Connor McDavid clinched Game 5 for Edmonton, and Panthers GM Bill Zito was not exactly happy
The Stanely Cup Final is headed back to Edmonton.
After the Oilers won Game 4 at home to push the NHL Stanley Cup Final back to Florida, they forced Game 6 with a 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers to keep their title hopes alive.
Edmonton star Connor McDavid was huge again for the Oilers, making NHL history as he notched a “three-point period” in Game 5. McDavid became just the third player in NHL Stanley Cup Final history to notch a three-point period, and the first ever to do it in back-to-back games.
However, it was his empty-net goal late in the third period that iced the game for the Oilers, and sent Florida general manager Bill Zito over the edge.
McDavid’s goal came after an incredible effort from Matthew Tkachuk denied Edmonton what looked to be an empty-net goal. Tkachuk tracks down the puck and makes a diving save to clear it off the line, but McDavid keeps the play alive, and buries a shot to give Edmonton the 5-3 lead late:
After McDavid’s wrister hit the twine cameras panned up to the Panthers’ front office team, capturing Zito as he sent a water bottle flying:
With their win Tuesday night the Oilers became just the fourth team in NHL history to force a Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, and the first team to do so on the road.
Perhaps that fact has Zito feeling a little heat.
