Through four games, the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers have played an all-time classic Stanley Cup Final. The rollercoaster of a series is tied at two games apiece, and suddenly the season comes down to just two or three games.
How did the Edmonton Oilers tie the series?
Thursday night, June 12, the Oilers were nearly dead and buried. Down 3-0 to the Panthers in the first period, they were in jeopardy of falling behind 3-1 in the series against the defending champs. It would have likely been over.
A three-goal rally in the second period turned the tide and got them even. In the third period, they actually had a 4-3 lead until the Panthers tied it with just 20 seconds left in regulation. For the third time in four games, it went to overtime, where Leon Draisaitl worked his magic once again.
“He’s one of the leaders on this team and one of the best players in the world for a reason,” Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse said. “He not only says what he’s going to do, he backs up his play and his actions. I mean, you begin overtime, and you have all these tense moments, and he just has this ability to relax and just make plays.”
Can the Panthers slow down Draisaitl and McDavid?
Just hours after finishing second in the league MVP voting, Draisaitl made history by scoring his fourth overtime game-winner of the playoffs. His one-handed shot went off a defender’s leg and through Sergei Bobrovsky’s pads.
“We believe that no matter how bad it is if we get over that hump of adversity, we’re going to keep pushing,” Draisaitl said. “We’re going to keep coming. We’re going to keep coming, and eventually, it’ll break. We don’t want to be in these situations too many times. But when they happen, I think we’re great at it.”
His play in tandem with the electric Connor McDavid has been tough for the Panthers to corral. They are tied for the lead in NHL playoff scoring with 32 points each; Draisaitl with 11 goals, 21 assists and McDavid with six goals, 26 assists. Panthers forward Sam Reinhart believes they just have to match the Oilers’ output from here.
“You kind of ride that wave,” Reinhart said. “It’s an emotional grind. That’s part of it that makes it so sweet when you win it. So, we’re in another battle, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. And now, it’s about recovering and going into Edmonton and trying to do what we can to win a game five and bring it back here.”
What’s up next, and who has the edge?
The Oilers feel like they’ve stolen back the momentum before a pivotal fifth game. They also took back home ice advantage. However, they are still carrying the burden of trying to win the Stanley Cup for an entire nation. It’s been 32 years since a Canadian team has won it. Many fans are saying this is the best Finals series they have ever watched. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch agrees, to a point.
“I would like a little less stress for myself behind the bench,” Knoblauch said. “And maybe I could enjoy it a little more, but I can definitely see it’s really good, exciting hockey.”
The edge could go to the Oilers if there are a couple more overtime games, they are clearly comfortable in that scenario. The Panthers, however, are the defending champs and at times have looked dominating in this series. They have a 9-3 record playing on the road in this year’s playoffs. Head coach Paul Maurice is a master of adjustments.
It has been such a dramatic back-and-forth battle that it’s hard to predict who has the edge in a three-game sprint. Game 5 will likely tilt the scales. The faceoff is scheduled for Saturday, June 14, at 8 p.m. EST in Edmonton, Alberta.
