Veteran forward Kyle Okposo will be back on the ice for the Florida Panthers in the crucial Game 7 against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night. The 36-year-old winger steps in for Nick Cousins, who played in Game 6. With the Panthers squandering a 3-0 lead in the best-of-7 series, the Oilers have stormed back to force this decisive showdown. <q> Panthers lineup change for Game 7: Kyle Okposo will be in for Nick Cousins tonight. </q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/drosennhl/status/1805258345147666847'> </a></blockquote></div> Okposo has yet to score in this series and has a minus-2 rating, averaging 8:25 of ice time in the first five games. However, he's been a physical presence with 19 hits, third on the team, and five blocked shots. Cousins, who replaced him in Game 6, also didn't score but had two blocked shots in 9:48 of ice time. Okposo is slated to play right wing on the fourth line alongside center Kevin Stenlund and left wing Ryan Lomberg. Reflecting on the opportunity, Okposo, who was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline, shared a personal moment with his son: <q> I grabbed my son today, who is 8, and said, 'You know what I was doing when I was your age? I was in the driveway with my roller blades on pretending I was in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.' How special that you're going to be able to go to the game? </q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/br_openice/status/1805267942021492962'> </a></blockquote></div> Pursuing his first Stanley Cup, Okposo has played 1,051 career games. If the Panthers win, he'll receive a $500,000 performance bonus, part of the one-year, $2.5 million contract he signed as captain with Buffalo before he was traded. The bonus will impact Florida's salary cap next season if they secure the trophy. However, it's a trade they're willing to make in exchange for a first-ever drink out of the Cup. <q> So excited for him man. This is very likely the last game of Kyle Okposo's career. 17 years into his nhl career. A chance for his Ray Bourque moment </q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/metalpanthers/status/1805276204850897115'> </a></blockquote></div> Acquired for prospect Calle Sjalin and a conditional draft pick, Okposo has two assists in 16 playoff games this postseason. His last playoff appearance was with the New York Islanders in 2016, where he tallied two goals and eight points in 11 contests.