Panthers close in on 2nd straight Stanley Cup title by beating the Oilers 5-2 in Game 5
Share and Follow


EDMONTON, Alberta — Brad Marchand scored twice, Sam Bennett had his NHL playoff-leading 15th goal and the Florida Panthers moved to the verge of a second consecutive Stanley Cup title by beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in Game 5 on Saturday night.

The Panthers improved to 10-3 on the road this playoffs. They can hoist the Cup again as soon as Tuesday night if they win Game 6 on home ice in Sunrise.

Florida this time built a multigoal lead and built on it, unlike a couple of previous games in the final. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced, making some important saves when needed, and was aided by lockdown defense that took ice away from the Oilers.

Marchand, Bennett and Sam Reinhart provided the offense. Marchand joined Mario Lemieux as the only players in the past half-century to score five-plus goals in a final multiple times, and his 13 career goals in the final are the most among active players.

Connor McDavid scored his first goal of the series after the Oilers fell behind 3-0. Reinhart’s came 46 seconds later to restore the Panthers’ three-goal lead, and by the time Corey Perry scored with 3:13 left, it was too late.

Eetu Luostarinen sealed it with an empty-netter with 1:19 left, silencing the once fired-up crowd for a final time.

Edmonton’s power play went 0 for 3, a product of the Panthers’ aggressive penalty kill knocking McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the rest of the top unit out of their usual rhythm.

Calvin Pickard lost for the first time in eight starts this spring, allowing four goals on 18 shots. He got the nod over Stuart Skinner after entering in relief and winning Game 4 to improve to 7-0, a record that is now 7-1.

Skinner could be back in for Game 6, with the Panthers aiming to close things out following another cross-continental trip back to the other corner of North America. They are in this spot after bouncing back from blowing a three-goal lead and falling in overtime in Game 4, taking advantage of their depth to send the Oilers to the brink again.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Blaze Sweeps Through Mountainous Region North of Los Angeles

() Crews in California are working to control a rapidly spreading wildfire…

A man who murdered a nurse visiting the area and prompted changes in safety protocols has been sentenced to 50 years in prison.

A convicted rapist who killed a Connecticut visiting nurse at a halfway…

A Lesser-Known Infertility Method Challenges the White House’s IVF Initiative

President Donald Trump has nicknamed himself “the fertilization president,” but six months…

Man Defends Himself After Being Shot by Biting Suspect’s Finger

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A 23-year-old man was shot on a…

Damian Lillard’s Agent Criticizes the Bucks Over Controversial Departure

Damian Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, has made headlines again. Following the Bucks’…

Donald Trump Confirms Putin’s Planned Visit to the U.S. for Crucial Meeting

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will meet with Russian…

Walmart’s Significant Store Revamp to Revolutionize Customer Shopping Experience

Walmart is taking its show on the road — literally — with…

Efforts Underway to Preserve Weiss Memorial Hospital in Uptown, Chicago as Medicare Funding Faces Termination This Saturday

CHICAGO (WLS) — A Chicago hospital could be closing in a few…