Tampa, Fla. ? In Game 7 of a Stanley Cup finals, anything can happen. A winner emerges from the opportunistic bounce of a puck, a loser spends years replaying mistakes that occur in a millisecond yet alter the outcome of a nine-month season.

“It’s hockey at its best,” the Flames’ Steve Montador said. “I think it’s awesome. I think it’s great.”

At least that’s the story line portrayed before all final-round Game 7s, including Calgary at Tampa Bay tonight. Usually, though, it’s only a myth.

If history holds up, the Lightning not only forced tonight’s win-or-else game with their 3-2 double-overtime victory Saturday in Calgary, they effectively won the Stanley Cup.

Of the 10 Stanley Cup finals Game 7s since 1950, nine were won by the home team. The 1971 Montreal Canadiens were the exception, winning Game 7 in Chicago to complete a comeback from a 3-2 series deficit.

Of course, home ice has meant almost nothing in this series, with both the Flames and Lightning going 1-2 in their arenas. Calgary won Game 5 in overtime Thursday in Tampa before the Lightning broke the hearts of thousands of Stanley Cup celebrants-in-waiting Saturday in Calgary by winning Game 6.

“I hate it when you open a series at home but Game 7, that’s when it gets to be your advantage,” Lightning coach John Tortorella said Sunday. “It’s a proper way to end this series, to play a Game 7.”

The Flames’ challenge is to shake off what possibly was the loss of a lifetime — the blown opportunity to win the Cup at home Saturday.

They also need better games from their best players, nearly all of whom were outplayed by the Lightning’s stars in Game 6. Brad Richards scored two goals, giving him 12 in 22 playoff games, and Martin St. Louis got the game-winner 33 seconds into the second overtime.

It won’t help Calgary if Robyn Regehr, one of the league’s best young defensemen, can’t play because of a foot or ankle injury that occurred Saturday. The team did not disclose his status.

“It’s not easy and it’s not supposed to be easy,” Flames captain Jarome Iginla said. “This is tough stuff. It’s emotional and it’s exciting. A lot of us have played Game 7s in our minds growing up and now we get a chance to play it for real.”