Some argued that the Edmonton Oilers didn’t deserve to trail 0-4 in the series based on their play, while others sided with the Florida Panthers, expecting a sweep in Game 4. At least the Oilers earned one win, though few anticipated such a lopsided result. This at least resolved one mystery. Before Game 4, analysts, experts, and fans speculated about who on the Panthers might win the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was a strong candidate, but after allowing five goals on 16 shots, he was replaced by Anthony Stolarz, who made his playoff debut this year. Not every goal was Bobrovsky’s fault, but fans had grown accustomed to him making saves in even more hopeless situations. The collapse was unexpected and poorly timed. Still, it’s unlikely to prevent Florida from celebrating a home victory on Tuesday night. After such a defeat, the team should have even more motivation. However, the sting of those eight goals will linger, and the Oilers will remember it.
The game favored not only the Oilers but also captain Connor McDavid. In Game 4, he recorded his 32nd assist of the playoffs, surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s record set in 1988. The Panthers’ troubles started from the opening minutes. The visitors earned a power play just two minutes into the game when Darnell Nurse took a penalty on Sam Bennett. Florida created several chances but couldn’t beat Stuart Skinner, and then they were caught on a counterattack. A two-on-one rush saw Connor Brown deke Bobrovsky and feed Mattias Janmark, who scored on the rebound. About five minutes later, Janmark sent the puck towards the net, and Adam Henrique scored on the rebound. The crowd erupted, but their joy was short-lived. Midway through the first period, Vladimir Tarasenko deflected Gustav Forsling’s shot to cut the lead. However, before the intermission, Dylan Holloway restored the two-goal advantage.
In the second period, McDavid made his mark. He first scored on a breakaway, beating Bobrovsky for the fourth goal, then assisted Darnell Nurse. After that goal, Stolarz replaced Bobrovsky in net, but he remained scoreless for about eight minutes. The Oilers then struck on a five-on-three power play. Just 34 minutes into the game, the contest was essentially over. Five-goal comebacks are rare in the regular season, let alone in a Stanley Cup Final against a confident opponent. The Oilers scored everything that had eluded them in the previous three games. Florida accepted the defeat stoically. There are silver linings: winning the Stanley Cup at home with full crowd support would be far sweeter. A comeback from 0-3 in a series has happened only once in NHL history, back in 1942. Such a scenario seems fantastical now. Bookmaker odds for Game 5:
– Florida Panthers win: from 2.18 (Liga Stavok) to 2.27 (BetCity)
– Edmonton Oilers win: from 2.76 (Lina Stavok) to 2.89 (Olimpbet)
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