Matthew Tkachuk spoke ahead of the matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers on Monday night and said he expects an “angry” Oilers team to show up and try to avenge their Stanley Cup Final loss. Knowing how he felt when he was booted from the playoffs the year before the Panthers won it all, Tkachuk empathized with the Oilers. He is well aware his squad will have to match Edmonton’s intensity.
The Oilers will have something to prove on Monday night. Falling one game shy after storming back from a 3-0 deficit last season, the Oilers probably still haven’t gotten over the sting of getting so close but not winning the biggest prize in hockey. The Oilers almost did the impossible, and didn’t reach their end goal, something that was captured in great detail on an Amazon Prime docuseries — Prime is not ironically carrying the game tonight.
Tkachuk is aware the Panthers are going to need their best.
The Oilers are clicking, having won five games in a row. They’ll be motivated to make it six and send a message to the Panthers that this season will have a different outcome if they meet again in the Final. Florida has lost two straight and may be without their captain Aleksander Barkov. Barkov will be a game-time decision, per head coach Paul Maurice. Maurice says they are “hopeful” and added, “if he says he can play, I’m not going to monitor his minutes.”
As for how much the Oilers are thinking about last season’s loss, Connor Brown said “…, it’s going to be on everybody’s minds on both teams. We’re all going to be aware of that elephant in the room and I think the intensity and the energy will be up for sure.”
Oilers Stars Are Red Hot Coming into the Game vs. the Panthers
Connor McDavid has 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in his last 11 games, bringing his season total to 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in 27 games. Draisaitl has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in his past 11 games and ranks fifth in the League with 45 points (22 goals, 23 assists) in 30 games this season.
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