Oilers rout Panthers 8-1 in Game 4 to avoid being swept in the Stanley Cup Final

“La Bamba” performed in the Edmonton Oilers locker room, Connor McDavid scored, and following a decisive victory, the Stanley Cup Final is returning to Florida.

Game 4 of the series saw the Oilers defeat the Florida Panthers 8-1 on Saturday night, chasing Sergei Bobrovsky and averting a sweep. McDavid scored his first goal of the series as part of a four-point effort, while Stuart Skinner was outstanding in making 32 saves. Tuesday at Sunrise is game five.

“It’s only one victory,” McDavid declared. “Whether you score eight or one, that’s all there is to it. There is only one victory. We must travel to Florida, carry out our task, and then haul them back to Alberta.”

After a total collapse from a club that has several players who have never been this close to winning the Cup, the Panthers’ celebration will have to wait. This included Bobrovsky, who was replaced five minutes into the second half after giving up five goals on 16 shots, which was more than he had given up in the series’ opening three games combined.

Matthew Tkachuk, a winger with the Panthers, stated, “It had nothing to do with Bob.” It served as more of a warning to everyone. We are certain that he will return stronger than before.”

Whether it was a desperate attempt in front of an exuberant home crowd anticipating the beginning of a legendary comeback or the game-changing moment coach Kris Knoblauch has been hinting at, the Oilers were unbeatable in every aspect of a game they had to win to continue their NHL season, starting with Skinner in net.

It started with Mattias Janmark scoring 3:11 on a 2-on-1 rush with Connor Brown. Janmark staked Edmonton to a two-goal lead less than five minutes later, setting up Adam Henrique for his second career goal in the Cup final 12 years after the game-winner for New Jersey that also prevented a sweep in the final.

The odds remain long for the Oilers, given that the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs are the only team to erase a 3-0 deficit at this stage of the playoffs and only four teams total have ever done it.

“Obviously that was a massive win, but we still know what the circumstances are,” said Dylan Holloway who had two goals after not scoring since the second round. “We’re still down 3-1. The biggest thing for us is kind of just to forget that and use it, bottle it kind of, keep notice that can do it but just move forward.”

But the belief will certainly be tangible after breaking out offensively and building a lead rather than holding on to protect it, a quality they had in spades through the first three rounds to win the Western Conference. Florida cutting its deficit to one on Vladimir Tarasenko’s goal midway through the first period did not cause Edmonton to fold, with Skinner making the most important save of the night on Carter Verhaeghe on a 2-on-1 chance and Holloway answering before intermission.