The Florida Panthers remain the odds-on favourite to win the 2024 Stanley Cup after winning the first three games of the Final against the Edmonton Oilers. But frustration is clearly setting in after failing twice in the past two games to close out the series. Panthers General Manager Bill Zito was clearly not happy about it.
With the Oilers leading 4-3 late in game 5, Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid scored an empty net goal with under 20 seconds left to seal the deal and send the series back to Alberta with the Panthers leading 3-2. Zito's reaction to McDavid's goal is likely a good indication of how his players are feeling right now.
The Oilers are hoping to do something that hasn't been done in the NHL since the 1940s: come back from a 3-0 deficit in the final to win the Stanley Cup. Few gave them much of a chance after Florida's third straight win, but things have changed after winning the last two.
Game 6 of the series takes place Friday night at Rogers Place in Edmonton and anyone attending the game will be sorry if they don't bring some type of ear protection along with them. If the Oilers can pull off another win, it's anyone's series, and Edmonton will have all the momentum at that point.
