The two clubs are headed back to Edmonton after an epic 5-3 contest. Here's what we learned, and what to watch for in Game 6.
'You don't touch the Stanley Cup until you've earned it': How the Keeper of the Cup helped shape hockey loreThe game started mildly enough, with a 1-0 Oilers lead after one frame. Things got wild in the second period, with five goals combined from the two teams. While the Panthers got within one in the third, they couldn't get the equalizer, andIt was a four-point night for McDavid, who continues his climb up the single-playoff points leaderboard.
Florida did find its legs eventually and looked dangerous for most of the third period, but while the Panthers' depth skaters showed up, not enough of Florida's stars --? -- did the same. Edmonton's elite skaters performed as exactly that Tuesday. The Panthers' best better be prepared to do the same in Game 6.Scoring eight goals in Game 4 allowed the Oilers to extend the series. But that was no guarantee they could find cohesion in Game 5; as it turns out, they did.
Meanwhile, Florida never capitalized on its own chances, going 0-for-3 on the power play. Tightly contested series are rarely won at even strength; Florida must hold Edmonton at bay on special teams too if it expects to come away with a Cup. That's dwindled over the past two games, and Bobrovsky has looked more exposed as a result. Perhaps it's the jitters associated with trying to close a team out and win a Cup, but Florida's once-impenetrable appearance collapsing on the Oilers in the offensive zone wasn't nearly as apparent in the first half of Game 5, and it cost the Panthers a win.
It's reached a point that having a young, puck-moving top-four option has almost become a necessity to win or at least be in a position to win in today's NHL.'s 26 points in 27 playoff games in 2020 helped the Stars reach the Cup Final while bolstering Heiskanen's reputation. The same went forBouchard's 32 points through 23 games now have him five points shy of tying Oilers assistant coach Paul Coffey's record of most points by a defensemen in a single postseason.
Choosing McDavid as the player to watch ahead of Game 6 is essentially the hockey equivalent of why florals in spring are groundbreaking. But at the same time, how could he not be the choice?
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Panthers-Oilers Game 4 takeaways, early look at Game 5The two clubs are headed back to Florida after Edmonton's dominant play. Here's what we learned, and what to watch in Game 5.
Read more »
Panthers-Oilers Game 3 takeaways, early look at Game 4Florida escaped with a 4-3 win, thanks to more heroics from Sergei Bobrovsky. Here's what else we learned, and what to watch for on Saturday.
Read more »
Panthers-Oilers Game 2 takeaways, early look at Game 3The series heads to Alberta with the Panthers leading 2-0. Here's what we learned in Florida's latest victory, and what to watch Thursday night.
Read more »
Panthers-Oilers Game 1 takeaways, early look at Game 2The Panthers are up 1-0 thanks to an incredible performance by their goalie. Here are the key players and trends to monitor for Game 2.
Read more »
Oilers vs Panthers Same-Game Parlay Picks for Tuesday's Game 5NHL same-game parlay picks for Tuesday's Stanley Cup Final action. NHL odds, predictions, and SGPs for the Oilers vs Panthers on 6-18-2024.
Read more »
Panthers vs Oilers Same-Game Parlay Picks for Saturday's Game 4NHL same-game parlay picks for Saturday's Stanley Cup Final action. NHL odds, predictions, and SGPs for the Florida Panthers vs Edmonton Oilers on 6-15-2024.
Read more »