The additional off day between games at the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Finals allows for some added creativity in the sports journalism department. For all of you new readers who checked out yesterday’s Game 4 article, welcome back! For my ride-or-dies, you know we always love you too.
Setting the stage in the series, the Florida Panthers lead the series 3-games-to-1 over the Edmonton Oilers, although many Panthers fans likely don’t feel that way after the 8-1 loss in Game 4.
With the extra travel day, there is an opportunity to use this space for a look at the Stanley Cup Final between the Panthers and Oilers that I typically would not be able to provide. This article even features an appearance from a Canadian music legend that I spoiled in the title, too!
Possession Critical at 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Finals
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One of my favorite hockey individuals to follow is ESPN’s Arda Ocal (@Arda). This morning, Arda dropped one of the better tweets that indicated 20 of 24 goals were scored within five seconds of either team gaining the puck. Let’s break down this stat a little bit, shall we?
Turnovers in the defensive zone are always a dagger in the playoffs leading to additional emphasis on clearing the puck out of the d-zone in the postseason. Also, the two empty net goals are pretty straightforward. When a coach removes the goalie, the puck will likely find the net. Teams don’t care about that icing call anymore, instead opting for the reward of essentially ending the game.
Eleven goals have been scored “on the rush” which means limited-to-no offensive zone setup involved for the scoring team. Given the efficiency of the penalty kill in the regular season for the Panthers (2nd) & Oilers (1st), scoring on the move has been one of the only ways to break down the defense in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Finals.
The other way is to chip the puck into a corner, retrieve it, and establish an offensive opportunity. The teams have scored five times via that avenue in the series. Therefore, only four goals have been scored in the entire series in which the offensive team scored with possession of the puck for more than five seconds. Numbers are fun!
Shania Twain Impressed by 8 Oilers Goals in Game 4
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Suppose you were not paying much attention to the start of the broadcast for Game 4 of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Finals…like myself. In that case, you might have missed Canadian-American superstar singer Shania Twain getting fans outside Rogers Place revved up with a pregame concert.
Following the 8-1 win on home soil, the Edmonton Oilers provided social media with pictures and videos of the singer attending the game and visiting the joyous locker room. Unfortunately for the Florida Panthers, Twain was quite impressed with the Edmonton offensive display in Game 4.
Florida Panthers Return To The Jungle for Game 5
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The Florida Panthers have been comfortable at home with an 8-3 record at Amerant Bank Arena this postseason. Despite all of the fun that Edmonton had putting up that “snowman” on the scoreboard in Game 4 at home, the win counts all the same in the series according to Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov:
“It’s all about us (needing) to manage the losses. Obviously it only counts as one win. It doesn’t matter how much you lose, 2-1 or 8-1, so just obviously we need to bounce back.”
Florida still leads the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Finals 3-to-1 entering tomorrow night’s Game 5. Will the Panthers be able to defuse the Oilers’ momentum to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup by ending this series in five games?
About The Author
Christopher Babos is a genuine sports & entertainment journalist with diverse credentials in writing, broadcasting, and digital media. He can be located on X for real-time takes (@CBabosWrites). With various roles in the sports industry over two decades, Chris can speak with authority on the topics he covers.
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