Article Contents
That's according to top Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, who, in his opinion on The Jeff Marek Show, said Florida's poor performance in Game 4 was a blip, not a trend.
“I think the other game was a blip for the Panthers,” Friedman said. “Yes, they got beaten. Yes, the Oilers played great, but it was a blip. I think the Panthers are very mature. They'll bounce back. They'll go all out. And they'll give it their all against the Oilers. This game — I could be completely wrong, it's happened before — to me, is a game Stuart Skinner has to win… I bet he'll make four or five incredible saves if Edmonton wins tomorrow night.”
Article Contents
Friedman said the Panthers players were a little shaken up after having their families in Edmonton for Game 4. “The guys were a little more nervous than usual, but I don't think it's going to be an issue at all tomorrow.”
My take
1. Friedman is a neutral observer who has seen the meat of the game in dozens of playoff series, so I give his opinion weight. It's a lot like what many commentators were saying after Game 1 (the game in which Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky stole the win from the Oilers): Florida would play much better in Game 2 after playing so badly and completely missing out on opportunities. And in that case, the experts were right. In fact, Game 2 in Florida was the only game in the series in which the Panthers took more grade A shots than the Oilers. In all other games, the Oilers took significantly more shots, yet they still lost Games 1 and 3 due to Bobrovsky's great goaltending and their own tendency to allow “free” goals, which allowed Florida to score off of mental mistakes.
2. Given the way the series has played out, Edmonton is expected to have the edge in this category as well, as they have taken a lot more Grade A shots. However, Florida also showed in Game 2 that they can stop Edmonton's offense, and with that kind of stellar defense, they should be able to stop the Oilers again. If Florida steps up their offense, Skinner may be forced to take on the hero role if the Oilers are to win Game 5.
Article Contents
Skinner has played that role before, most notably in his impressive Game 6 performance against Dallas.
3. I myself have thought for months that the only team that could beat the Edmonton Oilers was the Edmonton Oilers, and while Bobrovsky's stellar play has shaken that belief a bit, I still think it's true.
Edmonton has killed itself by focusing too much on offense and too much on defense, either swarming to win the puck back and charging out of the defensive zone or over-committing and not doing enough to cover dangerous opposing attackers in the defensive slot.
If the Oilers focus too much on the puck in their own half or keep their eyes on the puck too much in Game 5, they will allow a “free” goal to Florida and will rightfully be eliminated from the playoffs. If there are still players on the Oilers who have not learned that lesson, and if any of them waver or abandon this resolve, then they still do not deserve to win.
But the Oilers themselves have the best defense. If all of their players focus on backchecking like demons, covering the slot area like monsters, and maintaining a defensive zone structure like the Spartans in front of Stuart Skinner, they can stop any team's attack. They can stop the Florida Panthers and score enough goals with their superior skill to win.
Do the Oilers have the patience, discipline and focus to play such a sharp defensive game?
Either way, that will be the difference for them in Game 5.
Edmonton controls their own destiny in Game 5, and it all hinges on them playing solid, ferocious, aware slot defense to seize that destiny.
As Oilers coach Chris Knobloch said, defense wins championships.
Share this article on social networks
