play of the game, steering the puck wide of the goal on an Edmonton scoring chance just prior to Reinhart’s tally.
Brandon Montour appeared more energetic and mobile in Game 7 than in the three losses and was +1 in nearly 21 minutes of ice time. Kyle Okposo served not only as an inspiration to the Panthers in the game but also emptied the tank in possibly the final game of his NHL career, showing a great deal of hustle and effort on the fourth-line unit with Ryan Lomberg and Kevin Stenlund.
Evander Kane did not play for Edmonton, who shortened their bench essentially to two lines in the third and put out Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman on every offensive zone draw.
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