Oilers evade Stanley Cup Final sweep in dominant scoring barrage over Panthers

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If the Edmonton Oilers have hopes in becoming the second team to win a Stanley Cup Final after trailing the series three games to none, then Saturday's thumping of Florida was a good start. 

The Oilers avoided a sweep in dominant fashion on Saturday night, beating the Florida Panthers, 8-1.

Early in the first period, the Panthers were on the power play, and a shot rang off the post. But after a turnover, the Oilers had a 2-on-1, and Mattian Janmark found the back of the net off a patient feed from Connor Brown. A few minutes later, Adam Henrique scored to give the boys from the land up north a 2-0 lead, but Florida answered right back with a goal by Vladimir Tarasenko to cut the lead in half.

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Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (25) celebrates a goal with teammates in the second period against the Florida Panthers in game four of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place.  (Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports)

Edmonton, though, quickly returned the favor. This time it was Dylan Holloway on a nifty pass from Leon Draisaitl to make it 3-1 Oilers. It was Draisaitl’s first point of the series, and it was the first time the Oilers led by two goals all series.

The scoring barrage continued in the second, as Connor McDavid finally scored his first goal of the Cup Final. It didn’t stop there.

Darnell Nurse joined the fun at the 4:59 mark of the period, forcing the Panthers to replace Sergei Bobrovsky with Anthony Stolarz. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored on a two-man advantage later in the period, and Holloway and Ryan Mcleod each added another in the third, just in case.

Edmonton Oilers center