Did the Edmonton Oilers beat the Florida Panthers 5-1 to force a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final?
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Despite Connor McDavid being held scoreless, Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers' other top players delivered a critical performance to secure a 5-1 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 6, extending the Stanley Cup Final to a decisive Game 7.
Draisaitl, making his first significant impact of the series, assisted on Warren Foegele’s early goal. Adam Henrique and Zach Hyman added to the scoreboard in the second period, bolstering the Oilers’ drive towards an improbable comeback from a 3-0 series deficit, a feat only accomplished once before by the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.
“We play to win, and this next game will be the toughest,” Draisaitl emphasized. “We need to bring our best.”
The Oilers' journey to this critical juncture is a testament to their unyielding belief, as Hyman noted: “Regardless of the season's challenges, we always believed in our chances. This next game is our first real shot at winning.”
McDavid’s stellar performances in Games 4 and 5 were crucial, but this victory marked the first in his career where the Oilers triumphed without him registering a point or a shot on net. Draisaitl, often hailed as one of the world’s top players, ignited the team in Game 5 after struggling earlier in the series.
“Draisaitl is a force,” defenseman Darnell Nurse remarked. “He consistently steps up in crucial moments.”
Draisaitl’s exceptional playmaking was evident as he navigated past Florida defenders to set up Foegele’s tap-in goal. This play energized the sellout crowd of over 18,000, who taunted Florida’s goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky throughout the night. Bobrovsky, however, was not solely to blame for the Panthers' downfall, as defensive errors led to Henrique’s goal off a perfect pass from Mattias Janmark.
The Panthers, who started the game with a mere six shots on net midway through, ended with 21, a lackluster performance against Oilers' goaltender Stuart Skinner, who allowed just one goal by Aleksander Barkov early in the third period.
“He’s been exceptional when needed most,” Janmark praised Skinner.
An earlier goal by Barkov was overturned after Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch successfully challenged for offside. The review confirmed that Sam Reinhart entered the zone just before the puck, drawing a jubilant response from the fans.
“I was confident it was offside,” Knoblauch stated.
The atmosphere at Rogers Place reached a fever pitch, with noise levels peaking as the Oilers took the ice to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” The energy crescendoed when Ryan McLeod and Nurse scored empty-net goals, prompting chants of “We want the Cup!” and a fervent celebration among fans.
Edmonton, a city of nearly a million, embraced the moment, transforming into a sea of blue and orange. Friday’s victory fueled the city's dreams of another championship banner.
“We’re thrilled to continue our season,” McDavid said. “It’s about taking it one game, one day at a time. We’re ready for the next challenge.”