Panthers Turn Focus to Game 5 After Tumultuous Loss
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Florida Panthers are quickly pivoting their focus to Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, seeking to rebound after a dramatic 5-4 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4. The defeat saw the Panthers surrender a three-goal lead, evening the best-of-seven series at two games apiece as it shifts back to Edmonton for a critical matchup.
Despite the tough nature of the loss on Thursday, the mood within the Panthers locker room is described as “calm and confident” as they prepare for Game 5 at Rogers Place on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SN, TNT, truTV, MAX).
“I think our mindset is always playing for that Game 7 even though it might not always be seven games,” said Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling, expressing the team’s resilient approach. “That’s our mindset, so, we’re calm and confident. If we play our game, we know we’re going to win most games. We are a very confident group, and I am sure we will watch video on what we can do better and execute on. The good thing is, we have a game tomorrow. So we’re ready to bounce right back. We’re very excited to get back.”
The day after the Game 4 loss was dedicated primarily to travel, as the team headed to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport for the 5 1/2-hour flight to Alberta. This travel day leaves limited time for extensive reflection on the previous night’s game, but coach Paul Maurice indicated he would use the long flight to meticulously review the Game 4 film.
Captain Aleksander Barkov acknowledged the challenge of immediately traveling after such an emotionally draining game. “Of course it’s tough to jump on the plane the next day,” Barkov said. “It feels like we just finished. But you just take care of yourself as good as possible. You take care of your team and yourself. That’s the biggest thing.”
Recapping the Game 4 Thriller
Game 4 unfolded with significant momentum swings. The Panthers built a comfortable 3-0 lead heading into the second period. However, the Oilers, who had made lineup adjustments prior to the game to try and spark their offense and improve their ability to break Florida’s aggressive forecheck, found their rhythm. They responded with three goals in the second period to tie the game and took a 4-3 lead late in the third.
Adding to the series’ historical drama, Sam Reinhart forced overtime for Florida with Sergei Bobrovsky pulled for an extra skater, scoring with just 20 seconds remaining. This late goal tied the record for the second-latest game-tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history, remarkably occurring just two games after Oilers forward Corey Perry set the record with 18 seconds left in Game 2 – a series that also went to overtime. However, the Oilers ultimately prevailed in Game 4 when Leon Draisaitl scored at 11:18 of overtime.
The tightly contested nature of this series is evident in the frequency of extra time. Three of the four games played so far have gone to overtime, making this the first Stanley Cup Final with at least three overtime games since 2014. The series is already being lauded by players and coaches as an all-time classic, filled with clutch moments and intense swings of momentum.
Strategic Adjustments for Game 5
Looking ahead to Game 5 in Edmonton, the Panthers face new strategic considerations. The Oilers made a key change in Game 4, replacing starting goaltender Stuart Skinner with Calvin Pickard after falling behind 3-0. Pickard’s subsequent performance, stopping 22 of 23 shots and helping secure the win, makes him the likely starter for Game 5.
Facing Pickard presents a different challenge for the Panthers’ offense compared to Skinner. Scouting analysis suggests Pickard manages cross-ice plays well but may be more vulnerable to shots taken through traffic or with screens due to his size and positioning tendencies. The Panthers will need to adjust their attack strategy, focusing on generating chaos around the net and potentially targeting specific areas that statistical breakdowns have shown to be less covered by Pickard, such as the blocker side low or the glove side high when he is moving.
Coach Maurice confirmed the Panthers would not be making any lineup changes for Game 5, maintaining confidence in his current group to execute their game plan.
The emotional and physical toll of a deep playoff run and the significant travel between Florida and Edmonton are also factors for both teams. While the Panthers have recent Final experience, the constant back-and-forth journey adds another layer of challenge in a series already defined by its intensity and drama.
Maurice commented on the high-wire act of the Final. “You’re as wired as probably every fan is,” he said. “I think it’s actually easier for the players. They get to go out and burn it off on the ice… These days are so important, that you can come down from them, kind of rest, relax, and then wind back up tomorrow.”
With the Stanley Cup now just two wins away for either side, Game 5 in Edmonton is a pivotal moment. The Panthers are determined to put Game 4 behind them and play their confident, structured game to regain control of this classic Final series.
