Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice believes the pressure in the Stanley Cup Final has "evened out" now that the Edmonton Oilers have rallied to force a Game 6. The Panthers had taken a commanding 3-0 series lead before Edmonton stormed back to win the last two games.
McDavid's Impact
This resurgence was thanks in no small part to back-to-back four-point performances by Oilers' star, Connor McDavid. Florida has been dragged back to Alberta, and the Oilers now share their burden of pressure, having clawed their way back into the series. The Panthers have now lost twice with the Stanley Cup in the building.
The Panthers head into Game 6 at Rogers Place on Friday, where the Oilers are likely starting to feel the expectation to win ramping up. The stakes are high for both teams, and the goal is closer now for the Oilers, which evens out the pressure between the two sides.
Reflecting on Game 5
Florida arrived back in Edmonton on Thursday having lost Game 5 by a 5-3 margin. The Panthers dominated for long stretches of the game, especially in the final two periods where they managed over 80% of the shot attempts. Despite this, they trailed 4-1 for much of the game. Maurice expressed optimism, saying that his team could build on their effort for Game 6.
"I liked our opening period more than the following 40 minutes," Maurice noted. The Panthers have been dominant in 5-on-5 play all year, with only a lapse in Game 4 for a period and a half. This has instilled confidence among the team going into the crucial sixth game.
Consistent 5-on-5 Play
The team has been consistent in their 5-on-5 play for the most part. “We are comfortable against anybody in the world with our 5-on-5 game,” said Maurice. Game 6, set for Friday night at Rogers Place, holds tremendous stakes for both teams. Edmonton is vying to become just the third team in NHL history to force a Game 7 after losing the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final. If successful, they would also try to become the second team since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs to rally back and win the Cup.
Quotes from the Coaches and Players
"When you have nothing to lose, there's a freedom to that. When you have something to protect, sometimes you feel the pressure to protect it," Maurice reflected. "There's an evening out in this series now. I think the pressure is closer [between us]. The stakes are there now more for both teams, where it was just for us. The goal is closer now for them and now that part evens out, I believe."
"We are that team. I mean, we've been that team all year. We had a little bit of a lapse in Game 4 here for a period and a half. But for the most part, we've been pretty consistent with it," said a confident Maurice.
"We really like our 5-on-5 game. We're comfortable against anybody in the world with it."
As the highly anticipated Game 6 approaches, both teams understand that every play, every shot, and every save could be the difference between moving forward or going home. The Panthers must rely on their steady 5-on-5 play, while the Oilers will look to McDavid and the momentum they've built over the last two games to carry them through.
With the series momentum hanging in the balance, Friday night’s faceoff will be a spectacle for hockey fans around the globe. The Panthers and the Oilers are both equipped with the talent and determination to win, but only one will emerge victorious in this tightly contested series.