Oilers drag Panthers back to Alberta with Game 5 win: Grades, takeaways, early look at Game 6
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Ryan S. Clark
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Kristen Shilton
With the Stanley Cup in the building for a second straight game, the Florida Panthers couldn’t quite muster enough in Game 5 to clinch, as the Edmonton Oilers skated away with a 5-3 victory.
The game started mildly enough, with a 1-0 Oilers lead after one frame. Things got wild in the second period, with five goals combined from the two teams. While the Panthers got within one in the third, they couldn’t get the equalizer, and Connor McDavid scored an empty-net goal to put the capper on the festivities.
It was a four-point night for McDavid, who continues his climb up the single-playoff points leaderboard. His 42 points in this playoff run are five shy of Wayne Gretzky (1985) for the most all time.
We’re here to break it all down for you. Here are our grades for both teams, along with takeaways that stuck out the most, key players to watch and the big questions left unanswered prior to Game 6 (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+).
Panthers grade: B-
Florida checked in late to Game 5 and ran out of runway to seal the deal on the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship — again.
The Panthers gave up a shorthanded goal less than six minutes into the first period, and that appeared to deflate the team in a way where it didn’t recover until well into the second frame. By then, the Panthers were already trailing by multiple goals, a deficit too difficult to climb out of at the best of times — let alone when up against a desperate opponent.
Florida did find its legs eventually and looked dangerous for most of the third period, but while the Panthers’ depth skaters showed up, not enough of Florida’s stars — Sam Reinhart? Aleksander Barkov? Carter Verhaeghe? — did the same. Edmonton’s elite skaters performed as exactly that Tuesday. The Panthers’ best better be prepared to do the same in Game 6.
Oilers grade: B+
Scoring eight goals in Game 4 allowed the Oilers to extend the series. But that was no guarantee they could find cohesion in Game 5; as it turns out, they did.
Once again, the Oilers scored the first goal and built a three-goal lead. Their power play went from searching for answers to searching for more goals. They had moments when their ability to suppress shots was evident, which was the case when the Panthers failed to launch a shot over the final 14 minutes of the first period. Plus, they blocked 26 shots in support of Stuart Skinner.
They also had some challenging moments which saw them enter survival mode. In the second period, they allowed 16 shots and two goals, one of them coming less than 30 seconds after they had pushed the lead to 4-1. That second-period surge kept the Panthers within reach before Oliver Ekman-Larsson‘s goal just 4:04 into the third made life a bit challenging for the Oilers. In the final frame, Edmonton had only four shots while allowing 11. Nevertheless, they had just enough to pull this one out.
What we learned in Game 5
Florida’s special teams are a problem
The Panthers had done a masterful job early in the series of holding off Edmonton’s potent power play. But the Oilers have been turning the tide there, and Florida looks increasingly vulnerable in an area that was once a true strength. Edmonton opened the scoring in Game 5 with a nifty shorthanded goal by Connor Brown, and then scored two power-play goals.
Meanwhile, Florida never capitalized on its own chances, going 0-for-3 on the power play. Tightly contested series are rarely won at even strength; Florida must hold Edmonton at bay on special teams too if it expects to come away with a Cup.
Sergei Bobrovsky can’t win alone
Florida leaned into its exceptional goaltending throughout the postseason. But Bobrovsky was aided by what was once a stellar defensive commitment from the players in front of him.
That’s dwindled over the past two games, and Bobrovsky has looked more exposed as a result. Perhaps it’s the jitters associated with trying to close a team out and win a Cup, but Florida’s once-impenetrable appearance collapsing on the Oilers in the offensive zone wasn’t nearly as apparent in the first half of Game 5, and it cost the Panthers a win.
Florida has to get back to protecting the house and giving Bobrovsky a better chance to do his best work.
That Oilers power-play unit might be fine going forward
Remember that time when the Oilers’ power play struggled to find shots, let alone goals, and it led to questions about what was going wrong? A power-play goal in Game 4 was followed by two more with the extra skater advantage in Game 5.
McDavid made the point that the Oilers gradually find answers against opposing penalty kills — and he has a point. The Oilers went through similar struggles in the beginning of the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Stars, only to score four power-play goals combined in Games 5 and 6 to close out the series.
0:44
Zach Hyman doubles Oilers’ lead with tip off slap shot
Evan Bouchard fires, but the puck tips off Zach Hyman’s stick for the Oilers score in the second period.
We might need to have a conversation about Evan Bouchard
Bouchard’s three assists in Game 5 do more than add to his stellar 2024 postseason — they open up a larger discussion about where he fits within the landscape of the game’s top young defensemen.
It’s reached a point that having a young, puck-moving top-four option has almost become a necessity to win or at least be in a position to win in today’s NHL. Miro Heiskanen‘s 26 points in 27 playoff games in 2020 helped the Stars reach the Cup Final while bolstering Heiskanen’s reputation. The same went for Cale Makar in 2022 when he finished with 29 points in 20 playoff games and helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup.
Bouchard’s 32 points through 23 games now have him five points shy of tying Oilers assistant coach Paul Coffey’s record of most points by a defensemen in a single postseason. And for anyone who might not have been familiar with Bouchard, this postseason serves as a launching pad for him to be included in that top defenseman discussion.
Players to watch in Game 6
Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Panthers
It took until Game 5, but Tkachuk finally had his best game of the Cup Final on Tuesday. The Panthers’ top forward was a force at both ends of the ice, setting up teammates, scoring himself and drawing penalties. Tkachuk hadn’t had that sort of all-around impact yet against Edmonton, and it was much needed — especially if he can channel that energy again in Game 6.
It was little wonder that the stronger Tkachuk became, the better Florida performed down the stretch in Game 5. He should be ready and able to set the tone in Game 6, and his teammates will be prepared to follow that lead from puck drop.
Connor McDavid, C, Oilers
Choosing McDavid as the player to watch ahead of Game 6 is essentially the hockey equivalent of why florals in spring are groundbreaking. But at the same time, how could he not be the choice?
He went from not having one goal through the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final to having a goal and four points just in Game 4. He followed that up in Game 5 by scoring two goals and two assists. He is now the favorite to win the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP, according to ESPN BET.
While it’s the sort of production that comes with the mantle of being the best player in hockey, let’s take a breath and remember that McDavid is doing this during a Cup Final that has seen his team go from being swept to forcing a Game 6.
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Connor McDavid plays hero for Oilers with 4-point performance
Connor McDavid leads the Oilers back to Edmonton with a two-goal, two-assist night in Game 5.
Big questions for Game 6
Can the Panthers put this series away?
It’s one thing to close out an opponent in the first or second round of a playoff series. It’s another thing entirely for Florida to close the book on Edmonton and claim the Cup.
The Panthers have allowed their opponent to dictate too much early on in the past two games, and it has put them in a position to play catch up. The Panthers have now failed to clinch at home or away, and Edmonton had every reason to believe it can complete the most improbably of comebacks in this series.
It’s time for Florida to show its mettle by putting a dagger in the Oilers before this Cup Final reaches a Game 7 situation that frankly Florida just doesn’t want to find itself in — especially not when McDavid is playing like a human cheat code.
Have the Oilers figured out the Panthers’ forecheck, and in turn, Bobrovsky?
Go back to what the Oilers did in the third period of Game 3. Even though they couldn’t force overtime, they did get two goals in the final frame, which is as many as they had in the series total before that point. Those goals signaled that the Oilers might have found a breakthrough against the Panthers’ forecheck and, potentially, Bobrovsky.
Scoring eight goals in Game 4 reinforced that idea, with the caveat that it was just one game. Scoring a shorthanded goal, a power-play goal and one in 5-on-5 play in Game 5 proved that the Oilers could generate chances in every sequence. McDavid’s goal that gave the Oilers a 3-0 lead capped a stretch that saw the Oilers score 12 of the past 13 goals in the series at that time, adding to the belief they may have finally found answers to their biggest problem.
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Chris Low, ESPN Senior Writer
Tennessee‘s Nico Iamaleava has been cleared medically to play Saturday against Georgia and is set to return as the Vols’ starting quarterback, sources told ESPN.
Iamaleava, a redshirt freshman, missed the second half of the 33-14 win over Mississippi State last week after suffering a blow to the head. He was listed as questionable earlier this week on the SEC availability report but has been removed in the latest report.
Iamaleava practiced this week, including team periods, and there was optimism among the staff that he was trending in the right direction and would be able to play. But the final call was made by medical personnel. Iamaleava was examined by doctors for what sources told ESPN were concussion-like symptoms after leaving the Mississippi State game. He did not return to the sideline for the second half.
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said on Monday that he felt like Iamaleava would be in “great shape for Saturday” and noted that Iamaleava was with the team earlier Monday morning for meetings and team activities. The Vols’ first full-scale practice was Tuesday.
Iamaleava was having his most productive outing against an SEC team this season before leaving the game against Mississippi State. He completed 8 of 13 passes for 174 yards, no interceptions and a pair of touchdowns as Tennessee built a 20-7 halftime lead. In Iamaleava’s previous five SEC games, he had accounted for three touchdowns and turned it over five times. He was also sacked 15 times in those five games.
Redshirt senior Gaston Moore filled in for Iamaleava in the second half last week and finished 5-of-8 for 38 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
Getting Iamaleava back for the Georgia game is big news for Tennessee, which is right in the middle of the SEC championship race and College Football Playoff picture.
Receiver Dont’e Thornton (hand) has also been given the green light to play for Tennessee after earlier being listed as questionable.
Week 12 is here as we take a look at an SEC matchup that has College Football Playoff implications, learn about three of the nation’s top passers who all played under the same coach and see what’s going on in the Big 12.
No. 7 Tennessee will visit Sanford Stadium as it takes on conference opponent No. 12 Georgia on Saturday night. With so much at stake, what can each team improve on ahead of this SEC showdown?
The Big 12 has six teams in the hunt for a spot in the conference title game. With the final CFP rankings coming out in less than a month, what scenario looks most realistic for the conference in terms of how many of its teams could make the 12-team field?
Our college football experts preview big games and storylines ahead of the Week 12 slate.
Jump to a section:
Tennessee-Georgia | The coach behind three top QB passers
What’s going on in the Big 12 | Quotes of the Week
What has each team done well in conference play? What improvements can be made?
It has been a historic (and dominant) season for Tennessee’s defense, which has yet to give up more than 19 points in any of its nine games. Against SEC competition, the Volunteers lead the conference in scoring defense, giving up 16.7 points per game, and also lead the way in third-down defense and red zone defense. In other words, they’ve given up very little of anything on defense and are buoyed by a line that’s both talented and deep. Tennessee plays a ton of players up front and has been especially good at forcing key turnovers. In 23 trips inside its own 20-yard line, the Vols have forced six turnovers.
The reality is that Tennessee has played to its defense for much of this season out of necessity. The offense has lacked consistency and struggled to generate explosive plays, particularly in the passing game. It’s not all on redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, either. Iamaleava has thrown only five touchdown passes in six SEC games, and the Vols are tied for 10th with an average of 7.5 yards per completion. Iamaleava, who sustained a head injury in a win over Mississippi State last week, has been the victim of poor pass protection at times, and his receivers have dropped some costly passes. Iamaleava has also been shaky when it comes to overthrowing receivers and occasionally holding onto the ball too long.
The bright spot on offense for Tennessee has been running back Dylan Sampson, who has a school-record 20 rushing touchdowns. He has been a constant for the Vols on offense and has an SEC-leading 772 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in conference play. As good as he has been, the Vols are probably going to need more from their passing game to win in Athens. — Chris Low
The Bulldogs didn’t do much of anything well in last week’s 28-10 loss at Ole Miss, which was the first time in a long time that Kirby Smart’s team was manhandled on the lines of scrimmage.
The good news for Georgia: It’s heading home to Sanford Stadium for the first time in more than a month. Georgia hasn’t dropped back-to-back games in the regular season since 2016, Smart’s first season, and it has bounced back after each of its past eight losses. The Bulldogs have won seven of their past eight games against the Volunteers.
For all of quarterback Carson Beck‘s turnovers, Georgia’s problems on offense probably start up front. The offensive line hasn’t done a good job of protecting him, and the Bulldogs’ lack of a potent running game has prevented them from effectively utilizing play-action passes. Their banged-up offensive line is going to face another formidable defensive front Saturday. Georgia has 27 dropped passes, fourth most in the FBS, according to TruMedia, so its receivers need to become more reliable as well. — Mark Schlabach
The coach behind three of college football’s top passers
Miami‘s Cam Ward, Washington State‘s John Mateer and North Texas‘ Chandler Morris are three of the top five quarterbacks in total offense this season in FBS. All three have the same head coach to thank for where they are today.
North Texas coach Eric Morris coached Ward at Incarnate Word and Washington State, recruited Mateer to the Cougars and signed Morris out of the transfer portal this offseason. All three hailed from Texas and are putting up big numbers this season. Morris, a Mike Leach disciple, knows what he’s looking for when it comes to QBs.
For each one, the journey was different. Ward was a zero-star recruit out of West Columbia, Texas, played in a wing-T offense and had no scholarship offers. But he showed up to Incarnate Word’s camp in 2019 and impressed with his quick release and accuracy. Morris saw appealing traits, too, in Ward’s multisport talents.
“He was such a good basketball player,” Morris said. “He was a bigger guy who could really handle the ball and move with ease. He had a twitch and quickness about him that was almost Mahomes-esque, where he’s not fast but you see him get out of the pocket and scramble and he’s nifty on his feet. He saw the floor great and shot the basketball great.
“It might be easier at an FCS school to take that risk, but it was something we were really confident in.”
Ward came in with extreme confidence, telling coaches he’d win the starting job over their returning all-conference player (and he did). He followed Morris to Pullman, Washington, out of loyalty to the coach who believed in him. Now he’s playing on a big stage, chasing a College Football Playoff bid and a Heisman Trophy with the No. 9 Hurricanes.
“It’s been fun to watch him flourish and get rewarded for being patient all these years,” Morris said.
When Morris left UIW to become Washington State’s offensive coordinator in 2022, he brought Ward but needed another QB. On his first recruiting trip in Texas, he stopped by to check out Mateer. The two-star recruit had a prolific senior season at Little Elm High School but was committed to Central Arkansas. Morris didn’t understand what FBS programs were missing and convinced Mateer to flip.
After two seasons behind Ward, Mateer has emerged as one of the top dual-threat QBs in college football with 2,332 passing yards, 805 rushing yards (excluding sacks) and 33 total TDs.
“I think the sky’s the limit,” Ward said. “He’s just so dang hard to tackle in the open field. Just a kid that loves ball and was under-recruited. The tide’s turned and he ends up being a big-time ballplayer.”
Chandler Morris was not an under-the-radar talent, but he’s having his best season yet at North Texas. He began his career at Oklahoma, won the starting job at TCU in 2022, sustained a knee injury in its season opener and then watched Max Duggan lead the Horned Frogs to the national title game.
Morris had a six-game stint as TCU’s starter last season before injuring the same knee. At UNT, he’s leading the nation’s No. 3 passing offense with 3,244 total yards and 30 TDs. Like Ward and Mateer, he processes information quickly, makes plays with his feet and throws outside the pocket with accuracy. If you ask Eric Morris, those traits are a must in today’s game. When paired with his version of Air Raid ball, you get big-time results.
“It’s been fun to see him get his swagger back,” Morris said.
Eric Morris points to Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels. The QBs thriving at the highest level are becoming unstoppable by creating plays out of the pocket. And so are his guys.
“Everybody obviously watches Cam and the magic he makes,” Morris said, “but I think all three of ’em can make plays when it’s not a perfect play call. There are a bunch of really good pure passers nowadays, but that’s what sets them all apart.” — Max Olson
What’s going on in the Big 12?
Two-thirds of the way through the Big 12 schedule, six teams are still in the hunt for a title-game appearance: BYU (6-0), Colorado (5-1), Arizona State, Iowa State, Kansas State and West Virginia, all of which are 4-2. There are too many variables to discuss all the scenarios, but the conference has a straightforward tiebreaker policy.
It’s possible to come up with scenarios in which the Big 12 could get two bids, one bid or shut out altogether.
For the Big 12 to get two bids, BYU probably would have to finish 12-0, then lose a close game in the championship to a two-loss team (Colorado, Iowa State or Kansas State). A 12-1 BYU team would get consideration, but it would become a question of how far it would fall and what else happens around the country.
The most likely scenario is the Big 12 will get one team in: whichever one wins the conference title game. If BYU wins out, it will have a bye, but if it slips up even once — or if another team wins the title — Boise State might be in position to get a first-round bye, assuming the Broncos win out.
The doomsday scenario in the Big 12 is if the conference champion has two or three losses and Army and Boise State win out. If that’s the case, there is a good possibility both of those schools would be ranked ahead of the Big 12 champion and the Big 12 would be left out. — Kyle Bonagura
Quotes of the Week
“They’re stubborn, man. They’re physical. He is an elite runner. The runs they run are sometimes nontraditional. They run some runs that other people don’t run because of the space in the box. He’s very patient. He hits small creases. He’s hard to tackle. How many touchdowns has he got in the SEC? Twenty-something? That’s crazy. In the SEC? The SEC is the hardest league in the world to run the ball in on because they’ve got the most size defensive lineman, and he continues to do it at a crazy pace to me.” — Kirby Smart on Volunteers tailback Dylan Sampson.
“I never try to take a step back. I try to take a step up. I’m always putting my head out the window. I’m trying to see around the corner, not trying to see straight ahead. It’s normalcy for everybody to see what’s in front of them. I’m trying to see around the corner. That’s the relationship I have with the Lord, to help me see around the corner so I can help navigate these young men as well as the women that’s attached to our program to a better way and a better life. So I don’t get caught up in the ‘You go, boys!’ or the ‘You ain’t nothing.’ You know, if I would’ve listened to you guys earlier, I’ve gotta listen to you now. So I might as well just put some headphones on and block you out. Notice I don’t have a sponsor for headphones, but that would’ve been a good placement for a sponsor.” — Deion Sanders when asked if he takes time to step back and appreciate the magnitude of Colorado’s turnaround.
“I hope anyone who has ambitions about playing in the National Football League, let’s see what you’ve got against Clemson. Let’s see you play your best game here. If you weren’t focused for Virginia, which I can’t imagine you weren’t — and I’m not saying anybody was not focused — but if they didn’t get your focus, I imagine Clemson will get your focus when you put the tape on.” — Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi on whether playing Clemson gets the attention of his players.
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