The Florida Panthers are just one win away from lifting the Stanley Cup for the second straight year — and they can do it tonight, in front of a roaring home crowd at Amerant Bank Arena. The defending champions lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 and are determined to close out the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6.
For Edmonton, it’s do-or-die.
Saturday’s 5-2 thumping by Florida in Game 5 put the Oilers on the brink of elimination. And while three of the first four games were tight, two of them heading to overtime, the Panthers have had clear control lately — outscoring Edmonton 11-4 in the first period across the series, including 7-0 over the last three games.
Florida forward Matthew Tkachuk knows the moment is massive, especially with the chance to clinch on home ice.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Tkachuk said. “Our fans have given us so much love and support and momentum this year that they deserve this type of game at home.”
The Panthers have turned Amerant Bank Arena into a fortress, winning 32 of 50 games there since the season opener. But it’s their road form — matching an NHL playoff record with 10 wins away — that has brought them to this point.
Now, the spotlight is back in South Florida, and the building is expected to be deafening.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a loud building,” said center Anton Lundell. “We’re looking forward to it.”
Oilers Need a Fast Start, History Not on Their Side
If the Oilers want to force a Game 7, they’ll have to rewrite the script — and fast. Florida’s explosive first-period dominance has buried Edmonton early in recent games. The Canadian squad needs to hit the ice with urgency and clean up their defensive lapses.
History also works against them. Only 8 of the last 44 teams down 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Final have come back to win. The last team to do it? The Boston Bruins in 2011.
For the Oilers, this is not just a game — it’s a battle to extend their season and keep Canada’s long-standing Cup hopes alive. No Canadian team has lifted the Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.
Experience Gives Panthers the Edge
Florida’s core has been here before. Last year, the Panthers needed seven games to beat the Oilers for their first championship. This time, they aim to avoid the same rollercoaster ride.
“Everything we’ve kind of gone through, we just have more experience,” said forward Evan Rodrigues. “You feel like the moment’s not bigger than it is. That helps the nerves, and you just go out and play your game.”
Captain Aleksander Barkov echoed that sentiment. For him, it’s all about consistency.
“You don’t need to change anything,” Barkov said. “You just need to be as good as possible. That’s been our mindset all playoffs.”
One Game. One Trophy. One Wild Night?
If the Panthers can play their game, they’ll become just the third team in the salary cap era to win back-to-back Stanley Cups — joining elite company alongside the 2016-17 Penguins and the 2020-21 Lightning.
But if Edmonton stuns the crowd and sends the Cup back into its case, it’ll head to Alberta for a winner-takes-all Game 7 on Friday.
Until then, the stage is set in Sunrise. One team is chasing history. The other is fighting to survive.