The Oilers’ Game 5 eruption for an 8-1 decimation of the stingy Panthers may have been the largest margin of victory for a team facing elimination in Stanley Cup Final history but, as hockey goes, the numbers don’t always tell an accurate story.
Florida proved more consistent in puck possession across all situations in Game 4. Edmonton committed three more turnovers and was out-hit 49-20, no less.
The difference was that despite the Panthers finishing the game with only five less high-danger scoring chances, Edmonton’s looks came early and often — and the Oilers cashed in.
All three of the Oilers’ first-period goals were conjured from odd-man rushes where Sergei Bobrovsky was caught in a precarious position.
His mental edge was empirically gone by the time Connor McDavid and Darnell Nurse potted their respective goals in 4:59 of the second period.
Bobrovsky, who slid down to the second-best Conn Smythe odds behind Aleksander Barkov following the flub, is 4-0-1 following a loss this postseason.
He has not lost consecutive games in regulation since March 21.
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While I expect a strong rebound from Bobrovsky back in Sunrise, Fla., let’s not forget that Florida remains the superior club at five-on-five — an acumen that has maintained consistency all playoffs.
Edmonton is at least three percentage points behind Florida in both expected goals and shot attempts.
All signs point to a tightly contested game with the Panthers primed to avenge Saturday’s embarrassment and hoist the Cup.
THE PLAY: Panthers ML (-135, bet365)