Oilers a step behind focused Panthers in Stanley Cup Game 5
Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch says the team got a good start in Game 5 but didn't capitalize on their early chances.
They simply weren't sharp.
Well, except for Connor McDavid, who led his team's attack, scored its first goal and generated the most scoring chances for his squad.
The Edmonton Oilers, while coming out of their dressing room with jump to begin the first and second periods, were off their game in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night.
A smidge, yes.
This is the National Hockey League, after all. The top level of the fastest game on ice.
But passes failed to find their mark for the Oilers. Pucks refused to settle down for them. Shots missed their mark.
On the other side, the visiting Florida Panthers played their championship-calibre playbook to perfection.
Sticks in lanes. Forechecking par excellence. Skill demonstrated adeptly by the likes of Brad Marchand, who scored twice, and Sam Bennett, who scored his 15th goal of the playoffs and was as dangerous as if not more so than McDavid, the NHL's top superstar, on this night.
Oilers vs. Panthers
Florida Panthers' goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save as Aaron Ekblad (5) and Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid (97) battle in front during third period of Game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Saturday, June 14, 2025.
(JASON FRANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
And jumping on chances, which was all the difference in Game 5, Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said after the game.
'It was a tight checking game all the way through,' Nugent-Hopkins told reporters in the dressing room after the game.
'They took advantage of some opportunities, and at the end of the day, we didn't, and it ends up being the difference.'
'They're a good, sound defensive team. They don't make any mistakes.'
— Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch
A game of inches. Both head coaches described the small margins of error that make the difference in a game played at this level, certainly in the championship final series.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Saturday's Game 5 was the type of game in which he'd like his side 'to open up a little bit.'
But, again, the opponent is the champs known for its air-tight defensive play. And they were on that game all night.
'They're not going to open up very much,' Knoblauch admitted after the game. 'They're a good, sound defensive team. They don't make any mistakes. We just had to try and execute a few more plays to open things up.'
Oilers vs. Panthers
Florida Panthers celebrate the win over the Edmonton Oilers at the end of Game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Saturday, June 14, 2025.
(JASON FRANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice described his team's success in Game 5 as 'the smallest thing,' saying the Oilers were right there with them but that his players managed to stay on top of their assignments.
'it's two feet of ice taken, a good stick, close support,' Maurice told media. 'These are small margins, everything that happens on the ice. The danger of that team is always there. You've got to be a foot better, two feet better, a little better stick, all those small things ...
'I don't think there was an egregious difference (Saturday night in Game 5.) The final score doesn't tell the story. There are so many close plays are posted. It's a lot tighter than final score wants you to believe.'
Nugent-Hopkins said the Oilers will 'stay confident, stay positive and take a look to see we can correct anything.'
'We had some looks, for sure, but maybe (we need to) find a way to generate some second, third looks quickly and pull them out of their formation a little bit more,' he said.
Game 6 is scheduled for Tuesday in Sunrise, Fla.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
26 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Mercedes' George Russell holds off Max Verstappen for Canadian GP win
Mercedes driver George Russell held off Red Bull's Max Verstappen for his fourth career race win, while McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris collided on Sunday at the Canadian Grand Prix. Russell started on pole for the second consecutive year in Montreal and held the advantage most of the race on a sunny, 24 C afternoon at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The British driver became the fourth race winner this year, joining Formula One leader Piastri, Norris and Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton ranks Montreal's Formula One track as one of his favourites Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli finished third behind Verstappen for his first F1 podium. The two McLarens came together when Norris, then in fifth, attempted to pass Piastri multiple times on the 67th lap out of 70. Norris ultimately ran into Piastri and fell out of the race, drawing a safety car for the final laps. Piastri finished fourth, ending an eight-race podium streak dating back to the second race of the season. McLaren as a team failed to reach the top three for the first time this year.
CTV News
26 minutes ago
- CTV News
George Russell wins Canadian Grand Prix as McLarens collide
Mercedes driver George Russell, of the United Kingdom, front, takes a turn ahead of the pack during Formula One auto racing action at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Sunday, June 15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes MONTREAL — Mercedes driver George Russell held off Red Bull's Max Verstappen for his fourth career race win, while McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris collided on Sunday at the Canadian Grand Prix. Russell started on pole for the second consecutive year in Montreal and held the advantage most of the race on a sunny, 24 C afternoon at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The British driver became the fourth race winner this year, joining Formula One leader Piastri, Norris and Verstappen. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli finished third behind Verstappen for his first F1 podium. The two McLarens came together when Norris, then in fifth, attempted to pass Piastri multiple times on the 67th lap out of 70. Norris ultimately ran into Piastri and fell out of the race, drawing a safety car for the final laps. Piastri finished fourth, ending an eight-race podium streak dating back to the second race of the season. McLaren as a team failed to reach the top three for the first time this year. Article by Daniel Rainbird.
CTV News
27 minutes ago
- CTV News
Amid dwindling membership, Quebec's lawn bowling champ looks to grow the sport
Lawn bowling is seeing new life in Pierrefonds, where champion Ryan Craig and fellow members are working to revive the sport and attract a new generation of players. When Ryan Craig moved from Northern Ireland to Pierrefonds three years ago, one of the first things he did was join a lawn bowling club. 'I came through the game at a young age because of my grandmother,' said Craig. 'She was an international coach for Ireland. And she gave me some coaching, and I just fell in love with the game.' Craig won the Quebec Men's Single Lawn Bowling championship several weeks ago and will be going to compete in the national championship in Edmonton this summer. 'The trophy was first played for in 1925. And that was a pretty special moment to win that,' he said. The game of bowls, also known as lawn bowling, traces its roots back to ancient Egypt. It flourished in Scotland and, from there, was exported around the world, including to Quebec, where it was once a popular sport. In the last few decades, Craig said lawn bowling clubs have struggled to stay alive. 'We've probably gone from 2500 members down to 500 playing members. We used to have around 11 or 10 clubs. Now we are down to five.' The city owns the Pierrefonds Lawn Bowling Club, but it is mostly run by volunteers who organize fundraisers throughout the year. Membership is around $150 for the year and is open to all ages. 'It's low impact, so that is the nice part. Anybody can do it,' said member Carolyn McGarr. 'I'm also a curler, and it's it's a different type of sport, but the strategy is exactly the same.' McGarr said it is also a social game, and it offers company to those who may be isolated. 'During the pandemic, we lost a lot of members to Covid, and it allowed their spouses to have somewhere to go, somewhere to share their feelings and their loss,' she said. Member John Devlin said it's important to introduce the sport to children at a young age. 'Once they see it and try it, they'll be hooked,' he said. 'We need to try and get away from the perspective that it's an old person's game.'
