The Florida Panthers are on the verge of a second consecutive Stanley Cup triumph after their convincing 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday. The Panthers rebounded from what could have been a demoralizing 5-4 overtime loss in Game 4, during which they led 3-0 in the opening 20 minutes of play.
The Panthers built a lead in Game 5 and kept it this time, denying the Oilers in their quest to knot the score. Florida responded quickly with goals after both of Edmonton’s third-period tallies to put any hope of an Oilers comeback to rest.
“We’re Not Going To Get Ahead of Ourselves” – Panthers’ Sam Bennet After Game 5 Win
Panthers forward Sam Bennett, who won the Stanley Cup last season with the Panthers and now has an astounding 15 postseason goals in 2025, knows that the job isn’t finished yet. “It’s a great opportunity,” Bennett said. “We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves. It’s going to be the hardest game. We know that. Yeah, the job’s not done yet.”
While it may be human nature for the Panthers to picture a potential celebration, they’ll use their experience of knowing how to handle this situation from last year’s triumph ias they aim for a second consecutive title. “It’s extremely tough,” Bennett added. “It’s a moment you think about your whole life. It’s in the back of your head. I think we can just learn from that experience last year.”
Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky wasn’t overly tested in the opening 20 minutes of play, having to stop only three Oilers shots. But that didn’t stop his head coach from acknowledging the goalie’s efforts, during his postgame media availability.
“I thought Sergei got tested hard,” head coach Paul Maurice said. “They came out right. They were fast through the neutral zone. There were a couple times he had to make a couple of big saves. If you’re on the road and can keep the building from lighting up in the first 10 minutes, that’s just a big part of the emotions of what goes on.”
The Panthers, who are the defending Stanley Cup champions, say they will be “all business” as they head into Game 6 in front of their home fans with a chance to repeat as hockey’s top club. “The idea of creating an atmosphere of all business is important for us,” defenseman Aaron Ekblad said. “We want to move on, recover, and approach the game the same way we did today.”
Game 6 between the Panthers and Oilers will take place on Tuesday evening at the Amerant Bank Arena, and the puck is scheduled to drop at 8:00 p.m. ET.
