After back-to-back losses, Panthers' Cup Final goal clear as ever: 'Just got to win one game'

The Panthers held Edmonton scoreless on 10 power-play opportunities through the first three games.

“We just have to keep battling, keep doing what we do,” defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson said. “Obviously, we believe in our kill. It’s been good all year, [but] they have a good power play.”

— Containing Connor McDavid: After Florida held the superstar center to just three points through the first three games, McDavid has erupted for eight points (three goals, five assists) in Games 4 and 5. He now has a staggering 42 points this postseason (eight goals, 34 assists).

“Yeah,” Ekman-Larsson said, “he’s good.”

Now that said, the Panthers showed signs of life late that they will need to build on as they head into Game 6.

After Edmonton went up 3-0, the Panthers held the Oilers to just 11 shots on goal over the final 35 minutes — including a mere four shots in the third period — as they mounted their comeback bid.

Tkachuk cut the deficit to 3-1 6:53 into the second period with a snap shot from the slot after Evan Rodrigues won a board battle to keep the puck in the offensive zone.

Edmonton and Florida then swapped goals over a 12-second span later in the period — Corey Perry scoring for the Oilers on the power play before Rodrigues poked a puck past Stuart Skinner following a Brandon Montour shot on the following shift — to make the score 4-2 after two periods.

Ekman-Larsson got Florida within one goal 4:04 into the third period when he buried a behind-the-net feed from Tkachuk but the Panthers couldn’t get that final goal to tie the game and Edmonton sealed the win with a McDavid empty-netter in the final seconds of regulation.

“We were down in that game and we kept pushing, kept coming back and gave ourselves a chance to come back in that game,” Ekman-Larsson said.

Added Maurice: “We gave up [four] shots in the third period. We were pretty good,” Maurice said. “Momentum’s not an issue. We played a helluva game. We gave up a shorthanded goal. That’s gotta stop. That’s two [in the series]. We got some sticks on some hands there for the first time and ended up in the penalty box for it. So we’re going to have to be real mindful of that because we know that’s going to lead to a penalty. And then after that our five-on-five game was pretty good. ... I didn’t mind our game. I thought we were all right. We should be intensely interested in the next one and see how that’s played.”

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