Series Overview
As the Florida Panthers gear up for Game 5 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, the anticipation is palpable. With the initial three games in the bag for the Panthers, the series took a dramatic turn when the Edmonton Oilers secured a commanding 8-1 victory on Saturday. Now, the Oilers are aiming to force a Game 6, a feat last achieved by the 2012 New Jersey Devils, who pushed their series to six games after losing the first three.
The puck drops at 8 p.m. ET at Amerant Bank Arena, and fans on both sides are eagerly awaiting what promises to be an electrifying contest.
Florida's Home-Ice Edge
The Panthers enter Game 5 as a -134 favorite, backed by their impressive home record this postseason, standing at 8-3. Notably, Florida has strung together four consecutive home victories and has displayed staunch defensive prowess, allowing only four goals in their last four home games. In those three contests, they've limited Edmonton to just two goals.
However, the Panthers' goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has had his share of challenges, allowing at least five goals for the third time this postseason in Game 4. Historically, Bobrovsky has shown resilience, allowing only three goals in total during his subsequent rebound performances after such games.
Panthers' Key Players
Florida's offensive firepower has been led by Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart, who have netted 10 and nine goals, respectively, this postseason. Each has also contributed a goal in the Stanley Cup Final. Added to this mix, Evan Rodrigues and Vladimir Tarasenko have combined for five goals in the series.
Rodrigues was particularly effective in the first two games, finding the net three times, while Tarasenko has been on a scoring streak recently, with goals in each of the last two contests and three goals in his past five games. This is a substantial uptick in performance for Tarasenko, who had only two goals in his first 16 postseason games. Additionally, both Tarasenko and Anton Lundell are riding three-game point streaks, with Lundell amassing four assists during this run.
Edmonton's Offensive Surge
Meanwhile, the Oilers have been generating substantial offense, scoring at least two goals in each of their last four games. Their Game 4 victory saw 15 of their 18 skaters record points, showcasing the depth of their roster. Connor McDavid was a standout performer, leading with a goal and three assists. McDavid, who currently leads the NHL with 38 points, has collected six points in his last two games and is approaching the milestone of 40 points in a single postseason.
In an impressive feat, McDavid broke Wayne Gretzky's single-playoff assist record, set in 1988, with 32 assists this postseason. Defenseman Darnell Nurse also found the net in Game 4, contributing to an overall league-leading tally of 17 goals by Edmonton’s defensemen this postseason.
Edmonton also boasts the league’s best penalty-kill rate at 93.6%, having successfully defended 12 of 13 penalties in the series. Mattias Janmark has added to the penalty-killing prowess with two short-handed goals this postseason.
Conclusion
As the series shifts back to Florida, the Panthers are eager to secure the championship on home ice, while the Oilers focus on extending the series. With history hanging in the balance, Game 5 is sure to be a thrilling contest. Fans from both sides will be eagerly watching to see if the Panthers will lift the Stanley Cup or if the Oilers can pull off another upset and push the series to a Game 6.