What Must Happen For The Panthers to Win Game 6?

The Edmonton Oilers have all the momentum in this series with back-to-back wins. They head back to Edmonton to their home fans for Game Six to what should be a rocking arena that will go wild when the first goal is scored. 

The stage is set for a great Game Six and one where the Oilers win to force a winner-take-all Game Seven. That’s how things are shaping up. 

This of course is if the Florida Panthers have nothing to say about it. They’ve been the better team in this series and will look to close things out. The catch is that a lot must go right but all they need is one more win so it could easily happen, especially with a road upset.

The Defense Must Limit Shooting Lanes

There’s been plenty of talk throughout the series about Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and the forwards who were great early in the series but have struggled lately. However, the defensive unit, which was a strength all season and in the playoffs, has unraveled in the last two games and it must lead them in Game Six.  

Gustav Forsling, who is arguably the best defensive defenseman in the NHL, must play the shooting lanes. Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour must turn defense into instant offense and move the puck up the ice. 

The entire unit must play the shooting lanes and dare the Oilers to take difficult shots on the net. This series has slipped away from the Panthers because of their inability to make the Oilers uncomfortable and it’s showing.

The Panthers Start Strong

The slow starts are killers for the Panthers. This is a team known for setting the tone and controlling games, particularly with their forecheck and hard-hitting presence. They haven’t done so in the recent games. 

This is a game where the Panthers score first. It will not only take the crowd out of it but force the Oilers to chase the game.

Bobrovsky Shuts it Down

In the first three games, Sergei Bobrovsky looked like the best player on the ice, saving 82 of the 86 shots he faced. Now, he’s struggling to keep the puck out of the net for the life of him. In Game Four, he allowed five goals on only 16 shots, and in the subsequent game, he allowed four on 23 shots. 

Bobrovsky must seal things for the Panthers. A light-out performance will keep the Oilers from both taking over and coming back in this game and ultimately, it will allow the Panthers to win the Stanley Cup.