The Oilers’ Game 5 eruption for an 8-1 decimation of the stingy Panthers may have been the largest margin of victory for a team facing elimination in Stanley Cup Final history but, as hockey goes, the numbers don’t always t꧋ell an accurate story.
Florida proved more consistent in puck posses♑sion across all situations in Game 4. Edmonton committed three more turnovers and was out-hit 49-20, no less. ;
The difference was that despite the Panthers finishing the game with only five less hi𓄧gh-danger scoring chances, Edmonton’s looks came early and often — and the ⛦Oilers cashed in.
All three of the Oilers’ first-period goals were conjured from odd-man rushes where Sergei Bobrovsky was caught in a precarious position.&n꧟bsp;
His mental edge was empirically gone by the time Connor McDavid and Darnell Nurs🉐e potted their respective goals in 4:59 of the second period.
Bobrovsky, who slid down to the second-best Conn Smythe odds behind Aleksanderꦇ Barkov following the flub, is 4-0-1 following a loss this postseason.
He has not lost consecutive games ♛in regulation since March 21.
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While I expect a strong rebound from Bobrovsky back i🍸n Sunrise, Fla., let’s not forget that Florida remains the superior club at five-on-five — an acumen that has maintained consistency all playoffs.
Edmonton is at least three p🌞ercentage points behind Florida in both expected goals and shot att🎃empts.
All signs point to a tightly contested game with the Panthers primed to avenge Saturday’s embarrassment and hoist t🌱he Cup.
THE PLAY: Panthers ML (-135, bet365)