The Florida Panthers are one win away from one other championship after Saturday’s 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers to take a 3-2 sequence lead. Listed below are some key takeaways from their Sport 5 win.
This was a medical efficiency by the Panthers
Every thing about this sport was the Panthers at their very best, and why they’ve been in three straight Stanley Cup Finals with an opportunity to win a second.
There was extra clutch scoring from Sam Bennett.
There was nice goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky when wanted.
And there was absolute medical defensive play to utterly shut down one of many highest-powered offenses within the league. It was smothering, championship-caliber protection and play. There was not a workforce within the NHL that was beating Florida on this night time.
Legacies are on the road in Sport 6
For each groups.
With regards to the Panthers, it is a probability for historical past. It is an opportunity to hitch the uncommon ranks of back-to-back champions and cement themselves as the very best workforce of the 2020s.
However there’s one thing larger on the road for Edmonton. Particularly, the celebrity duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
They’ve all the particular person honors and stat traces that any participant may ever need. They’re two of the very best, most efficient gamers of their period. However the one factor they’re nonetheless missing is their names on the Stanley Cup. Truthful or not, this period of sports activities is outlined by rings and championships and for gamers to take their place among the many all-time greats, at the least one championship appears to be a should.
McDavid and Draisaitl have been within the NHL for a decade and are nonetheless trying to find a championship. In the event that they exit with out a lot of a combat in Sport 6, it is just going so as to add to the strain on them.
Florida’s “rats” hold shining
And by rats, we imply their agitators of Brad Marchant and Bennett.
Whereas they’re recognized for his or her bodily and irritating type of play, in addition they hold establishing themselves as big-time clutch gamers. Bennett scored one other objective on Saturday, whereas Marchand added two extra so as to add to his Stanley Cup Last legacy.
It will be good timing for them as each are set to be unrestricted free brokers this summer season.
These kind of performances persist with basic managers, and with the wage cap set to rise this summer season, each gamers are positive to money in.
Particularly if they’re key parts to a different championship.
