Despite all the scoring, the goaltending of Sergei Bobrovsky of Florida and Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard of Edmonton has drawn raves. Bobrovsky is 2-2 with a 2.83 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in four starts. Skinner is 1-2 with a 4.20 GAA and .860 save percentage in four starts (he was pulled after allowing three goals on 17 shots in the first period of Game 4) and Pickard is 1-0 with a 1.77 GAA and .935 save percentage in two appearances.
Maurice called the goaltending “phenomenal.” Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said the goalies have been “unreal.”
“Obviously, Pickard coming in tonight, and then ‘Bobby,’ throughout the whole series and all playoffs, he’s been our rock back there, made some unreal saves,” said Tkachuk, who scored Florida’s first two goals in Game 4. “He gives us a chance every single night. So he’s been incredible.”
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said he can enjoy the greatness of this series — to a point.
“Games like that (Thursday), it’s exhausting. It’s a roller coaster,” he said with a laugh. “For me, I do appreciate the level of hockey: Two good teams playing as hard as they are, playing the right way, I do appreciate being so close to the action and seeing what I’m seeing.
“But with what’s on the line, it’s stressful. There’s a lot on the line, but it is fun. I think our guys are having a lot of fun enjoying this moment. We’re going to enjoy this tonight, and we know (Saturday) we’re going to have to turn it off because we have a big Game 5 coming.”
This year’s Stanley Cup Final has been amazing. Edmonton and Florida are playing on the ultimate stage and they’re putting on one heck of a show.
“Tuesday on the road on the West Coast in November, not as much fun as you think, but this is where you get the payback,” Maurice said. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s not light. I mean, you feel it coming from, what, a day and a half you can feel the game coming and you feel it all day and it’s exciting. But this is truly the juice you live for.”
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