Florida Panthers Aim for Stanley Cup Glory with Game 4 Win Over Oilers

With a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers are poised to inch closer to a second consecutive championship by defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 at home on Thursday night.

During their final full practice before this crucial matchup, the Panthers exhibited a relaxed demeanor, with players emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus amid the high stakes.

"Every game's so big during this time," remarked center Anton Lundell on Wednesday. "The stakes get higher. Everybody wants to win. But we both know for both teams it's a big game, and we want to be good."

In Game 3, the Panthers showcased their dominance, overwhelming the Oilers with a decisive 6-1 victory, shifting the momentum in a series that had previously been tightly contested, marked by overtime battles and a split in Edmonton.

Brad Marchand, who shares the lead in goals for the final with teammate Sam Bennett—both netting four—acknowledged the challenge ahead. "Usually you get teams' best after that," he noted. "Especially with the players they have in the room, how competitive they are, they're going to look to bounce back. When you have that kind of leadership, they normally lead the way, those top guys. That's a dangerous combination. We have to make sure that we bring our best."

The Panthers are approaching full strength at a critical juncture of the season, typically characterized by players battling through injuries. Coach Paul Maurice confirmed that Sam Reinhart has returned to health, while Matthew Tkachuk appears to be regaining his form. In contrast, the Oilers are grappling with injuries; Zach Hyman is sidelined due to a wrist injury that has ended his playoff run, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is a game-time decision due to an undisclosed issue preventing him from participating in practices.

This disparity in player availability could prove significant in their Stanley Cup rematch. However, one constant remains: Florida's ability to thrive under pressure.

"Our approach is pretty similar throughout the playoffs," Bennett stated, leading all postseason scorers with 14 goals. "Whether it's Game 1 or Game 7, we play the same style. We play just as hard. We're not sitting back, so we really are not going to be changing anything in this next game or any other games to come."