-
Greg Wyshynski
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 night time. However closing out opponents in elimination video games has been one in every of their few postseason flaws over the previous two years.
“There is no secret that the Cup’s within the constructing. It’ll be the hardest take a look at, greatest recreation,” mentioned winger Matthew Tkachuk, whose Panthers maintain a 3-2 collection 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 12 months’s Stanley Cup Ultimate earlier than successful the Cup in Sport 7. This postseason, Florida was shut out in losses in Sport 6 in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Sport 4 in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes with an opportunity to shut out every collection earlier than advancing with a win within the following recreation.
Beneath coach Paul Maurice (since 2023 playoffs), the Panthers are 10-8 in potential series-clinching video games.
“We discovered a technique to finish these collection. You place your self able to remove the opposite workforce, but it surely’s not assured as a result of the opposite workforce 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 12 months you win 16 straight, proper? Does not work like that.”
The Panthers mentioned their expertise in these conditions will likely be an asset on Tuesday night time.
“We performed one Sport 7, so perhaps now we have a tiny benefit with understanding the desperation that they are going to come out with,” mentioned Tkachuk. “We’ve got to match that desperation.”
Winger Evan Rodrigues mentioned the Panthers will be capable to method this recreation with extra emotional steadiness than in final 12 months’s Stanley Cup Ultimate.
“Simply follow our recreation. Not attempt to make the second greater than what it’s,” he mentioned. “It is simply one other hockey recreation. You simply bought to do what’s made you profitable up to now. Simply keep within the second and do your job.”
Florida took a 3-2 collection lead with a 5-2 victory in Edmonton on Saturday night time, 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 over the previous three video games.
However Maurice mentioned scoring first would not assure something.
“I believe it has been a fantastic problem, really. 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 aim or two, they’re extremely onerous to deal with and it is within the type of recreation they’re very, excellent at [playing].”
Tkachuk mentioned the Panthers know closing out the Oilers in Sport 6 will likely be a problem — particularly with star middle Connor McDavid attempting to keep away from a second straight Stanley Cup Ultimate 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 onerous to close him down. I do not suppose you may shut him down. You possibly can simply attempt to restrict as a lot as you may,” mentioned Tkachuk of McDavid, who has one aim and 5 assists within the collection. “They’re clearly among the finest, if not the perfect, workforce that I’ve performed in my profession and within the playoffs. So I am certain [Game 6] goes to be a really powerful one.”