A while back, there was a post mentioned about the largest comeback in Stanley Cup Final history. It didn't involve the Vegas Golden Knights, for they've been involved in a five-game series every time in the championship round. It concerned the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, two regulars in the Stanley Cup playoffs during a millennial's childhood. Of course, this was in 1942 and the series in question went seven games, with Toronto completing a reverse sweep.
Now, there might be another team joining the Red Wings in that aspect. The Florida Panthers won their first three games, utilizing a pressing strategy that broke Edmonton. However, a funny thing happened in the third period of the third game. The Oilers scored two third-period goals and threatened to pull off an impressive comeback. However, Florida persevered and held a 3-0 lead.
But that lead has suddenly become 3-2, with Edmonton finding its scoring stroke. 13 goals in the past two Stanley Cup Final games have caused some concern in the Sunshine State, with fans wondering if the Panthers can actually win a game. It's also catapulted a previously dormant (in the series, at least) Connor McDavid to the front of the Conn Smythe voting. He's awakened, scoring four points in the last game (he had such a performance in the fourth game, too) to bring the series back to Edmonton.
The Vegas Golden Knights are familiar with this concept in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
In this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Vegas Golden Knights were in a similar predicament as the Florida Panthers. They won the first two games against the Dallas Stars in the first round. Everything was good heading back to T-Mobile Arena, with hopes of moving on in the postseason.
However, the Stars found a way to suffocate the neutral zone, taking away any available space. In turn, it caused the Golden Knights to go ice cold, leaving Jake Oettinger to live the good life. It also led to Dallas winning the series in seven games, sending the defending champions home.
For Florida, their situation is slightly different. As mentioned, Connor McDavid has found his scoring stroke this series, establishing himself as the Conn Smythe favorite. He already has 42 points in the postseason, which is good enough for fourth all-time in NHL history.
Of course, McDavid's emergence has also seen Sergei Bobrovsky reveal a personal flaw in his game. He can be wildly inconsistent, as proven in last year's Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights. Whenever the series shifted to T-Mobile Arena, the Russian goaltender allowed an average of 5.33 goals per game (16 total goals at T-Mobile Arena that series) and a save percentage of .792.
Compare that to allowing 2.5 goals a game (five total in Sunrise) with a save percentage of .914. His consistency problems are showing again at the worst possible time. This time, it's against an Edmonton Oilers team that can score at will, making this a series.
Are the Florida Panthers destined to blow the Stanley Cup Final?
Watching the Vegas Golden Knights lose the chance to win the third game of the Dallas Stars series was painful. They had the momentum heading into overtime, only to tire out at the worst possible time. It set the tone for the rest of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the defending champions eventually exiting altogether.
It's a similar predicament that the Florida Panthers are in, for they've suddenly lost their identity. They were a gritty team that played 60 minutes of hard-nosed hockey, applying intense pressure until their opponents cracked. It's what led them to the 3-0 series lead against Edmonton.
Now? They're on track to suffer the same fate as the Golden Knights. One where missed opportunities and troubling trends will cause the team's downfall. It's not a place any team wants to be in the Stanley Cup Final, especially with Vegas learning the hard way in their inaugural season.
It's also an important lesson in maintaining the narrative, something that hurt Vegas in that first-round matchup. A team keeping the lanes closed suddenly cracked, leaving the Stars to dominate the Golden Knights at their own game. That's what Florida's seeing against Edmonton; an Oilers team establishing offensive rushes at every turn and breaking their opponent's will.
