In a pivotal Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers emerged victorious with a commanding 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers. A critical moment during the game significantly swung the momentum in favor of the Oilers, cementing their path to victory on home ice.
Controversial Offside Review
Adam Henrique’s goal put the Oilers up 2-0, but just 10 seconds later, what seemed to be a quick response by Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov was annulled upon review. Edmonton’s bench promptly challenged the play, arguing that Florida’s Sam Reinhart had entered the offensive zone offside.
The officials agreed after reviewing the footage, concluding that Reinhart "preceded the puck into the offensive zone and was in an offside position prior to the Panthers' goal." This decision nullified what could have been a momentum-shifting goal for the Panthers and preserved Edmonton’s two-goal lead.
Opinions Differ Post-Game
Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice openly expressed his disappointment regarding the overturned goal.
"You're looking for a jumpstart at that point," Maurice explained. "The shots were 11-2 in the first period, so we needed something to go our way. It would’ve been a spark for us for sure."
Conversely, Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch viewed the offside call as a straightforward decision that played a pivotal role in maintaining their lead.
"You think about the game, and there's a couple of opportunities for momentum shifts," Knoblauch said. "One was in the second period when they scored on the offside play, making it 2-1 instead of 2-0. That's the type of moment that could change the flow of the game."
Florida winger Carter Verhaeghe echoed the frustration felt by his teammates.
"It sucks that it didn’t go our way," Verhaeghe lamented. "I don’t know. I’m sure it was the right call if they’re watching a million replays."
Player Reactions
Barkov himself acknowledged the decision’s correctness, although it was clear he was disappointed.
"Well, it was offside, so it doesn’t count," he admitted. "We had our chances after that. We had our chances to get to one goal, but then they made it 3-0."
Maurice provided further insight into the communication on the bench.
"The linesperson informed me that it was the last clip they got where they made the decision that it shows it's offside. I don’t have those, so the video that I got at my bench... I was upset after the call based on what I saw and what my video person looked at," Maurice elaborated. "There was no way I would’ve challenged that. There’s no way I thought you could conclusively say that was offside."
Knoblauch, however, felt confident from the outset.
"I actually didn’t think it was that close," he said. "We were actually going to call it right away, and we had a little more time to review it. The only hesitation was maybe there wasn’t the right video. In my mind, it was definitely offside, but I guess you never know. It was something I wanted to challenge almost immediately when I saw it."
Edmonton's Dominance
Following the controversy, the Oilers further solidified their control of the game. A failed one-timer by Florida defenseman Gustav Forsling was blocked by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, sending the puck to center ice. Winger Zach Hyman seized the opportunity, racing in to beat goalie Sergei Bobrovsky for his 16th goal of the playoffs, extending the lead to 3-0.
From this point, Edmonton’s dominance was unmistakable. Not only did they protect their lead, but they also made history. The Oilers became just the third team in NHL history to force a Game 7 after being down 3-0 in the Stanley Cup Final, highlighting their resilience and determination.
After the game, a somber Panthers squad held a lengthy meeting involving the coaching staff, management, and players. "We need to get ready for Game 7," noted Barkov. "Obviously, no one’s happy to lose the game, but that’s it. We know we can get better and we need to get better."
As the series culminates in a highly-anticipated Game 7, both teams will fiercely compete for the ultimate prize. The Oilers aim to complete an epic comeback, while the Panthers seek to regroup and mount a final stand.