‘Grumpy’ Panthers will be ‘ready to go’ in Game 6
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Greg Wyshynski, ESPN
SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers do not believe the Stanley Cup is slipping away to Connor McDavid and the rallying Edmonton Oilers.
The Panthers saw their Stanley Cup Final lead cut from 3-0 down to 3-2 after Edmonton’s 5-3 Game 5 victory. It was the second straight game McDavid recorded four points, as the Oilers became just the fourth team in NHL history to force a Game 6 after losing the first three games of the Final, which has happened 29 times.
Florida star Matthew Tkachuk dismissed a suggestion that the Panthers are feeling the pressure in trying to close the series out, losing their second straight game with the Stanley Cup in the building.
“No, no, no. It’s not an elimination game for us,” Tkachuk said. “We’re going up there with a 3-2 series lead. Just got to take care of business like we did in Game 3.”
The Panthers pushed hard to try and tie Game 5 after falling behind 4-1. Tkachuk assisted on defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson‘s third-period goal to cut it to 4-3, but they couldn’t find the equalizer. Tkachuk said the comeback falling short was tough to swallow.
“We’ve got another crack at it on Friday,” he said. “We did a really good job at the beginning of the series of building that lead, so really nothing changes from tonight’s mindset. We’re up 3-2 going back to Edmonton. Couple days to get ready to go for that and get back healthy and rested and ready to go.”
Panthers forward Sam Bennett said he doesn’t feel that the series is slipping away.
“I mean, we’ve just got to win one game,” he said. “It’s as simple as that. We’re not thinking about that. We’re just thinking about winning one game.”
Florida coach Paul Maurice said his team took too many penalties in the first two periods — four minor penalties, leading to two Edmonton power-play goals — and added the Panthers have to “fix” allowing shorthanded goals to the Oilers, who opened the scoring in back-to-back games with goals by their penalty kill.
“It was a similar start to Game 4 with giving up the shorty there, which is just unacceptable,” Tkachuk said. “We’ve got to start better.”
Tkachuk played perhaps his best game of the playoffs for the Panthers, scoring a goal to cut the Edmonton lead to 3-1 and then setting up Ekman-Larsson’s third-period goal to close within 4-3. He led the Panthers with six hits. The only blemish on his night: a 2-minute minor for embellishment on a Dylan Holloway hooking penalty in the third.
“He was good,” Ekman-Larsson said of Tkachuk. “He made some good plays down low and he battled. So we’re going to need that from all our guys.”
History still favors the Panthers in the series. The Oilers are just the fourth team in NHL history to trail the Stanley Cup Final 3-0 and rally to force a Game 6. The 2012 New Jersey Devils lost in six games, the 1945 Detroit Red Wings lost in seven games and the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs won in seven games — the only team in NHL history to win the Cup after trailing the Final 3-0.
“Absolutely nothing has changed in our situation over the last two games,” Maurice said. “I’m not pumping tires. I’m not rubbing backs. I don’t think we need that at all. Everybody feels probably exactly the way I do right now. I’m not feeling deflated, neither is the hockey team. They’re not feeling deflated. A little grumpy.”
Game 6 is Friday night back in Edmonton, where Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner expects the Panthers will build on the way they closed Game 5.
“Even though we were able to win tonight and play a pretty good game, I think we got to still find a way to elevate our game,” Skinner said. “I mean, you saw tonight how the Panthers came back. They played extremely hard and that’s the kind of team that they have.
“But you can never count the Oil out. Being able to get these two wins are obviously crucial. We got another one to get back in Edmonton, so that’s our main focus right now.”
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is not expected to play against Mississippi State on Saturday, per sources, as the Longhorns staff is expected to sit him out in order for him to be fully healthy for the game against Oklahoma on Oct. 12.
A final decision on Ewers is expected later Saturday, per sources, but the decision is trending toward allowing him to use Texas’ week off following the Mississippi State game to get healthy. Ewers has been considered week-to-week since injuring his oblique against UTSA on Sept. 14.
Ewers finished the week at nearly 70%, as he practiced Tuesday, was limited Wednesday and ended up limited in practice Thursday to allow him to fully heal. Per sources, the Texas coaching staff wanted to give Ewers the extra rest to ensure he’d return at full strength.
The decision means that Texas will against start backup quarterback Arch Manning, who will make his first career start in an SEC game. Manning made his first start against Louisiana Monroe, completing 15 of 29 passes for 258 yards. He had two touchdown passes and two interceptions.
Ewers’ oblique injury came in the wake of him displaying one of the season’s best performances at Michigan in Week 2, as he threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout Texas win in Ann Arbor.
Mississippi State enters the game on a three-game losing streak, which includes back-to-back blowout home losses to Toledo and Florida. The Bulldogs are trending toward finishing at the bottom of the SEC, as they have one of the country’s worst defenses. They are No. 111 nationally in total defense and No. 107 in scoring defense.
Mississippi State will also be without its starting quarterback, as starter Blake Shapen is out for the year after suffering a shoulder injury against Florida. Michael Van Buren, a true freshman, will make his first career start for the Bulldogs.
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams is a “true game-time decision” for the No. 2 Bulldogs at No. 4 Alabama on Saturday night, according to ESPN sources.
Williams has missed the previous two games with a Grade 2 ankle sprain, which he suffered against Clemson in the opener. He’ll be evaluated in pregame warmups and a decision will be made on his status.
Williams has been limited in practice this week, and it’s expected that if he does play it’ll be at less than 100 percent. He’s also unlikely to play a heavy snap count if he does play, as he’s working his way back.
Williams is a marauding defensive end who is the best player in Georgia’s front seven and is a high-end NFL prospect. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has him ranked No. 4 overall player for the 2025 NFL draft.
Williams started the season hot before injuring his ankle against Clemson, as he had two tackles for loss and three quarterback pressures in that game.
They will be an onus on Georgia’s defensive line, especially on the ends, to help slow Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in Tuscaloosa.
Georgia’s defensive line will benefit from the return of senior Warren Brinson, who is listed as probable after missing the past two games. Sophomore defensive lineman Jordan Hall is questionable for the SEC showdown.
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Utah quarterback Cam Rising, who has been snakebit by injuries the past two years, is again expected to be a game-time decision against Arizona on Saturday night, sources told ESPN.
Rising has missed No. 10 Utah’s past two games after an injury to his throwing hand that he suffered against Baylor on Sept. 7. He missed all of last season after an ACL tear in the Rose Bowl following the 2022 season.
Rising’s status will undergo the same evaluation process with the Utah staff as before the Oklahoma State game last week. He’ll throw the ball pregame, and his ability to deliver spin and velocity on the ball will determine whether he’ll play, per sources.
As Rising has struggled to recover and get back on the field, one factor that could weigh into the decision is the chance to get him back fully healthy in two weeks. Utah has a bye before they play at Arizona State on Oct. 11.
Rising has practiced this week but remained limited as the staff has attempted to rest his finger.
Freshman Isaac Wilson has started the past two weeks, leading the Utes to victories over Utah State in Logan and in Stillwater against the Cowboys.
Wilson has shown both moments of promise and interspersed those with moments that have illuminated his youth. He threw for 207 yards on 17-of-29 passing against Oklahoma State. He also threw two interceptions. He threw for three touchdowns and 239 yards against Utah State.
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