The Florida Panthers are now just one win away from clinching their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship after a dominant 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5. Brad Marchand led the charge with two goals, propelling the Panthers to a 3-2 series lead in front of a stunned crowd at Rogers Place on Saturday.
Marchand's performance was nothing short of spectacular. His two goals in Game 5 brought his total to a series-leading six, marking the most goals scored by a player in a Stanley Cup Final since 1988. The veteran forward's first goal came after winning a face-off, quickly maneuvering past Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm, and firing a shot past Calvin Pickard. His second goal further solidified the Panthers' lead.
"I've said it a ton of times, we're just enjoying the moment," Marchand said. "It's a special time, special memories that we're going to have forever. I'm not really nervous, just excited."
Sam Bennett also contributed significantly, scoring his league-leading 15th goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Eetu Luostarinen had a goal and an assist, while Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 crucial saves to stifle the Oilers' offense. Sam Reinhart also added a goal for the Panthers.
The Panthers' ability to capitalize on opportunities and maintain a strong defensive presence proved to be the difference-maker. Unlike Game 4, where the Oilers mounted a comeback from a 3-0 deficit, the Panthers ensured that Edmonton had no such chance in Game 5. Florida has outscored Edmonton 11-4 in the first period throughout the series, including 2-0 in Game 5. They have scored at least two goals in the first period in all five games.
Connor McDavid managed to score his first goal of the series for the Oilers, and Corey Perry also found the back of the net late in the game. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the Panthers' strong play. Calvin Pickard, making his first start of the Final, stopped 14 shots but ultimately couldn't contain the Panthers' offensive onslaught.
The Panthers' special teams also played a crucial role, successfully killing off all three of the Oilers' power plays. Their penalty kill has been stellar throughout the series, allowing only 4 power play goals on 23 attempts.
With the series now standing at 3-2, the Panthers have a golden opportunity to secure the Stanley Cup on home ice in Game 6. Historically, teams that win Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead in the series have gone on to win the Stanley Cup approximately 73.1 percent of the time.
"The more times you're in a situation like this the more comfortable you're going to be," Panthers forward Sam Reinhart said. "We've been staying in the moment very well, all postseason. It's just about handling your day. We did what we set out to do today. Now it's about recovering and getting back at it in a couple days."
The Oilers, on the other hand, face elimination and must win their next two games to keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive. They will need to address their slow starts and find a way to penetrate the Panthers' defense if they want to force a Game 7.
"We're a team that can always find a way to come back, but it's not always going to happen," Edmonton forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. "Sometimes when you put yourself behind you're not going to find ways to win."
