Marchand scored two goals, giving him a series-leading six and the most by any player in a Stanley Cup Final since 1988, helping the Panthers to a 5-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5 at Rogers Place on Saturday.
“I’ve said it a ton of times, we’re just enjoying the moment,” Marchand said. “It’s a special time, special memories that we’re going to have forever. I’m not really nervous, just excited.”
Sam Bennett scored his League-leading 15th goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Eetu Luostarinen had a goal and an assist, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 saves for the Panthers, who lead the best-of-7 series 3-2.
They can win the Stanley Cup in Game 6 at Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, CBC).
In Cup Final history, teams that win Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead in the series have gone on to win the Stanley Cup 73.1 percent of the time (19 of 26).
“The more times you’re in a situation like this the more comfortable you’re going to be,” Panthers forward Sam Reinhart said. “We’ve been staying in the moment very well, all postseason. It’s just about handling your day. We did what we set out to do today. Now it’s about recovering and getting back at it in a couple days.”
Connor McDavid got his first goal of the series, and Calvin Pickard made 14 saves in his first start of the Final, but the Oilers went 0-for-3 on the power play. They were limited to three shots on goal in the first period, 11 through two and 21 for the game. They had 13 shots at 5-on-5.
Unlike in Game 4, when they came back from down 3-0 after the first period and won 5-4 in overtime, the Oilers did not have an answer in Game 5.
“We’re a team that can always find a way to come back, but it’s not always going to happen,” Edmonton forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. “Sometimes when you put yourself behind you’re not going to find ways to get back. We’ve got to figure out our first period here and we’ll look to correct that in Game 6.”
The first period has been especially one-sided. Florida has outscored Edmonton 11-4 in the first period, including 2-0 in Game 5. It has scored at least two goals in the first period in all five games.
“I think we’ve come out flat now most of the series, so that’s something. I think it’s a mindset,” Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. “We have to make sure we get pucks in, try to put pressure on them. They’re a good team for a reason and they’ve come out and showed that early in the games, and we have to find a way to be better at the start.”
The Oilers had a chance to change that narrative in the first minute, when Connor Brown had a breakaway. Bobrovsky made the save 29 seconds into the game, one of just three saves he had to make in the first 8:50.
“When you’re on the road and you can keep the building from lighting up in the first 10 minutes,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said, “that’s just a big part of the emotions of what goes on.”
Edmonton did not have a shot on goal in the final 11:10 of the period. Florida scored two goals in that time.
Marchand made it a 1-0 lead at 9:12.
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