NHL Stanley Cup Final 2024: Top Comments Following Oilers vs. Panthers Game 5

The Edmonton Oilers dragged the Stanley Cup Final back to Alberta with their 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 5 on Tuesday night.

The Panthers still lead the series 3-2, but the Oilers have all the momentum on their side and they get to play at home in Friday's Game 6.

Edmonton got itself into this position thanks to Connor McDavid, who had eight points in the last two games.

"I love playing in the playoffs," McDavid said, per ESPN.com's Greg Wyshynski. "It's been a fun ride. We're glad it's going to go one more day, but that's all we've earned. Another day, another flight, and we'll be ready to go on Friday."

His teammates did not seem to be too surprised in the superstar's play over Games 4 and 5.

"Kind of expect it from him, obviously," Zach Hyman said, per NHL.com's Nicholas Cotsonika. "You don't want to put any extra pressure, but it's what he does. He elevates his game at the most opportune times for us and he's been great."

"When we're against the wall, he puts us on his back and he plays," Oilers forward Corey Perry said. "You see why he is the best player."

McDavid's 42 playoff points mark the fourth-best point total in postseason history. Only Wayne Gretzky (twice) and Mario Lemieux have had better postseasons in NHL history.

"Anytime you're in the same realm as those two, it's always a good thing," McDavid said, per the Canadian Press' Joshua Clipperton (h/t CBC).

Edmonton scored three goals in the first 25 minutes inside Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday. Florida did not provide a response to the Oilers' strong start until a goal from Matthew Tkachuk almost seven minutes into Game 5.

Florida got within one goal for 15 minutes in the third period, but it could not complete the comeback. McDavid finished off Game 5 with an empty-net goal.

Florida head coach Paul Maurice did not seem bothered by the result. He commented after the game that neither he nor his team felt deflated, per Sportsnet.

The Panthers skaters echoed Maurice's sentiment after Game 5. They just need one win from two games.

"We've just got to win one game," Panthers forward Sam Bennett said, per NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin. "It's as simple as that. We're not thinking about that. We're just thinking about winning one game."

Florida's players may not admit publicly that they are concerned about blowing a 3-0 lead, but the series is certainly shifting in that direction.

Edmonton blitzed past the Panthers in Game 4 with its season on the line and it put together a fantastic start to gain control of Game 5.

The Oilers could run out of gas in Game 6, or a potential Game 7, because they have been fighting to save their season for two full games now. But as we saw in Games 4 and 5, with McDavid at his best, the Oilers stand a chance to make a historic comeback.