The Edmonton Oilers head to the Sunshine State to take on the Florida Panthers in a winner-takes-all Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night.

The Panthers, who got out to a 3-0 series lead and were on the cusp of capturing their first Cup in franchise history, suddenly find themselves on the brink of defeat for the second season in a row.

However, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice isn't letting their three-game skid cloud his optimism heading into Game 7.

"I think sevens (Game 7) are just a completely unique animal," the 57-year-old Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., native said Monday ahead of the game.

"I don't think it relates in terms of pressure to anything because there is no tomorrow. It's a completely different feel, I think we've been immersed in the weight of it for a week. We've been through it two or three games so there's not a new experience for us in this, other than it's also a Game 7."

"I think both teams come out flat out as fast as they possibly can," Maurice added, hinting at what could be in store come puck drop at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Panthers forward Sam Bennett echoed his bench boss ahead of the game.

"You just treat it as one game," Bennett said. "Nothing in the past matters now. All that matters is tonight and we have an opportunity to do something special."

Bennett, a 28-year-old native of East Gwillimbury, Ont., has 18 points in 14 playoff games this season.

In the other locker room, Oilers have the weight of a nation on their shoulders. And they couldn't be more excited about it.

"It would mean a lot to all Canadians, regardless if you're an Edmonton Oiler fan or not," said Oilers forward Zach Hyman about possibly snapping Canada's Cup drought.

"Especially the way this series has gone, we've roped a lot of people into believing in us and making it a good story - and everyone likes a good story."

"I hope we have all of Canada's support. And I know we do."

In his third season with the Oilers, Hyman, a Toronto native, has 16 goals and 22 points in 24 playoff games this season.

For Oilers blueliner Mattias Ekholm, he's approaching the game with an even-keeled approach.

"At the end of the day, the sun's going to come up tomorrow," Ekholm said Monday. "It's a big game, I get it. We all want to win it, no question about it, but there's going to be a team losing tonight regardless of how the game goes."

"I think in my mind, you play better when you're relaxed and when you're just not too tense. Again, just trying to approach it in a relaxed way."

The Swedish-born 34-year-old is averaging the second-most ice time on the Oilers with 21:47 minutes per game during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The former long-time Nashville Predator (2011-12 through the 2022-23 season) has five goals and 10 points in 22 playoff games.

The last time a Canadian team hoisted the Stanley Cup was in 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Los Angeles Kings in five games.

The last team to overcome a 3-0 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Finals was the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, reverse-sweeping the Detroit Red Wings.

Trying to find the best venue across Canada to catch the action game? Look no further:

Vancouver

BC Kitchen

Good Co Granville

Shark Club

The Score On Davie

Calgary

Canadian Brewhouse

Schanks Athletic Club

Kilt & Caber Ale House

Cowboy's Taphouse

Shark Club

Winkin' Owl Pub & Kitchen

Toronto

Real Sports Bar & Grill

Rec Room Roundhouse

Jack Astors Bar & Grill

Loose Moose Tap & Grill

The Fox

Kelly's Landing

Montreal

La Cage - Brass Sports Centre-Bell

Bar La Maisonnee

Taverne Regal Inc

Ye Olde Orchard Pub & Grill