Stanley Cup Final 2024: Connor McDavid's four-point night lifts Oilers to Game 5 win over Panthers

Oilers' 5-3 victory forces Game 6 Friday night in Edmonton

The Edmonton Oilers were able to outlast the Florida Panthers to win Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers used a three-goal second period to create just enough separation to record a 5-3 win.

In doing so, the Oilers were able to extend the series and force a Game 6 in Edmonton on Friday.

Oilers star center Connor McDavid produced another sensational outing with two goals and two assists. It marked the second consecutive game in which McDavid tallied a four-point performance.

His four-point outing brings his 2024 postseason total to 42 points (eight goals, 34 assists), which is the fourth-most in a single postseason in NHL history.

McDavid ended up assisting on the eventual game-winning goal at the 11:54 mark of the second period. The star forward weaved his way through the Panthers defense before dishing off a picture-perfect pass to Corey Perry for the tap-in goal. 

The goal was quite historic for the 19-year veteran. Perry is now the only player in NHL history to score a Stanley Cup Final goal with five different teams.

The Oilers got off to quite a strong start as they ended up jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the second period. 

Just five minutes into the second period, Oilers forward Warren Foegele secured the puck on the forecheck, and was able to get the puck over to McDavid. McDavid was able to skate his way in and score from the side of the net after Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky wasn't set in his stance.

Just when it appeared that the Panthers were firmly in the driver's seat, the Panthers scored two of the next three goals to make it a 4-2 game entering the third period. 

Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson added a goal just 4:04 into the third period, but the Oilers did just enough to outlast the Panthers down the stretch. McDavid added an empty-net goal at the 19:41 mark to put the game out of reach.

The Oilers have now lit up Bobrovsky for a grand total of nine goals over the past two games. In the opening three contests of the Stanley Cup Final, Edmonton had scored just four total goals.

[Jun 18, 2024 at 9:59 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

End of 2nd Period: Oilers 4, Panthers 2

There were goals aplenty throughout the second period. The Oilers were able outscore the Panthers 3-2 in the frame, and received goals from Connor McDavid, Corey Perry, and Zach Hyman. Both Hyman and Perry's goals came on the power-play, which is an area where Edmonton has struggled throughout the Stanley Cup Final. Meanwhile, the Panthers got tallies from forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Evan Rodrigues. Rodrigues' goal was his series-high fourth of the Stanley Cup Final. Buckle up for what should be an entertaining final 20 minutes in South Florida.

[Jun 18, 2024 at 8:31 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

The Panthers will get the first power-play of the night after Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak is whistled for high-sticking. The Edmonton penalty kill has killed off 40 of their last 41 penalties this postseason.

[Jun 18, 2024 at 8:29 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

Stuart Skinner is getting tested in the early going. Now Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling uncorks a slap shot from the blue line, but Skinner squeezes to make the save. After a 32-save effort in Game 4, Skinner has really looked strong in the opening five minutes.

[Jun 18, 2024 at 8:26 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

Stuart Skinner is in the zone thus far. Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad let one rip, but Skinner is able to get across and make the glove save to keep Florida off the board. 

[Jun 18, 2024 at 8:24 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

Sergei Bobrovsky and Stuart Skinner have both been tested from point-blank range. Panthers star Sam Reinhart gets one in the slot, but Skinner is up to the challenge. Both teams are looking very aggressive out of the gate in Game 5.

[Jun 18, 2024 at 7:40 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

If the Oilers want to force a Game 6 in Edmonton on Friday, they're going to need another stellar performance from goaltender Stuart Skinner. Skinner is coming off of a 32-save outing in Game 4, which was the highest number of saves by an Oilers goalie when facing elimination in franchise history. In the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, Skinner has posted a 2.50 goals-against-average and a .901 save percentage.

[Jun 18, 2024 at 7:30 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

Oilers star Connor McDavid finally broke out in a big way with a goal and three assists in Game 4. As a result, McDavid is just one point from tying the Edmonton franchise record for points when facing elimination. Fernando Pisani currently holds the record with five points (four goals & an assist) for his performance during the 2006 Stanley Cup Final. The largest total in NHL history is seven points, which was set by former Maple Leafs forwards Don Metz (four goals & three assists, 1942) and Syl Apps (three goals & four assists, 1942) as well as Toronto St. Patricks forward Babe Dye (six goals & an assists, 1922).

[Jun 18, 2024 at 7:20 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

The Panthers are looking to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in just their third appearance. Florida fell short in the 1996 Stanley Cup Final against the Colorado Avalanche, and were also defeated in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final by the Vegas Golden Knights. Meanwhile, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov needs just three points to tie Matthew Tkachuk's Stanley Cup Playoffs franchise record of 24 points in a single postseason. Barkov has tallied seven goals and 14 assists entering Game 5.

[Jun 18, 2024 at 7:10 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

It's safe to say that Game 4 wasn't Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky's finest performance of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, a bounce-back showing could definitely be in the cards for the veteran netminder. Bobrovsky has a 4-1 record to go along with a 1.97 goals-against-average and a .914 save percentage in five playoff games following a loss during the 2024 postseason. Even with surrendering five goals in Game 4, Bobrovsky still has recorded a 2.25 goals-against-average and a .912 save percentage in the Stanley Cup Final.