History favors the Panthers. The home team won 12 of the 17 final matches. The last three finals decided in seven games, however, were won by the visiting team: the Blues in 2019, the Bruins in 2011 and the Penguins in 2009.

A seventh game is stressful. A seventh game in overtime is even more so. Two of those 17 games required extra minutes: 1950 and 1954, both won by Detroit. The scorers, since you insist, were Pete Babando and Tony Leswick.

It was in 1939 that the four of seven format was adopted. Previously, seven other series had been decided at the limit, but in five matches.

Four goaltenders have had shutouts in such circumstances: Tim Thomas in 2011, Martin Brodeur in 2003, Gump Worsley in 1965 and Johnny Bower in 1964.

Ron Hextall holds the record for the number of saves. In 1987, the agitator blocked 40 Oilers shots, but lost 3-1. According to Hockey Reference, Hextall is also, of course, the only goalie to receive a penalty in a seventh game in the final.

The record for the number of seventh matches played in the final is four. It is shared by, precisely, four players: Red Kelly, Ted Lindsay, Marcel Pronovost and Jean Béliveau. To quote colleague Simon-Olivier Lorange, that’s good to say.

Focusing our attention on the players who did not play in the six club era, Brian Rafalski is the leader with three appearances in seventh games in the final. The defenseman participated in those of 2001 and 2003 with the Devils, and 2009 with the Red Wings. He triumphed in 2003 and lost the other two times.

Of those who will participate in the final match on Monday, Vladimir Tarasenko is the only player from both teams to have already played a final match in the final. In 2019, he got an assist to help the Blues triumph.

No hat trick has been recorded so far in a seventh game in the final. However, eleven players have scored a double, including Quebecers Patrice Bergeron in 2011, Maxime Talbot in 2009, Alex Tanguay in 2001 and Henri Richard in 1971. Trevor Linden is the only one to have scored two goals in a losing cause, in 1994.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch only has 94 games of experience behind the bench in the NHL. Only three coaches have led a team to a Game 7 Finals appearance with less experience: Dan Bylsma (2009), Al MacNeil (1971) and Jimmy Skinner (1955). All three won. Beginner’s luck?