The Edmonton Oilers have found themselves in tough in this 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Final series thus far. However, as the series moves along, they have been able to find their momentum. With the conclusion of Game 5 tonight, the Oilers have managed to win a game that really went down to the wire versus the Florida Panthers. With the Oilers leading by two entering the third period of play, you knew the Panthers weren’t going to roll over.
The Oilers and Panther Game 5 Was a War Right From the Opening Minute
The scoring chance went back and forth to start Game 5 tonight, and teams got multiple shots early on. However, as we know both teams have formidable goaltenders.
Going back since the beginning of the third period in Game 3, the Oilers have outscored the Panthers 15-4. They seem to have flip the switch, led by who else, Connor McDavid. Only his seventh goal of the post-season, made it a convincing 3-0 lead at the time in Game 5 tonight. However, Matthew Tkachuk answered quickly to make it 3-1. It was a beautiful marker, walking right in and burying it in the corner above Stuart Skinner‘s glove.
The Panthers Do Own the Matchup Game
This series really has come down to matchups. Typically, and as we seen through the first three games of the series, the Florida Panthers are accustomed to winning the matchup game. Having the depth of Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Vladimir Tarasenko, or Kyle Okposo upfront is a nightmare matchup for coaches to contend with against the Panthers. But since the third period of Game 3, the Oilers have turned up the heat, and found a way to overwhelm the Panthers depth with speed and high-end skill.
In particular has been the depth. It was a blow to the system of the Edmonton Oilers to be without Evander Kane. Kane is a coaches dream depth matchup. He has the offensive jump to take a puck from his own zone, and possess it until he gets it in deep. Furthermore, when he gets it in deep, he creates a difficult matchup for opposing defenders with his speed, power, and puck control. He did have 24 goals and 20 assists in 77 games in the regular season, but the injury effects of the sports hernia injury he has, has finally slowed him down. Head Coach Kris Knoblauch was being consistently tight-lipped on players’ status in the pre-game interview. Kane would eventually be ruled out for Game 5 tonight. However, what Knoblauch did touch on, was the Oilers depth pieces stepping up. And step up did they ever in Game 5 tonight.
The Edmonton Oilers Win Game 5 by a Score of 5-3 vs the Panthers
Knoblauch recognizes the need for guys like Connor Brown, Mattias Janmark, and Adam Henrique to step up. And in Game 5, did they ever. Connor Brown intercepted a d-to-d pass on a first period penalty kill to open the scoring. And then, fast forward to the dying minutes, and Mattias Janmark had a chance to put the Panthers away. With an empty net, Janmark frantically swatted at the put, only to see it go off the post with 73 seconds left in the game.
Finally, for the final minute of play, Henrique joined McDavid and Zach Hyman on the ice for the Oilers. In what looked like an incredible diving save by Matthew Tkachuk taking the puck off the line, it would eventually come to Connor McDavid. McDavid would notch his 42nd point of the post-season, putting him alone at fourth for most points all-time in a single post-season. The series is 3-2 Panthers, heading back to Edmonton, Alberta for Game 6 on Friday, June 21st.
Main phot credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
