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Paul Bissonnette makes bold prediction ahead of Panthers facing Oilers in crucial Game 5
The Florida Panthers face the Edmonton Oilers in a crucial Game 5 in Sunrise on Tuesday night. With a win, the Panthers will clinch the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup championship. A loss would sow seeds of doubt regarding the Panthers’ ability to close out the series.
In that regard, analyst and insider Paul Bissonnette offered the following insights during a recent appearance on the "Spittin’ Chiclets" podcast:
"You guys have this series in a chokehold right now. I think this series ends in five at home, very similar to Vegas where we said it’s the biggest lock of the century as far as hammering down a bet."
Bissonnette added:
"From my understanding, a lot of these guys are going through this experience for the first time for Florida. So, like I said last year, you saw Vegas pull it off, I just think there are way too many weapons. They’re going to come home refocused with way fewer distractions and I think that they’re going to give them a beatdown for Edmonton."
Bissonnette concluded his thoughts with the following reflection:
"Bombing them [the Panthers] with eight goals, but you don’t think that’s going to put a little more pep in Florida’s steps and let’s come back and beat the wheels off [Edmonton]."
One could expect the Panthers to return to their usual tight-checking, hard-nosed style for Game 5. Meanwhile, expect the Oilers to build on Game 4’s momentum as they look to force a sixth game.
The Panthers are looking to tighten the gap
The Florida Panthers had their worst postseason outing in Game 4. Thus far, Game 4 is an outlier in what has otherwise been a tremendously successful playoff run.
But Florida players are fully aware they need to get back to what has made them successful. NHL.com captured the following insights from Florida defenseman Gustav Forsling:
"Just want to build off the first three games (when) I feel like we played a tighter gap. We let them a little bit off the hook in the fourth game. Didn’t play as tight as we wanted as a team, and it starts with me and all the defensemen with a tight gap, and I think that’s what we want to improve."
Florida does not plan to let the Oilers off the hook this time. The Cats will look to play a tighter game, forcing the Oilers’ depth scoring to pick up the slack. While the Oilers’ depth has responded, Game 5 will ultimately come down to Sergei Bobrovsky shutting the door at critical times.
The biggest advantage of Florida’s side is home ice. The team hopes to nail down its first cup at home, repeating the script the Vegas Golden Knights oversaw last season.
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