Last came the Florida Panthers in the Cup Final, a series which once again everyone was betting against the Oilers and predicting the Panthers would win - and let's be honest, for the first three games it looked like they were going to be right. But the media, fans, players, coaches and anyone associated in hockey operations for the Panthers is finding out right now, there are two important lessons they have learned in humility since the Oilers have come back to tie the series.
First, never count out the Oilers, who have proven they have the balls to do the impossible, even when the outside noise is all criticism. Second, never count out Connor McDavid, who saw the Oilers' backs were against the wall after game three and decided to do something about it. After the coaching and video staff were able to come up with counterpunch measures to the Panthers' stifling defensive system, McDavid has gone to work and done what a captain should - put the team on his back. In the first three games of the series the Oilers captain had no goals and a mere three assists - anemic boxcars by his standards. However, in games four-six, he has put up 3-5-8 - with all of Oil Country saying, "now that's more like it."
This mirrors the patterns of other Oilers players as well. Ever-more key puck mover Evan Bouchard had a mere one assist in the first three games, while he has four in the latter three games. Even Leon Draisaitl - rumoured to be playing injured as many players do at this time of year - has three assists in the last three games after putting up literally nothing in the first three (still low by his standards but it is progress).
In addition, Zach Hyman went scoreless in the first three games and is 2-2-4 in the latter three. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also went scoreless in his first three games, with 1-1-2 in his last three. We're seeing the depth offence we saw against Dallas show up again this series, with guys like Warren Foegele, Ryan McLeod, Adam Henrique, Connor Brown, Darnell Nurse, and Corey Perry all lighting the lamp in the latter three games, after producing little to no offence in the first three games of the series.
The Oilers have turned the tables on the Panthers' attack as well. Aleksander Barkov, the soon to be Selke trophy winner, had 1-3-4 in the first three game, but only has a single goal since then. Matthew Tkachuk seems to be getting some extra attention, as he's only produced 1-2-3 in the six games all series, not good enough for a $9.5 million man who gets paid to produce in these situations. Carter Verharge had a goal in the first three games, but has been limited to a single assist since. Sam Bennett was rolling in the first three games producing 1-2-3, but only has a single assist since. Evan Rodrigues was 3-1-4 in the first three games but only 1-1-2 since then, and top puck mover Gustav Forsling has a mere two assists all series.
Predictably with Florida's defensive breakdown has come a breakdown in the nets as well. Sergei Bobrovsky, who put up save percentages over .900 the first three games, was chased from game four and hasn't even managed a save percentage above .850 since. This is almost the polar opposite of his counterpart in Skinner, who has seen an increase in his fortunes since the Oilers' attack came alive in game four, managing a save percentage above .850 only once in the first three games, but has since been above .950 in two of the last three games.
The Panthers, in order to win this thing, are now charged with having to overcome the Oilers' level of talent and speed. This is not an easy thing especially when their grinding style seems to have tired out the players, who have to perpetually chase after some of the fastest skaters in the game in Oiler sweaters. Good luck with that. If they haven't figured it out by now, somehow I doubt they will.