Oilers’ Grab Crucial Game 5 Victory Over Panthers To Set Edmonton Showdown
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By Doug Hirdle
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Summary:
- Oilers defeated the Panthers, score 5-3 in Game 5
- Captain Connor McDavid’s two goals and two assists sent the Stanley Cup final back to Edmonton.
- Game 6 will take place between cities at more than 4,000 kilometres away on June 21 in Edmonton.
The Edmonton Oilers have dragged the Florida Panthers back to Alberta, and captain Connor McDavid is the main reason why this is happening.
Crucial Win for the Oilers
Tuesday’s Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final played at Amerant Bank Arena in Florida saw the Oilers’ superstar captain score two goals and mark two assists, leading his team to a massive 5-3 victory which cut the Panthers’ lead in the final to 3-2.
Corey Perry, Connor Brown and Zach Hyman also scored for the team while Stuart Skinner made 30 saves. Evan Bouchard managed three assists.
On the Panthers’ side, Matthew Tkachuk and Evan Rodrigues each scored a goal and had an assist while Oliver Ekman-Larsson replied with a goal.
Sergei Bobrovsky managed to halt 19 shots for the group which comes after consecutive losses with the Stanley Cup in the building and the chance to win the first title for the franchise.
“I’m Not Feeling Deflated.”
Florida’s coach, Paul Maurice, commented on the defeat, saying that while they are not feeling “deflated” and there is no need for “pumping tires” or “rubbing backs”, the hockey team might be feeling “a little grumpy“.
Forward Evan Rodrigues added they were “going to turn the page“, and use the experience as a learning curve.
Game 6 will take place in Edmonton on June 21, in a spectacular championship round with the furthest distance ever between cities in the history of the hockey league, at over 4,000 kilometres.
If needed, Game 7 will be played on Monday, June 24, in South Florida.
The five-time winners hope to scoop up their first Stanley Cup in the last 34 years, as well as the first for a Canadian team since the Montreal Canadiens’s victory in 1993.
The Oilers also have big plans to turn into the fifth team in NHL history to make a comeback after a 3-0 deficit and win a series. The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs are the only team that managed this feat in a final.
