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The Florida club really seems built to win the Stanley Cup. The club may be healthier than the Oilers (Darnell Nurse, Evander Kane, Corey Perry and Leon Draisaitl are among the players who aren’t 100%), but the playoff style lends itself to the Panthers’ way of playing.
And I’m not just talking about games like this.
Uh, pic.twitter.com/iAKm8hVpun
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 11, 2024
In reality, Paul Maurice’s men, who changed/modified/adapted their identity two years ago by sending (among others) Jonathan Huberdeau to Alberta for Matthew Tkachuk, really do have a “hard to play against” team on the ice.
The proof? Only six of the Oilers’ shots yesterday were taken by forwards. Really?
- Zach Hyman: one shot
- Leon Draisaitl: two shots
- Connor McDavid: three shots
And while the Oilers’ defensemen fired 13 shots on net, it clearly wasn’t enough to beat the Panthers, who fired 29 shots on net in Game #2.
The Oilers’ best players may know they need to give more, but the fact remains that their only play of note came on the bangs of a dangerous play. And I don’t mean that in a good way.
You’ve probably seen it: it was Leon Draisaitl’s hit on Aleksander Barkov, which came midway through the third period of the game. He got two minutes and… that was it.
Draisaitl receives a two minute minor for roughing Barkov on this play after a review.
Thoughts on the call?
(
: @BR_OpenIce) pic.twitter.com/EP3eX55qJn
– BarDown (@BarDown) June 11, 2024
Clearly, it was a dangerous move and we can’t believe the Panthers are happy to see it.
Paul Maurice, who didn’t have an update on his captain’s condition to offer the media after the game, was asked how he felt about it all… and he gave a Paul Maurice answer.
This isn’t the Oprah Winfrey show. My feelings don’t matter. – Paul Maurice
“This isn’t the Oprah Winfrey Show…
pic.twitter.com/DE2VPNGDyz
– Tim Micallef (@tim_micallef) June 11, 2024
The question was asked because the journalist who asked the question sensed that Maurice was on the brakes when he answered. Clearly, he wasn’t wrong, when you see the coach’s answer.
I guess the pilot figured that his club was in the driver’s seat and that there was no point in publicly pouring oil (pun intended) on the fire. If that’s the case, hats off to the coach.
