Florida Panthers Aiming to Even Series in Game 2 Against Edmonton Oilers
EDMONTON, Alberta — After a tough overtime loss in the first game of the Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers are looking to bounce back and even the series against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 tonight.
The Panthers have shown they can perform well away from home, with an impressive record of 8 wins and 3 losses in playoff games on the road. Their most recent road loss came in Game 1, where they fell to a power-play goal by Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl. Now, the Panthers are ready to face the challenge of a loud and energetic arena.
"We embrace that ‘us against the world’ mindset, especially being down in the series," said winger Matthew Tkachuk. "It feels like it’s us against everyone in the building, and that’s what makes winning on the road so rewarding."
If Florida manages to secure a victory tonight, it will shift home-ice advantage back to them as the series moves to Sunrise for Games 3 and 4 next week.
One of the main challenges for the Panthers has been defending against the dynamic duo of Draisaitl and Connor McDavid when they are on the ice together. Coach Kris Knoblauch tried to manage this in Game 1, but without the last line change, it’s tricky for Paul Maurice to create ideal matchups.
"They’re incredibly talented and can elevate the play of everyone around them," noted Panthers defenseman Seth Jones. "Whether together or separate, they remain a threat both in creativity and on the rush."
The Oilers will be without Zach Hyman for the remainder of the playoffs due to a dislocated wrist he suffered earlier in the round. On the other hand, the Panthers could see a return to full strength if A.J. Greer is cleared to play, and fourth-liner Jonah Gadjovich is ready to go after missing part of Game 1.
As the teams prepare for what promises to be an intense matchup, the Panthers are determined to show their resilience and refocus their efforts to even the series.
