On Monday evening, one of the Florida Panther or the Edmonton Oilers will hoist the Stanley Cup. It's amazing that a week ago this series seemed like it was over. The Panthers won Games 1-3 by a combined score of 11-4. Edmonton in response won Games 4-6 by a combined score of 18-5 and have done something that hasn't been done since 1945; come back and force a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals after being down 0-3.
On Monday they will try to do something that hasn't been done since the 1942 Leafs won the Stanley Cup after being down 0-3. The ride just keeps getting better.
Some thoughts on Game 6.
We hoped that Edmonton would come out to start the game aggressive and generating chances and that's exactly what happened. Shots were 11-2 for the Oilers at the end of the first period. Leon Draisaitl helped the Oilers get on the board first with a brilliant seeing eye pass over to Warren Foegele who made no mistakes burying it past Bobrovsky. We know Draisaitl has been playing hurt and admitted himself that he hasn't done nearly enough to make an impact on this series. He was phenomenal in the first period and that line did an excellent job at creating chances and getting the Oil on the board.
While Edmonton dominated the first period it was still a one goal game and certainly felt like the Panthers could roar back at any time. Instead it was Adam Henrique early in the second period with another great pass by Janmark (who has been amazing in these Finals) who gave the Oilers a two goal lead. Credit to Mattias Ekholm who sent the puck up the boards to lead to the ensuing two on one play.
Now onto the controversial call. Almost immediately after the Henrique goal, the Panthers broke through with a Barkov goal but Edmonton challenged for offside and the goal was overturned.
Here is my take, the correct call was 100% made as the replay does show that Florida was a hair offside. I personally do not love goals getting overturned on such a minute detail and I don't think we should be reviewing plays for 5 minutes and zooming in for pixel perfect accuracy. That being said, these are the rules the NHL have put in place. Credit to the Oilers video coach Noah Segall for making the call and to Knoblauch for going for it. One also has to think that the Oilers incredible penalty kill was also a factor in making the call.
Near the end of the second period, Florida put pressure on Edmonton and Skinner made a few key stops before Hyman blocked a shot and pushed through for a breakaway, making it a 3-0 lead for the Oilers to end the period. Hyman's 16th goal set a modern day playoff record for most goals in the post-season, surpassing the 15 previously held by Ovechkin and Crosby. Combining his regular season and playoff production, Hyman is up to 70 goals on the season. Rogers Place erupted after that goal and the crowd was electric. The Edmonton Oilers fans have absolutely brought it on home ice.
Early in the third period Barkov would score his second (first) of the game and there was certainly a nervous energy over the crowd for much of the period. The Oilers sat back on their lead and tried to keep the Panthers to the perimeter but Florida still put a ton of pressure on the Oilers and Stuart Skinner, The Oilers netminder made the key saves he needed to and kept calm and composed.
A Ryan McLeod empty net goal followed by a Darnell Nurse goal on which Stuart Skinner got the primary assist after making a great save and a savvy one handed pass helped to seal up a 5-1 victory for the Edmonton Oilers.
There is one more game to be played for all the marbles. Momentum doesn't typically carry over in the playoffs but how can you not be rooting for and expect something special from this Oilers team that has come all the way back to tie this series?
Whether you are a Panthers fan, an Oilers fan, or just a fan of hockey, how can you not love this? My bias may be showing but this is hands-down the greatest Stanley Cup Final in the modern era of hockey. I cannot wait to see how the ride ends and what Game 7 brings.
Thanks for reading.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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