Panthers-Oilers Recreation 4 takeaways, early have a look at Recreation 5

Effectively, THAT was surprising.

On the verge of being swept within the 2024 Stanley Cup Remaining, the Edmonton Oilers dominated the Florida Panthers en path to a 8-1 victory in Recreation 4. The collection now heads again to Dawn, Florida, with the Panthers searching for the “gentleman’s sweep” (successful in 5 video games).

There have been many notable occasions on this one, together with Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scoring objectives for the primary time all collection, and Sergei Bobrovsky being pulled for the primary time all postseason.

We’re right here to interrupt all of it down for you. Listed below are our grades for each groups, together with takeaways that caught out essentially the most, key gamers to look at for Recreation 5 and the massive questions left unanswered previous to Recreation 5 (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+).

Panthers grade: C-

Florida was most likely due for a dud. The Panthers had been on a dominant run by way of the playoffs — they entered Recreation 4 on a six-game win streak — and regarded drained out from the beginning.

Sergei Bobrovsky had been the Panthers’ spine, and even he could not salvage something for Florida, being pulled after permitting 5 objectives halfway by way of the competition.

The Panthers’ particular groups allow them to down, with objectives allowed whereas shorthanded and on the ability play, and Edmonton’s star skaters vastly outplayed Florida’s prime shooters, who failed to seem on the scoresheet.

It was the form of recreation Florida has to attempt to flush, with out permitting how poorly they confirmed up total to leak into their subsequent matchup.

Oilers grade: A+

Edmonton lastly awakened in Recreation 4. Unsurprisingly, the Oilers weren’t prepared for his or her season to finish.

Connor McDavid? Sensational. His four-point evening earned the Oilers’ captain his thirty second help of the postseason, to interrupt Wayne Gretzky’s earlier NHL report for many helpers in a single playoff run.

Dylan Holloway tucked in two objectives to assist pad the Oilers’ lead, and show how harmful Edmonton will be when all their traces get rolling.

Stuart Skinner placed on a improbable efficiency in web, and the Oilers protection confirmed as much as give Skinner sufficient help.

Couple all of that with some wonderful particular groups play — together with one shorthanded and one power-play aim — and Edmonton really put all of it collectively to plant severe doubt in Florida’s thoughts’s about the place the remainder of this Cup Remaining is headed.

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Leon Draisaitl: ‘We did our job on the offensive aspect’

Leon Draisaitl recaps the Oilers’ magnificent 8-goal efficiency to remain alive and pressure a Recreation 5.

What we discovered in Recreation 4

Sergei Bobrovsky’s first falter

Florida’s goaltending has been arguably its greatest asset within the Cup Remaining. However Bobrovsky is human, in spite of everything.

The Panthers’ goaltender was pulled within the second interval of Recreation 4 after giving up 5 objectives on 16 photographs. And that was after Bobrovsky went into Saturday’s recreation with a .953 save proportion and 1.33 goals-against common within the Cup Remaining.

His save on Ryan McLeod late within the third interval of Recreation 3 sealed the Panthers’ victory, and put them in place to win the Cup in Recreation 4. Florida’s lackluster defensive effort in entrance of Bobrovsky took a toll, and it finally made extra sense to present Bobrovsky some relaxation forward of one other probability to clinch in Recreation 5.

Welcome to the collection, Edmonton’s stars

The Oilers’ prime skaters had been inundated with criticism over failing to have an effect by way of the Cup Remaining’s first three video games. Effectively, think about that barrier breached.

McDavid had one aim and three factors within the first two intervals alone. Leon Draisaitl had two assists, Nugent-Hopkins had a aim and Darnell Nurse had one other. For as soon as, it was the celebs churning out star-like performances to elevate Edmonton to the primary win of the collection.

Whether or not it was fueled by desperation or simply an inevitable waking of the Oilers’ sleeping giants, they could not have picked a extra essential second to lastly enter the proverbial chat.

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Connor McDavid scores his 1st Stanley Cup aim

Connor McDavid zips dwelling his first Stanley Cup aim to present the Oilers a 4-1 lead within the second interval.

When Florida’s dangerous, it is dangerous

The Panthers had not allowed eight or extra objectives since Recreation 5 of the 2023 Cup Remaining when the Vegas Golden Knights lit the lamp 9 instances.

Suffice to say, Florida’s disjointed effort was a real anomaly, and one which’s onerous to elucidate away.

The Panthers knew what was at stake in Recreation 4 — the Cup was, in spite of everything, within the constructing — and but Florida appeared inept and out of kinds in a means the Panthers have not proven in a while. The best way Edmonton capitalized off the push and will strain Florida from the slot space — when the Panthers had beforehand carried out a wonderful job holding the Oilers off — have been fast examples of Florida being thrown off. The query now’s whether or not they keep that means, or handle to get again on observe.

Edmonton’s particular groups generally is a issue

It took till Recreation 4, however the Oilers’ energy play lastly discovered the gasoline pedal. That is good news for Edmonton.

Florida gave the Oilers ample alternative to check drive their man benefit, and Edmonton went 1-for-6, a hardly spectacular stat line till it is taken in consideration with the Oilers’ complete lack of success on the ability play up till Nugent-Hopkins broke by way of.

Add to {that a} shorthanded aim from Mattias Janmark to open the scoring on Saturday, and that is some severe confidence-boosting power for Edmonton and their particular groups prospects. These models might properly be the distinction in a tricky Recreation 5 to come back — when the Oilers must count on the Panthers shall be determined to redeem themselves.

Gamers to look at in Recreation 5

Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Panthers

Recreation 4 made it abundantly clear that as Bobrovsky goes, so do the Panthers. Subsequently, seeing Bobrovsky bounce again in Recreation 5 shall be paramount to Florida’s success in that contest.

The veteran netminder appeared light-hearted on the bench after being pulled on Saturday — even finding a puck and flipping it out to a Florida fan within the stands — and that is a superb signal he will not let the debacle in Recreation 4 have an effect on his confidence going ahead. The Panthers will want him rejuvenated and able to maintain the Oilers’ stars from having one other subject day.

Connor McDavid, C, Oilers

It is no coincidence that when McDavid acquired sizzling, so did the Oilers’ offense. Whereas the tail finish of Recreation 3 confirmed Edmonton might push again when on the brink, it was actually when McDavid & Co. performed to their full potential in Recreation 4 that the Oilers really regarded one of the best they’ve within the Cup Remaining.

The Oilers could have their backs in opposition to the wall from right here to the top of this collection, and can mimic what urgency their captain brings to the battle. McDavid was feeding each linemate he might in Recreation 4 — on the ability play, and at 5-on-5 — so it is clear he acknowledges the worth in making everybody really feel necessary. Channeling that all-for-one power once more might go a great distance for Edmonton conserving this collection going.

Huge questions for Recreation 5

Are the floodgates open for Edmonton?

A worst-case state of affairs for Florida was Edmonton discovering its legs offensively. The Oilers have been torpid up entrance early within the collection, and that was one thing of which the Panthers clearly took benefit.

However Edmonton extracted some energy from their play within the third interval of Recreation 3, and it translated right into a sizzling begin in Recreation 4 that by no means died out. Is it a constructive signal of what is to come back for Edmonton? Can the Oilers recreate that dominance once more — and once more — because the Cup Remaining strikes alongside? Or will Florida’s projected counter-punch throw the Oilers again off observe in Recreation 5? Now that the spark is lit for Edmonton it is on their prime gamers to maintain it alight from right here.

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Oilers pouring it on as Ryan McLeod slaps dwelling eighth aim

Ryan McLeod slaps dwelling the aim to present the Oilers an 8-1 lead.

How will Florida reply to a lopsided loss?

The Panthers hadn’t misplaced a playoff contest by a number of objectives since Recreation 1 of their second-round collection in opposition to the Boston Bruins (which was a 5-1 defeat). Actually, Florida had misplaced solely three video games complete since then, going into Recreation 4.

All-in-all, the Panthers haven’t got a lot expertise within the postseason with unfavorable one-sided outcomes or getting vastly outplayed throughout the board. That is what occurred on Saturday although, and now the Panthers have to indicate what they’re product of with a responsive effort in Recreation 5.

Florida is aware of it might probably’t let Edmonton steal an excessive amount of momentum — or else. The Panthers have proven repeatedly within the playoffs that they will rally from disappointment — having not recorded consecutive losses the complete postseason — and that is by no means been extra essential a trait to have than it’s now.