Florida Panthers make crucial lineup change ahead of do-or-die game 7

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Julien Trekker
June 24, 2024 (12:24)

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The Florida Panthers made a crucial lineup change ahead of tonight's do-or-die Game 7 against the Edmonton Oilers.

This is it, folks. Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals; it doesn't get better than this.

Hype is through the roof for this last game of the 2023-24 playoffs, and fans from all over the world can't wait to see who'll get to raise the Stanley Cup tonight.

The Panthers decided to make a crucial lineup change as they hope to win in front of their fans and avoid becoming the second team in NHL history to blow a 3-0 lead in the Finals.

It was confirmed this morning by the Panthers' head coach, Paul Maurice, that the veteran Kyle Okposo will be taking Nick Cousins' spot in the lineup:

"Okposo in for Cousins, per Maurice.

No other lineup changes."

Okposo, 36, had never reached the Stanley Cup Finals before this year. In a press conference ahead of the game, he shared a heartfelt moment he had with his son about this opportunity to play in a Game 7:

"Kyle Okposo, drawing into Game 7: 'I grabbed my son today, who's eight, and said, 'You know what I was doing when I was your age? I was in the driveway with my Rollerblades on pretending I was in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. How special is it that you're going to the game?'"

Stay tuned as we'll bring the latest developments about tonight's Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.