Connor McDavid, Oilers vs. Panthers

The Edmonton Oilers’ goal for Game 5 was to drag the Florida Panthers back to Alberta.

They succeeded.

Both teams board the plane again for the 2,500-mile flight to Edmonton, as the Oilers force a Game 6 with a 5-3 victory on Tuesday night.

Oilers captain and three-time NHL MVP Connor McDavid was the driving force again, getting two goals and two assists in Game 5, giving him eight points in the past two games as his team has avoided elimination twice.

“It was a total team effort, from top to bottom,” McDavid told reporters.

Zach Hyman scored his first goal of the finals, Corey Perry scored his first of the playoffs after a huge stickhandling effort from McDavid and the Oilers’ special teams connected for two power play goals and a short-handed goal.

The Oilers become just the fourth team to force a Game 6 after losing the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final.

The Panthers pressed on after trailing 4-1, but couldn’t tie the score in the third period and McDavid scored an empty-netter.

The Panthers will look to end their two-game losing streak and complete their first Stanley Cup championship Friday night (8 p.m. ET, ABC) at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

“I don’t feel deflated, and neither does the hockey team,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice told reporters. “They don’t feel deflated. A little grumpy.”

A closer look at Game 5:

Winners

Connor McDavid, Oil Companies: He had another four-point game as he saved the Oilers’ season again. He beat Sergei Bobrovsky from an acute angle and weaved his way through defenders to set up Corey Perry. McDavid has 42 points, fourth-best all-time and five points behind Wayne Gretzky’s 1985 NHL record.

Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers: He looked like the Tkachuk of old. He broke a nine-match drought, setting up Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s goal and scoring six goals. His sliding stop on an empty Oilers net goal was impressive.

Evan Bouchard, oil squirters: He had three assists for 26 assists this postseason, breaking Paul Coffey’s NHL record.

Losers

Panthers special teams: You can’t give up short-handed goals in consecutive matches if you want to close out a series. The Oilers also scored two power-play goals and now have three after getting none in the first three games of the finals.

Sergei Bobrovsky, Panthers: This is his second two-game playoff losing streak. In those games he conceded nine goals on 39 shots. He gave McDavid just enough space on the Oilers captain’s first goal.

Carter Verhaeghe, Panthers: He had a -3 plus-minus rating for the third time in a row and has one point in his last seven games. Maurice moved him back to the Aleksander Barkov line to try to get him going.

As they have since the score was 4-1, the Panthers controlled the game in the third. Oliver Ekman-Larsson brought Florida within one time, but the Panthers were unable to equalize. Shots were 11-4 Florida and Stuart Skinner was strong as the Panthers pressed.

Matthew Tkachuk slides and clears the puck away from the empty net to keep Florida alive, but Connor McDavid picks up the loose puck and scores to put the game away.

Florida is still alive. One more minute.

There’s 1:38 left.

There are 2:31 left in the third period.

Florida’s Dmitry Kulikov is called up for a trip. Panthers kill it.

Edmonton’s Dylan Holloway is called for hooking Matthew Tkachuk. But the referees also say Tkachuk faked his fall.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson puts a shot over Stuart Skinner’s glove at 4:04. Matthew Tkachuk picked up the assist and was a force in this game.

Edmonton needs 20 minutes to hold off Florida and force Game 6.

What a wild period. Edmonton comes out with a two-goal lead as Connor McDavid had an incredible stretch. He flew across the ice and showed off his stickhandling and passing skills on the Corey Perry goal. But Florida responded well and got a quick goal from Evan Rodrigues. The Panthers spent most of the rest of the period in the Edmonton zone, outscoring the Oilers 17-10 in the second.

Evan Rodrigues cuts off Connor McDavid, who looks dangerous again in a hurry. But Zach Hyman is penalized for interference and it’s 4-on-4 again.

Evan Rodrigues scores 14 seconds after Corey Perry.

Connor McDavid splits the defense and gives Corey Perry a power play at the door. It was Perry’s first goal of the 2024 postseason. Evan Bouchard gets his 26th assist of the postseason, an NHL record.

Kyle Okposo called for hooking at 10:02. Panthers need to finish this.

Not long after Panthers coach Paul Maurice said there was plenty of time left in the game, Matthew Tkachuk scores on an Edmonton turnover. He ends a nine-game drought. Evan Rodrigues, moved back to the second line, gets the assist.

The Panthers reunited Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe. Evan Rodrigues moves to the second row.

Oil companies are pouring it back on. Connor McDavid scores from an acute angle against Sergei Bobrovsky. The crowd is silent. Evan Bouchard gets his 25th assist and ties Paul Coffey’s NHL record for most by a defenseman in a single postseason.

The Oilers score with two seconds left in their power play. Evan Bouchard’s point shot deflected past Zach Hyman’s body for his first goal of the series and 15th of the playoffs. The Oilers have now scored two power play goals in their past two games. Bouchard (30 points) and Connor McDavid (33rd assist) pick up the assists.

The Oilers score again short-handed for their opening goal, but the Panthers only trail that goal after one period. Florida went without a shot on goal for the final 14 minutes of the period. Edmonton leads 10-6 in shots. Stuart Skinner makes a big save on Aaron Ekblad early in the game.

Edmonton will start the second period with a power play after Florida’s Niko Mikkola was called for interference.

Aleksander Barkov is called for a cross-check of Evan Bouchard. Edmonton’s power play broke through in Game 4, but this time it won’t have a chance as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ penalty makes the score 4-on-4. Still 1-0 Edmonton after Panthers short power play ends.

For the second game in a row, the Oilers open the scoring with a shorthanded goal. This time it’s Connor Brown who is on a breakaway after intercepting a pass from Brandon Montour. It’s an unassisted goal at 5:30 p.m. Brown set up Mattias Janmark’s short-handed goal on Saturday.

Oil companies are destroying the rest of the power game.

Edmonton’s Brett Kulak holds up Ryan Lomberg.

Aleksander Barkov’s line is out against Connor McDavid’s line. The Sam Bennett line is out against the Leon Draisaitl line.

Edmonton’s Mattias Janmark gets a shot in the first 12 seconds and Sergei Bobrovsky stops it.

The Oilers deployed their third line, which produced two quick goals in Game 4. The Panthers also deployed their third line. That leaves them the option to field Selke Trophy winner Aleksander Barkov and defensemen Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad against the Connor McDavid line.

F – Anton Lundell

F – Vladimir Tarasenko

F – Eetu Luostarinen

D – Oliver Ekman-Larsson

D – Dmitri Kulikov

G – Sergei Bobrovsky

F – Mattias Janmark

F – Adam Henrique

F-Connor Brown

D – Evan Bouchard

D – Mattias Ekholm

G – Stuart Skinner

Oilers forward Evander Kane, who is dealing with an injury, will miss a third straight game.

The referees are Steve Kozari and Dan O’Rourke. The linesmen are Jonny Murray and Matt MacPherson.

The Panthers make a lineup change for Game 5, bringing in fourth-line tight end Ryan Lomberg as a healthy scratch after six games. It adds speed and spice.

“Great energy he brings to our room,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “But to give him credit, he brings it even when he wasn’t in the lineup.”

Forward Steven Lorentz comes out of the lineup.

When is Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final?

Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final is scheduled for Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

How to watch Stanley Cup Final Game 5

Game 5 will be shown nationally on ABC in the United States. The film will be shown on Sportsnet and CBC in Canada.

How to Stream Stanley Cup Final Game 5

Game 5 can be streamed on ESPN+ and Fubo.

Panthers: Strengthen their defensive support up and down the ice. The Oilers used their speed and long strides down the ice to get past the Panthers’ controls and create strange rushes.

Oil squirters: Show the same desperation as in Game 4. Try to score early and take the crowd out of the game.

Read more keys to victory here

The Oilers’ goal Tuesday is to extend the series to a sixth game, which would take place in Edmonton. Only four NHL teams have forced a Game 6 after losing the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final. The last to do it: the 2012 New Jersey Devils vs. the Los Angeles Kings, who won Game 6.

“It’s not the most pleasant flight,” Oilers captain Connor McDavid said Tuesday. “Just let them fly one more time, fly one more time. That’s all we can do.’

Odds via BetMGM

Moneyline: Panthers -165, Oilers +140

Scatter: Panthers -1.5 (+170), Oilers +1.5 (+170)

Over-under: 5.5. More than (-105), less than 5.5 (-115)

Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky (15-6, 2.27 goals against average, .909 save percentage) vs. Oilers’ Stuart Skinner (12-8, 2.51, .898).

They are 2-1, beating the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers and losing to the Boston Bruins.

They are 2-1, beating the Los Angeles Kings and Dallas Stars and losing to the Vancouver Canucks.

They are 3-3, losing their first chances against the Lightning, Bruins and Oilers. But they won their second chance against the Lightning and Bruins and beat the Rangers on their first chance.

They were 3-0, winning in Games 6 and 7 against the Canucks in the second round and in Game 4 against the Panthers.

No. They previously reached the finals in 1996 and 2023.

Five. They won in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990. They also reached the final in 1983 and 2006.

Every now and then we recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate commission. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently and this does not impact our reporting.

Gannett may generate revenue from sports betting operators for referring the public to gambling services. Sports betting operators have no control over such revenues and are not in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or reporting. Terms and conditions apply, see operator’s site for terms and conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Problem Gambling Council 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9- MET -IT IN). Must be 21 years or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Make sure you comply with the laws applicable to the country where you live.