The Stanley Cup Playoffs continued last night. It was game four of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers. The Panthers were leading the series going into last nights game. They won the first three games in the series. They had the chance to clinch the series. Game four was in Edmonton. The Florida Panthers were looking to sweep the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1998. The Edmonton Oilers were looking to win their first game of the series and force a game five.
The Florida Panthers took on the Edmonton Oilers in game four of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals. This was the second game of the series in Edmonton. The Panthers won game one 3-0, game two 4-1, and game three 4-3. The Panthers had a chance to win the Stanley Cup. The Panthers had a chance to eliminate the Edmonton Oilers. If the Panthers won game four, it would be the first sweep in the Stanley Cup Finals since the Detroit Red Wings swept the Washington Capitals twenty six years ago. If the Panthers won the Stanley Cup it would also be their first time as Stanley Cup Champions in their thirty year history. Also going into the game the Panther goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped eighty two of eighty six shots in the first three games.
The mood going into the game was that the series was over. A lot of people were acting like the Panthers had already won the cup. People were acting like there wasn’t much Edmonton could do to come back in this series. People were acting like a sweep was already a done deal. The narrative through the first three games that was being pushed was that the Oilers was dominating but the Panthers were finding ways to win. I did not see it that way. How I see it is through the first three games, the Oilers defense were making mistakes that the Panthers were capitalizing on. The Oilers goaltending was not coming up with the key saves they needed. The Panthers were not giving the Oilers any room to generate offense. Game three was close to being tied multiple times too. I think the series has been a lot closer than people give the Oilers credit for. When the Panthers won game three, people said it was over.
Four minutes into the game, #13 Mattias Janmark scored to give the Oilers the lead. His goal was assisted by #28 Connor Brown. This goal came on the penalty kill for the Oilers.
With twelve minutes left in the first period, #19 Adam Henrique scored to give the Oilers their first two goal lead of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals. His goal was assisted by #13 Mattias Janmark and #14 Mattias Ekholm.
With eight minutes left in the first period, #10 Vladimir Tarasenko scored to get the Panthers on the board. His goal was assisted by #42 Gustav Forsling and #15 Anton Lundell.
With five minutes left in the first period, #55 Dylan Holloway scored to regain the two goal lead for the Oilers. His goal was assisted by #29 Leon Draisaitl and #27 Brett Kulak. The score was 3-1 Oilers after the first period.
Just over a minute into the second period, #97 Connor McDavid scored to give the Oilers a three goal lead. His goal was assisted by #18 Zach Hyman and #2 Evan Bouchard.
Five minutes into the second period, #25 Darnell Nurse scored to give the Oilers a four goal lead. His goal was assisted by #97 Connor McDavid and #18 Zach Hyman.
With just under seven minutes left in the second period, #93 Ryan Nugent-Hokins scored on the powerplay for the Oilers. His goal was assisted by #29 Leon Draisaitl and #97 Connor McDavid. The score was 6-1 Oilers heading into the third period.
With just under six minutes left in the game, #55 Dylan Holloway scored for the Oilers. His goal was assisted by #97 Connor McDavid and #90 Corey Perry.
With three minutes left in the game, #71 Ryan McLeod scored for the Oilers. His goal was assisted by #55 Dylan Holloway and #37 Warren Foegele. The final score was 8-1 Oilers. The Florida Panthers now have a 3-1 series lead in the 2024 Stanley Cup finals.
After the first goal I was wondering if the Oilers would keep their lead. When the Oilers scored their second goal I was still not confident that they would hold onto their lead. The Oilers took a three to one lead that quickly turned into a four to one lead. They didn’t take their foot off the gas. They made the key stops in net that were missing from the first three games. The Panthers did not a have a response to the Oilers in game four. The Oilers were playing smart hockey. They were able to create a lot more space in this game by getting the puck out of their zone quickly and making more passes than what they did in the first three games of this series. No sweep as the Oilers forced a game five. This game was the second largest blowout in Stanley Cup Finals history. The largest blowout in a single game in the Stanley Cup Final was in 1991 when the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Minnesota North Stars 8-0 in game six. This game was also the first win in the Stanley Cup Finals for the Edmonton Oilers in eighteen years. The last time they won a game in the Stanley Cup Finals win was in 2006. Connor McDavid also set a record for the most assists in a single Stanley Cup Playoffs. He currently has thirty two assists. Connor McDavid is now also third for most points in a single Stanley Cup Playoffs with. He has thirty eight points so far in this years playoffs.
Game five of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals will be on Tuesday, June 18th, 2024. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00 PM. That game will be in Edmonton. The Panthers will have another chance to win the series and the Stanley Cup in game five.
The Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, and Dallas Stars have been eliminated from the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, and Dallas Stars advanced to the second round.
The New York Rangers and Florida Panthers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers advanced to the Western Conference Finals.
The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers have advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Zac Electrifly 
Leave a comment