Unlike an Ali bout, this strategy was hardly rehearsed, but more so the product of desperation by a team that is no stranger to adversity this season, having had to dig down deep and pull themselves out of a 2-9-1 start to the season.
The did so with impressive streaks of eight and 16 consecutive wins to climb not only into a playoff position, but earn home-ice advantage through the Western Conference First Round as the No. 2 seed in the Pacific Division.
“I feel we’re most comfortable when our backs are against the wall,” Oilers forward Connor Brown said. “That’s kind of what we showed at the beginning of the year when we were dead last, our backs against the wall and we came out and had some historic runs, so I think we’re a new club in that regard
“When we get in a rhythm and we get playing our brand of hockey, we know what it feels like and (Saturday) night, we knew exactly what it feels like. We’re a scary club.”
But they haven’t held home-ice advantage to start a series since the opening round, and now must go on the road not once, but twice more if they want to defeat the Panthers and win the Cup.
“I think we understand what it feels like,” Brown said. “I mean, they’re going to be on home ice. It’s not going to be easy, but we know what the kind of recipe is and now that it’s fresh in our minds, just replicate that recipe.”
This time, of course, the Panthers will be doing everything in their power to avoid another trip back to Edmonton for Game 6.
“I think the biggest thing for us is not to get too high,” said Oilers forward Dylan Holloway, who had two goals and an assist. “Obviously, it was a massive win, but we still know what the circumstances are, we’re still down 3-1.
“So, the biggest thing for us is just to forget that and still use it, knowing that we can do it, but just move forward.”
