Earlier than we go any additional, possibly it is honest to determine some floor guidelines for how you can assess this specific Stanley Cup closing.
Particularly, except the Edmonton Oilers or Florida Panthers achieve such a big result in put the sport out of attain, every little thing may very well be determined inside the closing 10 minutes of regulation or each time the game-winning purpose in additional time (and even double additional time) is scored.
OK. Now that we’re all on the identical web page, here is a take a look at how the Oilers took Recreation 1 with a 4-3 additional time win, and what all of it means going ahead for each events forward of Recreation 2.
Profitable the third interval within the method by which the Oilers did was essential. Not solely as a result of it led to additional time, however as a result of it was arguably their most constant body in Recreation 1.
They’d the pictures within the first interval, however nonetheless trailed. They struggled to achieve possession and generate pictures within the second, which performed a task in why they had been down by a purpose. Getting a purpose from Mattias Ekholm early within the third gave the Oilers their twentieth totally different scorer this postseason. Additionally they outshot the Panthers 14-2, whereas having a 58.3% shot share, offering them with a way of management they’d been missing to start out.
Though they started additional time on the defensive, their fixed skill to use stress for the ultimate quarter-hour paid off with Leon Draisaitl scoring the game-winner off the facility play with 1:06 remaining.
They survived the Kasperi Kapanen mini-breakaway. They survived the point-blank likelihood from Trent Frederic on the faceoff circle. They survived when the Oilers had a 5-on-5 sequence they handled like an influence play. They survived the Evan Bouchard scoring likelihood by which he slipped behind the protection for an additional point-blank alternative that Sergei Bobrovsky stopped.
Even Future’s Little one, for these acquainted, thought the Panthers survived a bit an excessive amount of.
In the long run, they may not survive the Oilers occurring a late additional time energy play, throughout which Draisaitl scored the purpose that led to the Panthers falling in Recreation 1.
Each recreation comes with an inflection level — particularly if a crew loses. The Panthers had just a few. Will or not it’s the second interval, which noticed them have a 65.2% shot share whereas breaking by way of to launch 17 pictures on purpose — solely to return away with one purpose largely as a consequence of Stuart Skinner’s strong play in web? Is it the third interval that noticed them get simply two pictures on purpose? Or will or not it’s how they could not benefit from their dominant begin in additional time?
Arda Öcal’s Three Stars of Recreation 1
Draisaitl did not have a single purpose within the 2024 Cup Ultimate. He scored 66 seconds into Recreation 1, then scored the additional time game-winner. A chic begin to this yr’s championship collection. Draisaitl has scored or assisted on 5 of the Oilers’ six OT objectives during the last two postseasons.
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Leon Draisaitl scores 66 seconds into Recreation 1 for Oilers
Leon Draisaitl nets the primary purpose of the Stanley Cup Ultimate simply over a minute into the sport for the Oilers vs. the Panthers.
The veteran defenseman scored his first purpose of this postseason in his second recreation again from harm. He grew to become the twentieth Oiler to attain in these playoffs, which is tied for the second most in a single postseason in NHL historical past (the 1987 Flyers and 2019 Blues each had 21 totally different purpose scorers).
A two-goal effort in a dropping trigger. Bennett now has 12 objectives this postseason, which is essentially the most in a single playoffs in franchise historical past. Eleven of these objectives have been on the street, which is tied with Mark Scheifele (2018) for many street objectives in a single postseason in NHL historical past.
Gamers to look at in Recreation 2
Keep in mind: This man was on waivers in November. The Oilers’ declare of him was initially seen as an opportunity so as to add depth on a budget, just for it to show into one thing larger. His game-winning purpose within the series-clinching Recreation 5 additional time victory within the Western Convention finals opened the door for extra enjoying time. He virtually did it once more in Recreation 1 in additional time too, however he did get an help on the game-winning purpose.
He is been a part of the answer for a way the Oilers would fare with out Zach Hyman, who sustained an harm within the Western Convention finals that can hold him out for the remainder of the postseason. Kapanen did his half by having three assists, whereas his 5 hits allowed the Oilers to keep up the bodily edge they’ve used as a part of their id to succeed in a consecutive Cup Ultimate.
There are two methods to take a look at what Bennett did in Recreation 1. The primary being that his two-point effort as soon as once more strengthened what has made him a severe candidate to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Bennett was already atop the leaderboard previous to the sport, as he has scored a postseason-high 10 objectives. Accumulating two extra now provides him 18 factors, which is tied with Oilers middle Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for fourth place.
The second is that he’ll get paid this offseason. Earlier within the day, the Colorado Avalanche re-signed Brock Nelson to a three-year deal value $7.5 million yearly to keep away from him hitting the open market. What Bennett did to assist the Panthers attain three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals — and be ready to say at the least a second title — is barely going to extend what he might command come July 1.
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Sam Bennett’s 2nd purpose provides Florida a 3-1 lead
Sam Bennett tallies his second purpose of the sport to provide the Panthers a 3-1 lead over the Oilers.
Huge questions for Recreation 2
Did the third interval and additional time give the Oilers a defensive street map towards the Panthers?
The Oilers’ path again to the Stanley Cup Ultimate was primarily based on how their defensive construction made life hellish for the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights, two groups that had been within the prime 5 in objectives per recreation within the common season — and which struggled within the playoffs.
The Oilers had just a few challenges within the first interval, with Skinner getting partially shielded on the primary two objectives earlier than having a breakdown within the second interval that left their goalie on an island.
From there, the Oilers gave up a mixed eight pictures over the ultimate frames, with the most important focus coming within the first 5 minutes of additional time.
In fact, the Panthers have discovered breakthroughs towards groups with constricting defensive buildings, just like the Carolina Hurricanes within the Japanese Convention finals. Are the Panthers about to seek out one other in Recreation 2? Or might the Oilers be onto one thing that might see them discover much more success inside their defensive id?
What’s the main takeaway going ahead: Their begin or their end?
This is the place it will get difficult — and it goes again to the sooner assertion about groups having inflection factors. Within the second interval, the Panthers had been aggressive in a manner that hardly anybody has been towards the Oilers. That resulted in 5 high-danger scoring possibilities, together with an general sense of management.
That is what made coming away with only one purpose — particularly in a one-goal recreation — one thing that might pose questions on how they benefit from these alternatives going ahead.
However on the similar time, the notion they had been pressured to outlive in an additional time that noticed them cut up the shot share with the Oilers, have extra high-danger scoring possibilities however fail to supply that constant menace?
That would additionally give the Panthers much more to consider within the coming days … or possibly they will not query the method, given the Panthers had gained their final 31 playoff video games by which they held a second-period lead.
