Panthers Undeterred Despite Momentum Shift
The Florida Panthers remain confident as they face the resurgent Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final. Despite their commanding 3-0 series lead narrowing to 3-2 following Edmonton's 5-3 victory in Game 5, the Panthers are optimistic going into Game 6.
Edmonton's comeback marks them as just the fourth team in NHL history to force a Game 6 after trailing 3-0 in the Stanley Cup Final. Yet, Florida's forward Sam Bennett remains convinced that the series is not slipping away.
Florida coach Paul Maurice attributed the Game 5 loss to avoidable mistakes, specifically highlighting the four minor penalties taken in the first two periods, which resulted in two Edmonton power-play goals. Maurice emphasized the need to fix the issue of allowing short-handed goals to the Oilers.
Matthew Tkachuk Shines Despite Loss
Matthew Tkachuk was a standout performer for the Panthers in Game 5. Tkachuk scored a goal to cut Edmonton's lead to 3-1 and assisted defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson's third-period goal, bringing the score to 4-3. He also led the team with six hits. However, Tkachuk's night was slightly marred by a two-minute minor for embellishment on a Dylan Holloway hooking penalty in the third period.
Looking Forward to Game 6
As the Panthers prepare for Game 6 in Edmonton, history still favors Florida. The Oilers are only the fourth team in NHL history to trail the Stanley Cup Final 3-0 and rally to force a Game 6. Of the previous three teams, only the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs managed to win the Cup after overcoming such a deficit.
Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner acknowledged the Panthers' resilience, emphasizing that Edmonton needs to elevate their game further.
The Path Ahead
Despite the mounting pressure, the Panthers remain composed. Bennett stated that the team just needs to win one game. Coach Maurice noted that their situation hasn't changed over the last two games.
"Absolutely nothing has changed in our situation over the last two games. I'm not pumping tires. I'm not rubbing backs. I don't think we need that at all. Everybody feels probably exactly the way I do right now. I'm not feeling deflated, neither is the hockey team. They're not feeling deflated. A little grumpy," Maurice remarked.
Tkachuk echoed this sentiment, stating, "We've got another crack at it on Friday. We did a really good job at the beginning of the series of building that lead, so really nothing changes from tonight's mindset." He also emphasized the importance of starting better in Game 6.
Hockey fans are eagerly anticipating an intense and thrilling showdown. Tkachuk’s words resonated with the team’s overall mindset: "No, no, no. It's not an elimination game for us. We're going up there with a 3-2 series lead. Just got to take care of business like we did in Game 3."
He added, "We're up 3-2 going back to Edmonton. Couple days to get ready to go for that and get back healthy and rested and ready to go." This optimistic and focused approach is what the Panthers are banking on to close out the series and lift the Stanley Cup.
"I mean, you saw tonight how the Panthers came back. They played extremely hard, and that's the kind of team that they have," Skinner acknowledged, highlighting the competitive spirit of the Panthers.
As they set their sights on Game 6, the Panthers are determined not to let the series slip away. As Bennett aptly put it, "We've just got to win one game. It's as simple as that. We're not thinking about that. We're just thinking about winning one game."