Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice believes that the pressure in the Stanley Cup Final has "evened out" now that the Edmonton Oilers have rallied to force a Game 6.
The Panthers had initially taken a commanding 3-0 series lead before Edmonton stormed back to win the last two games, making it a faceoff for survival for both teams.
McDavid's Impact
This resurgence was thanks in no small part to back-to-back four-point performances by Oilers' star Connor McDavid. His electrifying play has turned the tide, pulling the Oilers back from the brink of elimination and into contention once more.
Consequently, Florida has been dragged back to Alberta, where the shared burden of pressure between the teams makes for an even more thrilling race to the finish. The Panthers have now lost twice with the Stanley Cup in the building, underscoring the mounting tension as they head into Game 6 at Rogers Place on Friday.
The Oilers are likely starting to feel the expectation to win ramping up, and Maurice acknowledged that the stakes are high for both sides.
"The goal is closer now for the Oilers, and now that part evens out," he reflected. Both teams are now equally feeling the gravity of the situation.
Reflecting on Game 5
Florida arrived back in Edmonton on Thursday after losing Game 5 by a 5-3 margin. Despite this loss, the Panthers dominated for long stretches of the game, particularly in the final two periods where they managed over 80% of the shot attempts.
While trailing 4-1 for much of the game, Maurice expressed optimism about his team’s performance and the lessons they could draw from it. "I liked our opening period more than the following 40 minutes," he remarked.
Indeed, the Panthers have been dominant in 5-on-5 play all year, demonstrating a consistent ability to control the game and dictate the pace. Florida only experienced a lapse in Game 4 for a period and a half, and Maurice believes this consistency will be key going forward.
Consistent 5-on-5 Play
The team has been largely consistent in their 5-on-5 play. "We are comfortable against anybody in the world with our 5-on-5 game," Maurice shared, highlighting an area where the Panthers feel they have a competitive edge.
Game 6, set for Friday night at Rogers Place, holds tremendous stakes for both teams. Edmonton is aiming to become just the third team in NHL history to force a Game 7 after losing the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final. If successful, they would then try to follow in the footsteps of the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, who rallied back to win the Cup.
Quotes from Coaches and Players
Addressing the shifting dynamics, both coaches and players shared their insights on the heightened pressure and brewing excitement in the series. "When you have nothing to lose, there's a freedom to that. When you have something to protect, sometimes you feel the pressure to protect it," Maurice noted.
"There's an evening out in this series now. I think the pressure is closer [between us]. The stake is there now more for both teams, where it was just for us. The goal is closer now for them and now that part evens out, I believe," he added.
Summarizing the team's mindset, Maurice reiterated, "We are that team. I mean, we've been that team all year. We had a little bit of a lapse in Game 4 here for a period and a half. But for the most part, we've been pretty consistent with it. We really like our 5-on-5 game. We're comfortable against anybody in the world with it."
As the series progresses to Game 6, the matchup promises to be intensely competitive, with each team grappling not only with their opponents but also with the pressure of advancing another step towards hoisting the Stanley Cup.