As the excitement builds for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, the series is set to shift to Edmonton on Saturday night at Rogers Place. With the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers tied at 2-2 in this best-of-7 series, every game has been a thrilling spectacle, with three of the four games resulting in overtime decisions. Notably, both of Edmonton's victories in Games 1 and 4 were capped off by forward Leon Draisaitl, showcasing the intense competition between these two formidable teams.
According to Panthers forward Brad Marchand, the series has been incredibly tight, making it one of the most exciting Stanley Cup Finals in recent memory. Marchand stated, "I think this is one of the tightest series anyone will ever see. Just the talent level and how close these two teams are, it's been very exciting." The tight matchups and dramatic comebacks have underscored why winning the Stanley Cup is considered one of the toughest challenges in sports.
The stakes are high for both teams as they prepare for this pivotal Game 5. Historically, the winner of Game 5 in a tied Stanley Cup Final has gone on to win the series 73.1% of the time (19 out of 26 instances). The Oilers hold a solid record of 12-5 when tied 2-2 in best-of-7 series, including a strong 5-1 mark when playing at home. Conversely, the Panthers have shown resilience, boasting a 5-2 record in similar scenarios, with an impressive 4-0 record when starting on the road.
This series has already seen a remarkable total of 32 goals, marking it as the highest-scoring Stanley Cup Final through four games in over four decades. The last time such scoring occurred was in 1981 when the New York Islanders and Minnesota North Stars combined for 36 goals. Furthermore, this series has made history as the first to feature two games that included game-tying goals in the final minute (Games 2 and 4).
The Florida Panthers are looking to rebound after their historic loss in Game 4, where they became the first team to lose a Stanley Cup Final game after leading 3-0 following the first period. Despite the disappointment, Marchand emphasized the importance of focusing on the present moment and preparing for the upcoming challenge. Sam Bennett has been a standout player, having scored in five consecutive road games, and he aims to become the fifth player in NHL history to achieve this feat.
On the flip side, the Oilers will rely on Calvin Pickard, who is set to make his first career start in the Stanley Cup Final after a solid performance in Game 4. Pickard's statistics this postseason boast a perfect 7-0 record with a 2.69 goals-against average. His confidence is bolstered by the team's emotional comeback victory, and he is eager to contribute to another win.
As both teams prepare for Game 5, special teams play could be a decisive factor. The Oilers have struggled on the penalty kill, successfully defending only 66.7% of their short-handed situations in the series. They must focus on maintaining discipline to avoid high-sticking penalties, which have plagued them in the series. On the other hand, the Panthers will need to capitalize on their power-play opportunities to swing the momentum in their favor.
With the excitement palpable, both teams are gearing up for what promises to be an electric atmosphere in Edmonton. As the series stands at 2-2, this Game 5 will be crucial in determining which team takes the lead in the series. The Oilers and Panthers are ready for battle, and fans can expect a night filled with intense hockey action.
Panthers: Carter Verhaeghe – Aleksander Barkov – Sam Reinhart
Evan Rodrigues – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand
A.J. Greer – Tomas Nosek – Jonah Gadjovich
Gustav Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones
Nate Schmidt – Dmitry Kulikov
Sergei Bobrovsky
Vitek Vanecek
Scratched: Uvis Balinskis, Jesper Boqvist, Jaycob Megna, Mackie Samoskevich, Nico Sturm
Injured: None
Oilers: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Connor McDavid – Connor Brown
Vasily Podkolzin – Leon Draisaitl – Corey Perry
Jeff Skinner – Adam Henrique – Trent Frederic
Evander Kane – Mattias Janmark – Viktor Arvidsson
Mattias Ekholm – Jake Walman
Brett Kulak – Evan Bouchard
Darnell Nurse – Troy Stecher
Calvin Pickard
Stuart Skinner
Scratched: Joshua Brown, Cam Dineen, Ty Emberson, Kasperi Kapanen, John Klingberg, Max Jones, Derek Ryan
Injured: Zach Hyman (wrist)
As we edge closer to face-off, fans are eagerly awaiting what promises to be another unforgettable chapter in this historic Stanley Cup Final.
