Series Overview
The Florida Panthers are on the brink of their first-ever Stanley Cup victory as they prepare for Game 5 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers had a strong start, winning the first three games of the series. However, the Edmonton Oilers responded with an emphatic 8-1 win on Saturday, aiming to extend the series to a sixth game—something last achieved by the 2012 New Jersey Devils after losing the first three games of a series.
The pivotal Game 5 is set for an 8 p.m. ET faceoff at Amerant Bank Arena.
Florida's Home-Ice Edge
Despite the recent setback, Florida remains a -134 favorite according to the latest odds. The Panthers have been resilient on home ice, boasting an 8-3 record this postseason, and have won their last four consecutive home games. Impressively, the Panthers have allowed just four goals over these four home victories. Their defense has been particularly stingy against Edmonton, conceding only two goals in the last three contests before the Game 4 rout.
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who allowed at least five goals for the third time this postseason in Game 4, has previously demonstrated his bounce-back ability, allowing a total of just three goals in his rebound efforts.
Panthers' Key Players
Carter Verhaeghe has been a standout for the Panthers with 10 goals this postseason. Sam Reinhart is not far behind, contributing nine goals. Both Verhaeghe and Reinhart have found the net once in the Stanley Cup Final.
Other key contributors include Evan Rodrigues and Vladimir Tarasenko, who have combined for five goals in the series. Rodrigues was particularly effective in the first two games, netting three goals, while Tarasenko has scored in each of the last two contests and has three goals in his last five games. This is a significant uptick in performance for Tarasenko, who recorded just two goals in his first 16 postseason games.
Both Tarasenko and Anton Lundell are riding three-game point streaks, with Lundell providing four assists during this run.
Edmonton's Offensive Surge
The Edmonton Oilers have displayed formidable offensive prowess, scoring at least two goals in each of the last four games. Their dominant Game 4 performance saw fifteen of Edmonton's 18 skaters recording points. Connor McDavid led the charge with one goal and three assists, bringing his postseason tally to an NHL-leading 38 points. McDavid has been particularly effective recently, collecting six points in his last two games and approaching the rare milestone of 40 points in a single postseason.
In Game 4, McDavid overtook Wayne Gretzky's single-playoff assist record set in 1988, now standing at 32 assists this postseason. Defensemen have also been a crucial part of Edmonton's scoring machine, with Darnell Nurse adding a goal in Game 4. Edmonton's blue-liners lead the league with 17 goals this postseason. Their defensive unit, combined with an exceptional penalty kill rate of 93.6%, has successfully defended 12 out of 13 penalties in this series alone. Mattias Janmark has stood out in penalty-killing scenarios, netting two short-handed goals this postseason.
Conclusion
The series now returns to Florida, where the Panthers aim to clinch the championship on home ice, while the Oilers look to keep their Stanley Cup dreams alive by forcing a Game 6. All eyes will be on Amerant Bank Arena as fans eagerly anticipate whether history will be made or if Florida will hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time. Game 5 promises to be an exhilarating showdown.