The Florida Panthers can shut out the Stanley Cup Remaining Tuesday with a win in Sport 6. Matthew Tkachuk mentioned the Panthers should strategy it with the urgency of Sport 7 in order that the Oilers do not drive a winner-take-all sport in Edmonton.
This time final yr, the Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in opposition to the Oilers earlier than dropping three straight video games, which compelled a Sport 7 in Dawn. Florida managed to make the fourth time the appeal with a slim 2-1 win that clinched the primary Stanley Cup in franchise historical past.
The Cats most likely do not need to tempt destiny for the second yr in a row, particularly since this Sport 7 can be in Edmonton. Nearly as good as Florida has been at house this postseason, giving Connor McDavid the possibility to placed on a championship present in entrance of the hometown crowd is dangerous enterprise.
Tkachuk is aware of that, which is why he and the Panthers are treating Tuesday evening’s Sport 6 as if it is win-or-go-home.
“Now we have to deal with this like a Sport 7,” Tkachuk mentioned.
McDavid, final yr’s Conn Smythe Trophy winner, is the kind of participant who can burn you with a second probability. Tkachuk is conscious McDavid and the Oilers shall be combating for his or her playoff lives, however he says the Panthers shall be prepared for that push.
“It is going to be a troublesome check,” Tkachuk mentioned. “He is determined to win a Cup. So are we. … For us to be on this place now, we have labored so onerous for this. So has he and the remainder of the Oilers as properly. We’re right here for a purpose. He is clearly a expertise like no person else within the league. It is so onerous to close him down. I do not suppose you may shut him down. You’ll be able to simply attempt to restrict him as a lot as you may. We have guys in there I hope are prepared for the problem as a result of it is gonna be an enormous check for us. We’re all prepared for it.”
Florida had loads of runway final season. It might afford three straight losses earlier than lifting the Cup on house ice. That is not the case this yr. Each groups ought to come out with a heightened degree of urgency, and that ought to make for essentially the most intense sport of an already terrific sequence.
