The NHL postseason is nearing its end, and the Florida Panthers took a 3-2 series lead Saturday night over the Edmonton Oilers. Fans cannot ask for more entertainment than this Stanley Cup Final, but it leaves the Canadian team constantly fighting from behind due to one key difference between the teams. Odds are, if a team is choosing between their 1A and 1B goaltender, they lack a true number one.
Oilers Vs. Panthers Game Five
Initially considered a one-off, this contest had the same feelings as Game Three. The Oilers showed heart in their one-goal, scrappy wins, but this marks the second blowout in the series. Florida started the game with three unanswered goals.
- Forward Brad Marchand 9:12 into the first
- Forward Sam Bennet 18:06 into the first
- Marchand's second of the game, 05:12 into the third
Marchand has proven to be more than just a cog in the wheel of his former team, the Boston Bruins. After Game Five, ESPN reports that the player from Nova Scotia ranks fifth in goals and second in plus/minus this postseason. His output exceeds what most people expect from a third-line mid-season acquisition.
Oilers' forward Connor McDavid made it as competitive as it would get, scoring two minutes and 12 seconds later. The thunder in the home crowd left as quickly as it built, with Florida forward Sam Reinhart shutting the door only 46 seconds after the goal. Edmonton forward Corey Perry tied one with their goalie pulled, but Panthers’ forward Eetu Luostarinen dumped one in the same empty net moments later.
Oilers Key Issue
All NHL fans have seen a goalie discussion surrounding the Oilers. Both injuries and poor performances have forced them to bounce between Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard . Neither has been able to achieve a .900 save percentage, splitting the games 14-10 so far.
The Panthers' goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky , on the other hand, leaves Game Five with a .912 save percentage this postseason. He is the key difference between these two elite squads. There is enough sample size to determine that it is impossible for Edmonton to win a low-scoring affair, and the ever-calm Bobrovsky can take some pressure off the forwards.
Edmonton has one of the best teams in the world, including the most talented player in the league. They are a team, however, built from front to back, which goes against conventional wisdom. Even having the two most dangerous skaters on the ice isn’t enough to make up for their subpar goalie tandem.
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End Of My Oilers Rant
Edmonton will now travel to Florida with its Stanley Cup dreams on the line. Their defense will have to sharpen up because the goaltending is ever dull. The Panthers are averaging 4.6 goals per game in this series, a number not allowed by Stanley Cup Champions.
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