If the Edmonton Oilers have hopes of becoming the second team to win a Stanley Cup Final after being three games to none in the series, then Saturday's blowout of Florida was a good start.
The Oilers avoided a sweep in dominant fashion Saturday night, beating the Florida Panthers 8-1.
At the beginning of the first period, the Panthers were on the power play and a shot hit the post. But after a turnover, the Oilers were on a 2-on-1, and Mattian Janmark found the back of the net thanks to a patient pass from Connor Brown. A few minutes later, Adam Henrique scored to give the northern boys a 2-0 lead, but Florida responded with a goal from Vladimir Tarasenko to cut the lead in half.
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Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (25) celebrates a goal with teammates in the second period against the Florida Panthers in game four of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports)
Edmonton, however, quickly returned the favor. This time it was Dylan Holloway with a clever pass from Leon Draisaitl to make it 3-1 Oilers. It was Draisaitl's first point in the series, and it was the first time the Oilers led by two goals in the entire series.
The scoring barrage continued in the second, when Connor McDavid finally scored his first goal in the Cup final. He didn't stop there.
Darnell Nurse joined the fun at the 4:59 mark of the period, forcing the Panthers to replace Sergei Bobrovsky with Anthony Stolarz. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored with a two-man advantage later in the period, and Holloway and Ryan Mcleod each added another in the third, for good measure.
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) celebrates a goal in the second period against the Florida Panthers in game four of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports)
The Oilers are looking to become the fifth team in NHL history to win a series after trailing 3-0, and the first since the 2014 Los Angeles Kings did so in the first round — they ended up winning the Cup that year later. to win two more. Game 7.
The only comeback in the Cup final was in 1942 by the Toronto Maple Leafs: it was the first 3-0 comeback in the Big 4 leagues.
Five other teams forced, but lost, a Game 7.
Edmonton Oilers center Adam Henrique (19) celebrates again with Edmonton Oilers center Mattias Janmark (13) in the first period against the Florida Panthers in game four of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place . (Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports)
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Game 5 will be Tuesday night in Florida at 8 pm ET.
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