<p>After a heroic comeback win in Game 4 to even the series, the Stanley Cup Final became a best-of-three series, with the winner of Game 5 needing only one more win to claim the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, it was the Panthers who seized the opportunity with a near-perfect road game to close out <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-on-verge-of-elimination-loss-at-home-game-5-florida-panthers">a 5-2 win</a> and put themselves one win away from repeating as champions.</p>
<h2><strong>OILERS COME OUT FLAT AGAIN</strong></h2>
<p>I can&#8217;t even begin to describe how disappointing it was to watch the Oilers come out as flat as they did for the third consecutive game. After an emotional comeback win in <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/12/edmonton-oilers-beat-florida-panthers-game-4-tie-stanley-cup-final/">Game 4</a>, you&#8217;d think Edmonton would have better recognized the need for a quick start, but that is not what we got. And for the third consecutive game, the Panthers tagged the Oilers with two+ goals and put our boys in a hole that makes life way more difficult than it needed to be. Needless to say, it was beyond disappointing to be down two goals again so quickly into a key game. But unlike what we saw on Thursday, there was no pushback until it was much too late.</p>
<p>In the biggest moments, we need everyone in orange and blue rowing in the same direction, but we didn&#8217;t get that again until it was &#8216;pull the goalie time&#8217; and the game was all but over. I know there were missed calls that were annoyingly ignored, but that doesn&#8217;t change that the Panthers outworked, out-hustled, and out-battled the Oilers at every turn. As good as the Panthers were, the scales balanced out with how poorly the Oilers executed. I mean, how else would you describe a first period when you&#8217;re outscored 2-0, outshot 9-3, and looked generally overwhelmed? How do you let that happen again? How do you not do more to dig the f**ck in?</p>
<h2><strong>THE POWER PLAY NEEDED TO BE A FACTOR</strong></h2>
<p>On a night when the Panthers were as tight defensively as a team can be, the Oilers needed their power play to be a difference maker but it didn&#8217;t end up even getting close to a job well done. Despite having three opportunities with the man advantage, Edmonton struggled to produce shots on goal, let alone score a goal. That&#8217;s a rough result for a power play unit that has consistently scored goals in eight straight games coming into Saturday night, especially when they&#8217;ve already had four games to come up with a few Plan Bs and Cs.</p>
<p>With three penalties in the opening half of the game, Florida gave Edmonton enough looks to make a difference in the end result, and that&#8217;s what makes it so frustrating that they barely got a sniff. Outside of the one post that Connor McDavid hit, there weren&#8217;t many shots, nor was there much chaos going on in front of Sergei Bobrovsky. Instead of putting pucks on net, the Oilers continued to look for the perfect seam pass, when sometimes it can be even more effective to bang in a greasy rebound off the pads. And with the Panthers&#8217; PK as aggressive as it is, you&#8217;d think there would be some odd-man opportunities in the key if only they started putting more pucks through.</p>
<h2><strong>DO OR DIE</strong></h2>
<p>For the first time in this playoff run, the Edmonton Oilers will face an elimination game, and it comes once again when the stakes are at their highest. For the second year in a row, the Panthers have the chance to eliminate the Oilers on home ice and win the Stanley Cup. As horrific as that is to write, that&#8217;s where we&#8217;re at after the Oilers fell flat on their face in front of a raucous home crowd to kick off this best-of-three for the win. Instead of hitting the ice with purpose and pace, they looked like they were playing not to lose. Being scared of making mistakes and playing scared is not going to work against a team as good as the Panthers.</p>
<p>If the Oilers have any chance of dragging the series back to &#8216;Berta for a Game 7 on home ice, they&#8217;ll need to come up with 10x better than what they offered in <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/14/game-preview-edmonton-oilers-florida-panthers-start-best-of-three-rogers-place-6pm-cbc/">Game 5</a>. They looked timid and scared to make mistakes, instead of trying to make plays and create their own luck. If the Panthers are going to clog up the middle of the ice, then it&#8217;s up to Edmonton to get bodies to the front of the net and create a little chaos. Why not lean into what the Panthers have turned into a strength? If they&#8217;re not going to give the Oilers much time, then why look for the perfect shot? Corey Perry&#8217;s third-period goal was a fine example of what can happen when you put pucks on net with bodies in Bobrovsky&#8217;s eyes, and they&#8217;ll need a lot more like it if we&#8217;re going to see our beloved Oilers back at Rogers Place again.</p>
<h1>OTHER THINGS WORTH MENTIONING&#8230;</h1>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Recapping Game 5 - Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers | Oilersnation After Dark" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nshtX12khw8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>1.</strong> Can&#8217;t win in Game 7 at home if you don&#8217;t lose <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/14/edmonton-oilers-florida-panthers-game-5-information-line-combinations-starting-goaltenders/">Game 5</a> or Game 6. Hope Will Never Die.</p>
<p><strong>2</strong>. Brad Marchand has been ridiculous all series long, and the trend continued again in Game 5 when he opened the scoring when he pylon&#8217;d Mattias Ekholm with a quick cut to the middle of the ice that essentially put him all alone against Calvin Pickard. On the broadcast, Kevin Bieksa talked about being faceoff ready, and I&#8217;m pretty sure that first goal was a prime example of what not to do. Marchand was done with the one goal, though, as he kicked off the third period with a highlight-reel marker that we&#8217;ll be seeing on the best-of compilations for a long time. Tough one on many levels.</p>
<p><strong>3.</strong> Connor McDavid picked up his first goal of the Stanley Cup Final moments after Brad Marchand extended the lead to three goals, keeping the flicker of hope alive for only 46 seconds before Sam Reinhart responded once again. McDavid had plenty of chances over the last few games, but couldn&#8217;t manage to get anything to go, so if I&#8217;m taking a silver lining away from the loss it has to be that No. 97 finally got on the board. If the Oilers have any hope of winning the next two games, they&#8217;ll need their captain to be leading the charge.</p>
<p><strong>4.</strong> Calvin Pickard had a very tough task in front of him with <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/14/calvin-pickard-starts-edmonton-oilers-game-5-florida-panthers-evander-kane/">his first-career Stanley Cup Final start</a> after <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/11/stuart-skinner-or-calvin-pickard-edmonton-oilers-stanley-cup-final/">replacing Stuart Skinner between the pipes in both Games 3 and 4</a>. Not to mention, it was a major gamble for Kris Knoblauch to start his back up instead of going back to Skinner in a friendly environment. Unfortunately, we didn&#8217;t get the best of our pal Cal as he gave up four goals on 18 shots for a .778 save percentage. I&#8217;m not saying everything was his fault — the Oilers skaters were nowhere close to sharp — but that was a tough result in a game that big.</p>
<p><strong>5.</strong> I know the Panthers blocked 17 shots, but getting only 21 on Sergei Bobrovsky is nowhere near enough. We&#8217;ve seen plenty of times in this series that he can be beaten, but that&#8217;s not going to work without putting more pucks his way. Instead of always looking for the perfect pass and shot, I&#8217;d love to see them try and get something to bounce off Bob&#8217;s pads with a few bodies in net hacking away. Ugly goals are just as beautiful as the highlight reel ones, and the Oilers need to find more of that hard hat mentality as the series heads back to Sunrise.</p>
<p><strong>6.</strong> Another night of faceoffs losses. Only 46.3% for the Oilers in Game 5.</p>
<h2><strong>PRESENTED BY ODD COMPANY</strong></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-161882 aligncenter" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/website-banner-727x404-1.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/website-banner-727x404-1.png 727w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/website-banner-727x404-1-300x167.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px" /></p>
<p>We’re beyond excited to announce our latest partnership with Odd Company Brewing to bring you <a href="https://www.oddcompany.ca/new-blog/2024/10/8/nationbeer-everyday-lager" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the all-new Nation Beer</a> Everyday Lager! Whether you&#8217;re watching the big game, chilling with friends, or just kicking back after a long day, this crisp, refreshing lager is the perfect choice. It’s the brew you can count on anytime, anywhere. So, why not make it your next game-day tradition? Nation Beer Everyday Lager is available now at Odd Company Brewing and through Liquor Connect. Don’t miss out—grab yours today and take your beer game to the next level! Cheers, Nation Citizens!</p>


Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid vs. Florida Panthers

After a heroic comeback win in Game 4 to even the series, the Stanley Cup Final became a best-of-three series, with the winner of Game 5 needing only one more win to claim the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, it was the Panthers who seized the opportunity with a near-perfect road game to close out <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-on-verge-of-elimination-loss-at-home-game-5-florida-panthers">a 5-2 win</a> and put themselves one win away from repeating as champions.
<h2><strong>OILERS COME OUT FLAT AGAIN</strong></h2>
I can't even begin to describe how disappointing it was to watch the Oilers come out as flat as they did for the third consecutive game. After an emotional comeback win in <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/12/edmonton-oilers-beat-florida-panthers-game-4-tie-stanley-cup-final/">Game 4</a>, you'd think Edmonton would have better recognized the need for a quick start, but that is not what we got. And for the third consecutive game, the Panthers tagged the Oilers with two+ goals and put our boys in a hole that makes life way more difficult than it needed to be. Needless to say, it was beyond disappointing to be down two goals again so quickly into a key game. But unlike what we saw on Thursday, there was no pushback until it was much too late.

In the biggest moments, we need everyone in orange and blue rowing in the same direction, but we didn't get that again until it was 'pull the goalie time' and the game was all but over. I know there were missed calls that were annoyingly ignored, but that doesn't change that the Panthers outworked, out-hustled, and out-battled the Oilers at every turn. As good as the Panthers were, the scales balanced out with how poorly the Oilers executed. I mean, how else would you describe a first period when you're outscored 2-0, outshot 9-3, and looked generally overwhelmed? How do you let that happen again? How do you not do more to dig the f**ck in?
<h2><strong>THE POWER PLAY NEEDED TO BE A FACTOR</strong></h2>
On a night when the Panthers were as tight defensively as a team can be, the Oilers needed their power play to be a difference maker but it didn't end up even getting close to a job well done. Despite having three opportunities with the man advantage, Edmonton struggled to produce shots on goal, let alone score a goal. That's a rough result for a power play unit that has consistently scored goals in eight straight games coming into Saturday night, especially when they've already had four games to come up with a few Plan Bs and Cs.

With three penalties in the opening half of the game, Florida gave Edmonton enough looks to make a difference in the end result, and that's what makes it so frustrating that they barely got a sniff. Outside of the one post that Connor McDavid hit, there weren't many shots, nor was there much chaos going on in front of Sergei Bobrovsky. Instead of putting pucks on net, the Oilers continued to look for the perfect seam pass, when sometimes it can be even more effective to bang in a greasy rebound off the pads. And with the Panthers' PK as aggressive as it is, you'd think there would be some odd-man opportunities in the key if only they started putting more pucks through.
<h2><strong>DO OR DIE</strong></h2>
For the first time in this playoff run, the Edmonton Oilers will face an elimination game, and it comes once again when the stakes are at their highest. For the second year in a row, the Panthers have the chance to eliminate the Oilers on home ice and win the Stanley Cup. As horrific as that is to write, that's where we're at after the Oilers fell flat on their face in front of a raucous home crowd to kick off this best-of-three for the win. Instead of hitting the ice with purpose and pace, they looked like they were playing not to lose. Being scared of making mistakes and playing scared is not going to work against a team as good as the Panthers.

If the Oilers have any chance of dragging the series back to 'Berta for a Game 7 on home ice, they'll need to come up with 10x better than what they offered in <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/14/game-preview-edmonton-oilers-florida-panthers-start-best-of-three-rogers-place-6pm-cbc/">Game 5</a>. They looked timid and scared to make mistakes, instead of trying to make plays and create their own luck. If the Panthers are going to clog up the middle of the ice, then it's up to Edmonton to get bodies to the front of the net and create a little chaos. Why not lean into what the Panthers have turned into a strength? If they're not going to give the Oilers much time, then why look for the perfect shot? Corey Perry's third-period goal was a fine example of what can happen when you put pucks on net with bodies in Bobrovsky's eyes, and they'll need a lot more like it if we're going to see our beloved Oilers back at Rogers Place again.
<h1>OTHER THINGS WORTH MENTIONING...</h1>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nshtX12khw8

&nbsp;

<strong>1.</strong> Can't win in Game 7 at home if you don't lose <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/14/edmonton-oilers-florida-panthers-game-5-information-line-combinations-starting-goaltenders/">Game 5</a> or Game 6. Hope Will Never Die.

<strong>2</strong>. Brad Marchand has been ridiculous all series long, and the trend continued again in Game 5 when he opened the scoring when he pylon'd Mattias Ekholm with a quick cut to the middle of the ice that essentially put him all alone against Calvin Pickard. On the broadcast, Kevin Bieksa talked about being faceoff ready, and I'm pretty sure that first goal was a prime example of what not to do. Marchand was done with the one goal, though, as he kicked off the third period with a highlight-reel marker that we'll be seeing on the best-of compilations for a long time. Tough one on many levels.

<strong>3.</strong> Connor McDavid picked up his first goal of the Stanley Cup Final moments after Brad Marchand extended the lead to three goals, keeping the flicker of hope alive for only 46 seconds before Sam Reinhart responded once again. McDavid had plenty of chances over the last few games, but couldn't manage to get anything to go, so if I'm taking a silver lining away from the loss it has to be that No. 97 finally got on the board. If the Oilers have any hope of winning the next two games, they'll need their captain to be leading the charge.

<strong>4.</strong> Calvin Pickard had a very tough task in front of him with <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/14/calvin-pickard-starts-edmonton-oilers-game-5-florida-panthers-evander-kane/">his first-career Stanley Cup Final start</a> after <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/11/stuart-skinner-or-calvin-pickard-edmonton-oilers-stanley-cup-final/">replacing Stuart Skinner between the pipes in both Games 3 and 4</a>. Not to mention, it was a major gamble for Kris Knoblauch to start his back up instead of going back to Skinner in a friendly environment. Unfortunately, we didn't get the best of our pal Cal as he gave up four goals on 18 shots for a .778 save percentage. I'm not saying everything was his fault — the Oilers skaters were nowhere close to sharp — but that was a tough result in a game that big.

<strong>5.</strong> I know the Panthers blocked 17 shots, but getting only 21 on Sergei Bobrovsky is nowhere near enough. We've seen plenty of times in this series that he can be beaten, but that's not going to work without putting more pucks his way. Instead of always looking for the perfect pass and shot, I'd love to see them try and get something to bounce off Bob's pads with a few bodies in net hacking away. Ugly goals are just as beautiful as the highlight reel ones, and the Oilers need to find more of that hard hat mentality as the series heads back to Sunrise.

<strong>6.</strong> Another night of faceoffs losses. Only 46.3% for the Oilers in Game 5.
<h2><strong>PRESENTED BY ODD COMPANY</strong></h2>
<img class="size-full wp-image-161882 aligncenter" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/website-banner-727x404-1.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" />

We’re beyond excited to announce our latest partnership with Odd Company Brewing to bring you <a href="https://www.oddcompany.ca/new-blog/2024/10/8/nationbeer-everyday-lager" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the all-new Nation Beer</a> Everyday Lager! Whether you're watching the big game, chilling with friends, or just kicking back after a long day, this crisp, refreshing lager is the perfect choice. It’s the brew you can count on anytime, anywhere. So, why not make it your next game-day tradition? Nation Beer Everyday Lager is available now at Odd Company Brewing and through Liquor Connect. Don’t miss out—grab yours today and take your beer game to the next level! Cheers, Nation Citizens!

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