Florida flexed their veteran muscles and came up with a mentally tough win Monday in Edmonton

Breaking out of a slump can be tricky, but at the end of the day, getting the job done is all that really matters.

After back-to-back shutout losses, the Florida Panthers entered Monday’s Stanley Cup Final rematch in Edmonton with the metaphorical combination of weight on their backs and a chip on their shoulder.

When all was said and done, even though Florida allowed five goals and gave up a couple of leads, it’s hard not to feel good about the result and how they got there.

This is probably a good time to add a little reminder that the Panthers were playing without their captain in Edmonton, but still found a way to dig deep and pick up a big two points.

Here are Monday’s takeaways:

STUBBORN WIN

It’s been a frustrating few games for the Panthers on their current road trip.

Not being able to score in consecutive games will do that.

Facing adversity on the road is never opportune, and Monday at Rogers Place was probably the most hostile environment Florida could’ve found themselves in right now.

No matter. These guys have been through it all and know how to dig deep and perform, and that’s exactly what they did against the Oilers.

“It was a real mentally tough game,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “You get down a couple, and we haven't had comebacks this year. It was dangerous in front of both nets all night long. I'm really happy with that one. I'm really proud that we were able to stay with it and dig in.”

RUSH DEFENSE WAS BETTER

The Oilers are a rush team and they have some of the best forwards suited to play that game in the NHL.

It was no fluke that they reached the Stanley Cup Final last season and are off to such a strong start this season.

They are going to get their chances.

Many of them, however, did not come off plays run by the Oilers.

Florida’s gaps were much tighter, and they did not allow Edmonton to gather much speed with the puck compared to what we normally see from the Oilers.

There was definitely some difference compared to what we’ve seen the past couple games.

“I don't mind chances that we give up, if our mindset is right,” Maurice said. “If the play breaks down, or something gets through…they’ve got great players and they can get through you sometimes, but if we give an awful lot of ice and they're getting that rush, that's a problem for us. I thought we got rid of that completely tonight.”

IMPORTANT MINUTES FOR FOURTH LINE

They may not have found their way onto the scoresheet, but Florida’s fourth line came up with some big, heavy shifts, particularly late in the game.

There was also the hit by Jonah Gadjovich that caught the attention of seemingly every Oilers player, leading directly to the goal by Niko Mikkola that started Florida’s third period comeback.

In a game where Florida was without their number one, shutdown center, and one they were playing on the road and unable to dictate forward line matchups, the Panthers fourth line was a major strength when called upon.

“Sam Reinhart, for me, was the best player on the ice, but that line, as a group, was probably the most impactful,” said Maurice. “I'm happy for them because they have a little bit of an identity. They were feeding off it. They got in and they got heavy, and they battled real hard. AJ Greer made a Kulikov-like save off the back post. So now they get a real big piece of that win, which builds your room. I’m really pleased with those guys.”

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