The Florida Panthers are just one win away from their second straight Stanley Cup, but star forward Matthew Tkachuk isn’t taking anything for granted.
“We have to treat this like a Game 7,” Tkachuk said ahead of Tuesday’s Game 6 showdown with the Edmonton Oilers.
He’s got good reason to be cautious. The Panthers have been here before – and it nearly went wrong.
Last year, Florida jumped out to what seemed like an unbeatable 3-0 series lead against these same Oilers. Then things got scary. Edmonton fought back with three straight wins, forcing a nail-biting Game 7 in Sunrise that the Panthers barely won 2-1.
This time around, the stakes feel even higher.
If the Panthers can’t close it out Tuesday night at home, they’ll face something no team wants – a winner-take-all Game 7 in Edmonton’s electric arena, with Connor McDavid ready to put on a show for his hometown fans.
McDavid isn’t just any player. Last year’s playoff MVP (Conn Smythe Trophy winner) can single-handedly take over games, and Tkachuk knows it.
“He’s obviously a talent like nobody else in the league,” Tkachuk said. “It’s so hard to shut him down. I don’t think you can shut him down. You can just try to limit him as much as you can.”
The Panthers’ star forward understands both teams are desperate to lift the Cup.
“We’ve worked so hard for this. So has he and the rest of the Oilers,” Tkachuk said. “We’re here for a reason… We’re all ready for it.”
With Florida’s chance to clinch at home and Edmonton fighting to stay alive, Tuesday’s game is shaping up to be the most intense battle of what’s already been an incredible series.
Unlike last year, the Panthers don’t have room for error. They can’t afford to let this slip away.
