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 collection lead. Listed below are some key takeaways from their Recreation 5 win.
This was a medical efficiency by the Panthers
The whole lot about this sport was the Panthers at their best possible, 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 Recreation 6
For each groups.
In terms of the Panthers, it is a likelihood for historical past. It is an opportunity to affix the uncommon ranks of back-to-back champions and cement themselves as the most effective 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 the entire particular person honors and stat traces that any participant might ever need. They’re two of the most effective, most efficient gamers of their period. However the one factor they’re nonetheless missing is their names on the Stanley Cup. Honest 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, a minimum of one championship appears to be a should.
McDavid and Draisaitl have been within the NHL for a decade and are nonetheless looking for a championship. In the event that they exit with out a lot of a combat in Recreation 6, it is just going so as to add to the stress on them.
Florida’s “rats” preserve 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, additionally they preserve establishing themselves as big-time clutch gamers. Bennett scored one other aim on Saturday, whereas Marchand added two extra so as to add to his Stanley Cup Closing legacy.
It’ll be excellent timing for them as each are set to be unrestricted free brokers this summer time.
A lot of these performances persist with normal managers, and with the wage cap set to rise this summer time, each gamers are positive to money in.
Particularly if they’re key parts to a different championship.
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