Oilers v. Panthers: Two games, two OTs, two teams with little between them fighting for Lord Stanley's mug
Edmonton needs to flip script with a split in Florida to bring a best-of-three series back home
By Ashley Sutherland and Paul J. Henderson
With the Stanley Cup Final series tied, there’s not much daylight between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers, except that the latter has made it a best of five and grabbed home-ice advantage
Now Edmonton needs to flip the script and at least do the same, namely, split in Sunrise, Florida. If they come back to Edmonton down 3-1, history and statistics and betting experts will tell you: It’s over.
Splitting makes it a best of three with two games in Edmonton, and unless you bleed blue and orange, come on, most of us want a game seven again. Rarely do sporting events live up to the hype, but game one and two did just that. In game one it took just 66 manic seconds for Edmonton to get on the board, and the following five minutes confirmed that we were in for a hell of a series.
Two OTs later, here we are.
A rout one way or the other no longer seems to be a possibility in this series, and even for Canadians cheering for Edmonton to win, a close battle is what most hockey fans are looking for.
There’s nothing worse as a sports fan when the hype fizzles out immediately. Remember Mike Tyson v. Evander Holyfield II? So much anticipation but the ear was bitten even before the nachos arrived.
The Oil are a right-brain team, best when they can be creative and free. The Panthers are left-brained, structured, methodical, all X’s and O’s. This is why the Oilers are much better at home. While the Panthers, like programmed hockey robots, play the same relentless game home and away. Edmonton reaches astounding heights at home feeding on the emotion of their fans and the atmosphere in the building.
Will Connor McDavid and the Oil be able to eke one of these two games out? It’s going to take some more magic. McMoses parting four red jerseys with a dish to Ekholm in game one, and the third Edmonton goal in game two may be some of the best assists hockey fans have ever seen.
Oiler fans also know that Skinner will likely have at least one stinker. If so, it has to happen in one of these two games in Florida.
Canadian hockey fans are hoping they are watching the table being set for a McJesus game seven miracle on ice.
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Paul J. Henderson
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