Game 5 serves a crucial role: either it solidifies a dominant 4-1 series lead, or it reminds everyone that one team is just a single victory away from achieving its goal. For the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, their 5-2 triumph in Game 5 against the Edmonton Oilers brings them within one win of claiming back-to-back championships.
Of course, it wouldn`t be unexpected for the Oilers to bounce back and secure a Game 6 win, sending the series back to Edmonton for a decisive Game 7. After all, the Oilers are no strangers to overcoming elimination scenarios. Regardless, Game 5 offered both teams a chance to seize control in the season`s final series. Ultimately, the Panthers secured their 10th road victory of this postseason, matching an NHL playoff record.
A game and series with such high stakes demand scrutiny. Let`s analyze the key factors that influenced Game 5 for both the Oilers and Panthers, identify players who could significantly impact Game 6, and consider the lingering questions for the series.
As for those questions? They might revolve around one team (the Panthers) aiming to close out the series and another (the Oilers) attempting to force a Game 7 for the second consecutive Stanley Cup Final.
Florida Panthers
Grade: B+
This game largely unfolded according to the Panthers` strategy:
- They maintained control of the puck.
- They appeared composed and disciplined even without possession.
- They capitalized on power-play opportunities while effectively neutralizing the Oilers` shorthanded situations.
- They limited the Oilers to just three high-danger scoring chances, a particularly impressive statistic given Edmonton`s rank as second in high-danger chances per 60 minutes during this postseason entering Game 5.
Building a two-goal lead for Sergei Bobrovsky in the first period allowed the veteran goalie to make critical saves without being overwhelmed, as the Panthers successfully suppressed high-danger opportunities and a high volume of shots.
Even when Edmonton`s Connor McDavid broke through and Corey Perry scored, twice narrowing the deficit to two goals in Game 5, the Panthers continued to make it challenging for the Oilers to generate quality scoring chances from prime areas. Overall, they weathered the late third-period surge, which saw the Oilers fire 10 shots on goal.
Winning 10 games on the road is a significant factor in the Panthers being just one victory away from another Stanley Cup. While they`ve achieved various results on the road, from scoring five goals to earning shutouts, this Game 5 win was arguably their most *crucial* road victory this postseason, if not their strongest overall performance away from home.
Edmonton Oilers
Grade: B-
Echoing a familiar pattern, the Oilers started Game 5 by conceding multiple goals in a period while failing to score themselves. This has been a recurring issue for a defensive system that had successfully contained two top-5 scoring teams in the Western Conference playoffs. Against the Panthers, however, this is now the seventh time in the 13 periods of this series that the Oilers have allowed more than two goals.
Just as frequent as their struggles in multi-goal periods have been their comeback attempts. However, the Oilers struggled to find any consistent rhythm in this game. They had chances, including three power-play opportunities in the first two periods, but managed only four shots and no goals. In total, the Oilers generated just two high-danger chances and had a mere 37.8% shot share, with only 11 shots before the third period began.
Connor McDavid finally netted his first goal of the Stanley Cup Final, and Corey Perry added another, bringing the Oilers within two goals on two separate occasions. Being that close, and given their history of rallying, another comeback seemed plausible. That hope faded when Eetu Luostarinen scored an empty-net goal, sealing the Panthers` win.
Reaching that position late in the game brings us back to the Oilers` initial challenge: How different might Game 5 have unfolded if they hadn`t allowed another period with multiple goals against to start the contest?
Arda Öcal`s Three Stars of Game 5
1. Brad Marchand
LW, Panthers
Another outstanding performance from “The Rat King,” who netted two goals, including a particularly impressive effort for the goal that put the Cats up 3-0. These were his sixth and seventh goals of this Stanley Cup Final, making him the first player since Esa Tikkanen in 1988 (when the Oilers faced the Boston Bruins) to score that many in a single Final series. It was the 13th goal at 5-on-5 for the line featuring Marchand, Anton Lundell, and Eetu Luostarinen, significantly outpacing the next closest trio this postseason (Carter Verhaeghe, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sam Bennett, with 10).
2. Sam Bennett
C, Panthers
Speaking of Bennett, he continued his prolific road scoring with his 15th goal of the postseason and 13th away from home. Bennett became only the fifth player in NHL history to achieve a six-game road goal streak during the Stanley Cup playoffs, joining Brian Propp (seven games in 1989), Mark Scheifele (six in 2018), Kevin Stevens (six in 1991), and Maurice Richard (six in 1951).
3. Sam Reinhart
RW, Panthers
His third-period marker was his seventh goal of the postseason. That goal made the score 4-1 and was the Panthers` 60th road goal of these playoffs, which is 11 more than any other team has scored in a single postseason in Stanley Cup playoffs history. Luostarinen`s empty-net goal made it 61, pushing the Panthers 12 ahead of the team in second place on that list (the 1993 Los Angeles Kings, with 49).
Players to watch in Game 6
Brad Marchand
LW, Panthers
Performances like the one in Game 5 underscore why numerous teams were interested in Marchand at the trade deadline. After being held scoreless in Game 4, his two goals in Game 5 bring his playoff total to 10 goals and 20 points, also presenting a strong case for him potentially winning the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the playoff MVP.
Marchand`s offensive contribution could be key to the Panthers securing another title. It also positions him as one of the most attractive unrestricted free agents this offseason. Championship teams and aspiring contenders alike constantly manage roster decisions while adhering to the salary cap.
Marchand`s appeal at the trade deadline stemmed from his proven winning pedigree and his expiring contract status. The prospect of him becoming a two-time Stanley Cup champion who played a pivotal role in another Panthers victory will create a difficult decision for the Panthers` front office, especially in an offseason where Marchand is part of a notable group of unrestricted free agents that includes Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad.
Connor McDavid
C, Oilers
Now that McDavid has scored his initial goal of the Cup Final, could Game 5 be the catalyst for the world`s best player to elevate his scoring output in what might be his team`s final game of the season?
Recall McDavid`s performance in Games 4 and 5 of last year`s Cup Final. He played some of his most dominant hockey then, helping the Oilers climb back into the series, starting with a goal and three assists in Game 4, followed by another four-point effort (two goals, two assists) in Game 5.
There are multiple reasons why the Oilers reached a second consecutive Cup Final. One is their improved scoring depth, which makes them more than just their two generational superstars, while always knowing Leon Draisaitl and McDavid can explode offensively at any moment. Can the Oilers` depth scoring provide support again in Game 6 alongside Draisaitl and McDavid? Or will it require another hallmark performance solely from their dynamic duo to force a Game 7?
These are among the critical questions whose outcomes could determine whether the Oilers mount another improbable comeback, force a Game 7, and win their first Cup since 1990, or face another season where they were close but ultimately fell short.
Big questions for Game 6
Can the Oilers replicate last year`s feat and force a Game 7?
Much has been said, and will continue to be said, about the Oilers` resilience and how they aren`t truly out of the series because of their near-improbable comeback attempt from a 3-0 deficit last year.
But what exactly needs to happen for them to force one more game?
Game 5 began similarly to Game 4, where after a multi-goal first period against them, the Oilers allowed only one subsequent goal and appeared to find defensive stability. The challenge is replicating that defensive effort from the final two periods of Game 5 over a full game, preventing the Panthers from another multi-goal period, while also generating significantly more offense than they did in Game 5. That`s the major question confronting the Oilers in what could be their final game or their second-to-last game of the season.
Will the Panthers manage to close out the Cup Final on their first attempt?
If any team fully understands the danger the Oilers pose when facing elimination, it`s the Panthers.
A characteristic the Oilers have shown this postseason is not just their ability to battle back in a series, but their capability to close out opponents, perhaps because they recognize all the signs of a potential comeback themselves.
Conversely, the Panthers have seen opponents find ways to extend series this postseason. In the second round against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Panthers seemed to have all the momentum before the Leafs secured a 2-0 win in Game 6 to force a Game 7. In the Eastern Conference Final, the Carolina Hurricanes, after losing three straight, rallied to win Game 4.
While the Panthers ultimately won both of those series, these instances add intrigue to whether the Panthers will clinch the Cup on home ice in Game 6 or be compelled to return to Edmonton for a deciding Game 7.
Gareth Tenby 
Duncan Priestley