Florida Panthers hold full team practice in Fort Lauderdale on June 17. What started as a frenzied Amerant Bank Arena crowd was quickly silenced as the Edmonton Oilers spoiled the party the Florida Panthers were hoping to throw. Instead of celebrating a Stanley Cup championship, the Panthers now must board a flight back to Edmonton thanks to the Oilers 5-3 win in Game 5 on Tuesday night. Florida was given the game’s first power play after Brett Kulak was called for high sticking Ryan Lomberg at the 4:47 mark, but it would end up benefiting the Oilers when Connor Brown got loose on a breakaway and beat Sergei Bobrovsky with a backhand. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] After Edmonton took the lead, they went into lockdown mode, not allowing Florida another shot on goal for the rest of the period. A Niko Mikkola interference penalty in the final moments of the opening frame would cost the Panthers after the break. Zach Hyman deflected an Evan Bouchard slapshot for his first goal of the series to put the Oilers up by two. About three minutes later Connor McDavid made it 3-0 Edmonton with a sneaky shot from a sharp angle that eluded Bobrovsky. The crowd in Sunrise was in a state of stunned disbelief. Fortunately for the home team, they would wake up the fans with a sudden goal. Evan Rodrigues picked up the puck at the Oilers blue line and quickly found Matthew Tkachuk behind the Edmonton defense. Tkachuk placed a perfect shot over the glove, bar down behind Stuart Skinner to get the Panthers on the board. Things appeared bleak for Florida when Corey Perry finished a gorgeous rush by McDavid to put Edmonton back up by three, but Evan Rodrigues’ hard work with the puck led to a goal just 14 seconds later. Florida kept the pressure on into the third period, cutting the deficit down to one on a one-timer by Oliver Ekman-Larsson off a quick feed from Matthew Tkachuk 4:04 into the frame. That would be as close as the Cats would go, despite putting on a furious rally during the final frame. McDavid’s empty-net goal with 18.7 to go made sure of that. On to Game 6. Here are some thoughts and observations from Game 5 against Edmonton: Tkachuk’s goal was his first since Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against New York. Game 5 was also Tkachuk’s first multi-point effort since Game 3 against the Rangers. Florida went 0-for-3 on the power play and just 2-for-4 on the penalty kill. Rodrigues is up to four goals and six points in the Stanley Cup Final. Bennett now has points in seven of his past games, racking up four goals and eight points during that span. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA The Hockey Show: Invading Edmonton for Stanley Cup Final insanity [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/the-hockey-show-invading-edmonton-for-stanley-cup-final-insanity] Ticket prices for Stanley Cup Final Game 5 high as Panthers fans hope to witness history [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/ticket-prices-for-stanley-cup-final-game-5-high-as-panthers-fans-hope-to-witness-history] Panthers, Sergei Bobrovsky ready to rebound after rough game in Edmonton [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-sergei-bobrovsky-ready-to-rebound-after-rough-game-in-edmonton] Back in Sunrise, Panthers aim to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup in front of their fans [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/back-in-sunrise-panthers-aim-to-hoist-lord-stanleys-cup-in-front-of-their-fans] Practice notebook: Paul Maurice ponders lineup change, several stars receive off day [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/practice-notebook-paul-maurice-ponders-lineup-change-several-stars-receive-off-day] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
