FORT LAUDERDALE. In the final series of NHL games between Florida and Edmonton, the Fifth Battle will take place early Wednesday morning Finnish time. Leading the series 3–1, Florida gets to try to end the series for the second time, now on home ice.
The starting points for the fifth game are extremely interesting, because even though Florida is clearly leading the series, the previous four games have shaken the dynamics between the two teams.
Florida started the series well and won the first three games, but starting in the third inning of the third game, the picture of the game changed. Edmonton lost the three-game set by a goal, but since the third period of that match, they have won the last four periods by goals of 10–1.
What makes the period of possession particularly interesting is the way Edmonton took it. It has fed Florida the medicine in the last batches, with which Florida has put a lot of teams to sleep throughout the season. Especially on Saturday, Edmonton turned the game around very quickly from puck losses and was able to get over the middle zone with speed.
Of Edmonton’s eight hits on Saturday, six came from direct attacks.
While in the first two games, Florida won the scoring opportunities created from puck turnovers 12-5, in the last two games they have been recorded against Edmonton 25-8!
– You have to be able to eliminate Edmonton’s direct attack game and you have to be able to respond to their speed, Florida Eetu Luostarinen stated.
As many as 12 power attacks were recorded for Edmonton on Saturday, and this has not gone unnoticed by Florida.
– They opened the game quickly under pressure, and we couldn’t get our own game going. On the other hand, the gaps got longer and we defended quite deep. Now we have to get the pucks in the right place and start the hair-raising game, that’s our strength. Distances are also a big thing today, we weren’t good at it last time. It seems that there was a bit of tension and stupid mistakes were made, Niko Mikkola your line.
Although the last few rounds have been challenging for Florida, it has been difficult to sense any kind of nervousness around the team. Even after a big loss, the Panthers have been exceptionally calm and determined. The team has won six playoff series in the last two springs and has gone through some difficult times in the last few years.
This past spring, it lost in the first round with a 3–0 lead to Tampa 3–6. In the opening match of the second round, it lost at home to Boston clearly 1–5. The team reacted to both of these losses with a 6–1 victory.
– We have done a lot of work in order to come to the next game well after things like this. We know that we cannot play like that and also that we have played well for most of the season. We know how to do it and when everyone just does their job and prepares well, we’ll be more ready for the game, Captain Alexander Barkov chatted after morning practice on game day.
Florida pilot Paul Maurice was on the same page as his captain.
– It is more important to learn from a 1-8 loss than to forget it. We have been in exactly the same situation twice this summer and we are still learning. It’s good to remember that we haven’t had many players trying to break the streak in the Stanley Cup finals.
According to Niko Mikkola, Saturday’s crushing loss did not need to be handled differently from other losses.
– When we win, we watch videos and when we lose, we watch videos. These series rarely go 4–0, and we haven’t won all the games anyway, Mikkola stated.
Barkov and McDavid are back together
Also through gambling, the match series takes on a different character in the fifth match than in Canada. Through the turnover advantage, Florida can have Barkov constantly play the Edmonton star, just like in the first two games Connor McDavid against.
While earlier in Florida, Barkov played 5-on-5 with the Canadian for the first 12 minutes, the number in the foursome game was reduced to three minutes.
McDavid scored 1+3 in the match.
Before the fifth final, Florida still has unused strike power in its team. For example by Sam Bennett, Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghen occupied by the Panthers’ second chain has lost their game with 5 against 5 with goals of 0–5. Tkachuk’s performances in the final series are 0+1.
– The previous game was nowhere near my best. I’m much better than the last four rounds have shown. I’m looking for my best game today in this series, Tkachuk confirmed during the morning training of the game day.
The fifth final match starts at approximately 03:00 Finnish time. Florida leads the match series with victories 3–1. Four wins are required for the championship.