FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers have an opportunity to win their second straight Stanley Cup in the event that they defeat the Edmonton Oilers in Sport 6 on Tuesday evening. However closing out opponents in elimination video games has been one in all their few postseason flaws during the last two years.
“There is not any secret that the Cup’s within the constructing. It will be the hardest take a look at, largest sport,” mentioned winger Matthew Tkachuk, whose Panthers maintain a 3-2 sequence lead over the Oilers. “We’ve got to deal with this as a Sport 7.”
The Panthers infamously squandered three possibilities to remove the Oilers in final yr’s Stanley Cup Last earlier than successful the Cup in Sport 7. This postseason, Florida was shut out in losses in Sport 6 towards the Toronto Maple Leafs and Sport 4 towards the Carolina Hurricanes with an opportunity to shut out every sequence earlier than advancing with a win within the following sport.
Underneath coach Paul Maurice (since 2023 playoffs), the Panthers are 10-8 in potential series-clinching video games.
“We found out a option to finish these sequence. You set your self ready to remove the opposite staff, nevertheless it’s not assured as a result of the opposite staff is fairly darn good,” mentioned Maurice. “So there’s nothing the place you say, ‘OK, now we have figured it out.’ As a result of should you figured that out, subsequent yr you win 16 straight, proper? Would not work like that.”
The Panthers mentioned their expertise in these conditions shall be an asset on Tuesday evening.
“We performed one Sport 7, so perhaps we’ve a tiny benefit with figuring out the desperation that they will come out with,” mentioned Tkachuk. “We’ve got to match that desperation.”
Winger Evan Rodrigues mentioned the Panthers will have the ability to method this sport with extra emotional stability than in final yr’s Stanley Cup Last.
“Simply stick with our sport. Not attempt to make the second greater than what it’s,” he mentioned. “It is simply one other hockey sport. You simply bought to do what’s made you profitable previously. Simply keep within the second and do your job.”
Florida took a 3-2 sequence lead with a 5-2 victory in Edmonton on Saturday evening, on the energy of two Brad Marchand targets and a suffocating defensive effort. As soon as once more, the Panthers have been propelled by their sturdy begin: They’ve outscored the Oilers 11-4 within the first interval, together with 7-0 within the first interval during the last three video games.
However Maurice mentioned scoring first does not assure something.
“I believe it has been an awesome problem, truly. We have had leads in video games and we have had them evaporate. They’re constructed to assault,” mentioned Maurice. “Once they’re down a objective or two, they’re extremely laborious to deal with and it is within the type of sport they’re very, excellent at [playing].”
Tkachuk mentioned the Panthers know closing out the Oilers in Sport 6 shall be a problem — particularly with star middle Connor McDavid making an attempt to keep away from a second straight Stanley Cup Last elimination by the hands of Florida.
“He is determined to win the Cup. So are we. However he is clearly a expertise like no one else within the league. It is so laborious to close him down. I do not assume you’ll be able to shut him down. You possibly can simply attempt to restrict as a lot as you’ll be able to,” mentioned Tkachuk of McDavid, who has one objective and 5 assists within the sequence. “They’re clearly among the finest, if not the very best, staff that I’ve performed in my profession and within the playoffs. So I am certain [Game 6] going to be a really robust one.”
