Panthers beat Oilers 5-2 in Game 5, move to verge of Stanley Cup title

The Florida Panthers are on the verge of winning the Stanley Cup after defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in Game 5. The Panthers put on a solid performance, with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky making crucial saves and the defense shutting down the Oilers’ offense.

Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Sam Reinhart provided the scoring for the Panthers. Marchand’s goal in the game made him just the second player in the past fifty years to score five or more goals in multiple Stanley Cup finals. He now holds the record for the most career goals in the final among active players.

Despite falling behind 3-0, the Oilers managed to get on the board with a goal from Connor McDavid. However, the Panthers quickly responded with a goal from Reinhart to restore their three-goal lead. Corey Perry scored late in the game for the Oilers, but it was not enough to mount a comeback.

The Panthers’ aggressive penalty kill kept the Oilers’ power play at bay, going 0 for 3 in the game. Goalie Calvin Pickard suffered his first loss of the playoffs after allowing four goals on 18 shots. Stuart Skinner, who relieved Pickard in Game 4 and secured a win, may be back in net for Game 6 as the Panthers look to close out the series.

The Panthers have shown resilience throughout the playoffs, bouncing back from tough losses and using their depth to their advantage. After a disappointing overtime loss in Game 4, they came out strong in Game 5 to take a commanding lead in the series.

With Game 6 on the horizon, the Panthers are eager to secure the Stanley Cup title. The team is confident in their abilities and is determined to finish the job. As they head back to Florida for the next game, they will be looking to make history and bring home the championship.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.