Panthers Denied SCF Sweep By Desperate Oilers In 8-1 Blowout

Spoiler alert, winning in the Stanley Cup Final is not easy, but it’s even harder to sweep your opponent in the process. That’s why it hasn’t happened in over 20 years – you tend to get the best out of your opponent when they have nothing to lose. The Florida Panthers, who have played like a well-oiled machine in the first three games of the SCF, blew a fuse in Game Four by a score of 8-1 and denied the sweep.

Unsettling

However, it’s not time to panic. Florida has thankfully put themselves in a situation where Edmonton would need to win four games in a row to win the championship – something that hasn’t happened in this sport since Toronto did it in 1942.

Not a lot went right for the Cats tonight, and that wasn’t helped with some shoddy defense against a hungry Oilers team. From the get-go, a shorthanded goal for Edmonton three minutes in was not a great sign of things to come, and Edmonton doubled down with a tip-in almost five minutes later, putting the Panthers in a hole.

The only real positive for Florida tonight came in not long after, as Vladimir Tarasenko tipped in a longshot from Gustav Forsling for his second goal in this series, and the only goal for the Cats tonight.

THE TARASENK-SHOW IS IN TOWN ‼️ pic.twitter.com/rJyJEEkDsz

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) June 16, 2024

After that?

Six unanswered goals for Edmonton. One more in the first period, three in the second, and two more in the latter period for good measure. Sergei Bobrovsky, the betting favorite to win the Conn Smythe Award up to this point, was sent off the ice after the fifth goal, giving Anthony Stolarz goaltender duties for the rest of the game.

Nothing went Florida’s way. They were out-shot, committed more penalties, and weren’t the aggressive team that we’ve seen in the previous games. Edmonton spent most of the game picking the Panthers’ pockets or capitalizing on mistakes, and it worked.

Silver Lining?

If there’s anything this game reminded me of, it was the fourth game of the first round against Tampa. The Lightning had their backs against the wall and played like it, dropping six goals on Florida and winning one in front of their fans. Still, the Panthers bounced back in Game Five and took care of business.

Florida now has an opportunity to do the same and potentially raise the Stanley Cup in front of their fans in Sunrise. Game Five is scheduled for Tuesday at 8 pm.