No, it’s not too early to call this one a rivalry. You got two teams looking to clock one another for the 12th game running in a series that started last season when the Florida Panthers got the best of the Edmonton Oilers.
And now, it’s time for the Panthers to redeem themselves following their embarrassing collapse in Game Four of the Stanley Cup Final. It took a goaltending change and some rejuvenation, but at the end of the night, the Panthers fell apart while the Oilers stole Game Four in multiple ways.
Not only did Edmonton tie the series, but they took back the home-ice advantage. While the Panthers proved they could beat Edmonton when the series went north of the border, they’re still doing this the hard way.
The Oilers have been stellar at home for the most part in these playoffs, and the last thing the Panthers needed was to hand home ice back in the Oilers' favor.
Panthers should head into Game 5 and beat the Oilers in one overlooked way.
The Cats need to go into Alberta and agitate the opposition for the first 20 minutes of the game. Everyone knows how badly the Oilers play when they lose their cool, and it seems like they’re more interested in getting even with their opponents than they are in actually playing the game.
So, Florida needs to go into Rogers Place and wreak havoc. The Panthers need to engage in extracurricular activity after each whistle and do all they can to throw the Oilers off their game. If the Panthers can do this in the first frame, I like their chances tonight. Sure, they need to capitalize on their chances when they’re available, but the best way to make the most of them is to play a rugged brand of hockey.
The last thing Florida needs is to go in there with memories of their previous matchup haunting them. It’s a recipe for disaster and would make it that much more difficult when the series reverts to Sunrise for Game 6.
Florida also can’t let the Oilers create a spark.
When a team pulls their netminder, it’s almost always to create a spark and give the team a chance to reset. That was the case for the Oilers in Game Four, which led to the disaster that was.
In Game 5, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch might try the same tactic if needed, be it a goalie swap or a mix of the lines and pairings, if he feels it's necessary. Regardless of what the Oilers do, the Panthers must adapt and refuse to let a multi-goal lead slip if they build one tonight.
So, if you wanted me to hand you the keys to the game, I couldn’t. Florida can be and is the better team when they win the psychological warfare. If they can do that tonight, they’ll go back home with a 3-2 lead and try to claim another Stanley Cup on their home ice.
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