Oilers shrug off 'what-ifs,' turn page after emotional loss - ESPN

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Edmonton Oilers were one shot away from taking a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final against Florida.

Instead, it was one shot against them — in Friday's Game 2 double-overtime thriller — that gave the Panthers a 5-4 win and evened the series as it shifts to the Sunshine State.

Taking the split at home was a tough pill to swallow for Edmonton. But the Oilers are determined not to dwell on what could have been.

«Right after the game, there's frustration and the what-ifs start going through your head a little bit,» Leon Draisaitl said following the Oilers' practice Sunday. «But the next day you move on. You have no choice. We've got to get ready for [Game 3] tomorrow, coming in here, looking to play our best game.»

The Cup Final has highlighted dominant stretches for both sides — making the margins for error wafer thin. Edmonton rallied to edge Florida 4-3 in Game 1 thanks to Draisaitl's overtime marker, a dramatic start to the rematch of last year's final that saw Florida down the Oilers in seven games. The uptick of intensity in Game 2 further cemented how tight the series projects to be from here.

Edmonton has learned from experience, carrying it over to help manage the inevitable emotions that come with vying for hockey's holy grail.

«Especially at this point, the magnitude of the series, you just get more comfortable with [the emotions]» defenseman Darnell Nurse said. «There's going to be highs and lows. There are two really good teams playing against each other. There's close to zero chance there's going to be a sweep. So, you're going to face some challenges at some point. For us in Game 2, losing in double OT, you were coming off an emotional high [from Game 1], and then you hit an emotional low.