-Buzzsaw-

Yes, he is playing way over his head right now.

If the Panthers keep forechecking like this, they have a very good chance of taking this game. This is their go-to pattern... which the Oilers disrupted the last 3 games... but they have it working tonight.

First goal is a big one.

Mistake to trade Marner... guy they should unload is Tavares... too old.

Surprised Panthers allow Alannis to sing... secret weapon for Oilers... who are predominantly Canucks.

Very rare for a first year playoff team to go all the way and win the Cup (in fact, I can't think of any example) Usually takes a couple years of failure.... first year, make the playoffs then get eliminated... next year make the Conference, finally, win the Cup.

I think the Oilers win. 1st: Tickets were still available nearly right up to game day... Panther's fans just aren't invested. 2nd: McDavid seems to be well focused and not taking anything for granted. I think in one game he can be the difference... he can turn it up and show us his maximum side. And if he gets going, I think the Oilers go with him. Of course, if Goalie Bob and Barkov have anything to say about it, my prediction may not come to pass.

I always cheer for the team who eliminated the Canucks... because that tells you the Canucks were actually pretty good.

Don't be so sure of that. With the exception of Barkov, Panthers have not played well last 3 games... but they have a lot of talent and all they need to do is get the first goal and the crowd will be roaring in Florida. They could easily win the game.

All you loyal Canuck fans who are bitter about the Oilers doing well... relax. Yes, if the Canucks were still playing, I'd be up there with the haters... but we're not... so just watch. It's just a hockey game now. Edmonton should be given credit for what they have accomplished. (and in my opinion, the chance of them winning again in Florida is only 50/50) McDavid and their big guns have put up big points, but the real credit in my opinion goes to their PK and especially their 3rd and 4th lines. They have played way over their heads... the PK has been the single biggest factor in the Oilers getting where they are now. When McDavid and Draisaitl were doing nothing, it was the 3rd and 4th lines and the PK who gave them life. Also have to say... and I am not surprised... the Oilers have a lot of Canadians on their team... in fact I think they have the highest percentage of Canadian born players on their team... lesson to be learned there. I think the Canucks need to get more Canadianized... especially on the 3rd and 4th lines. Canadians just play better in the post season. And finally... I have said this before... the fact the Canucks took the Oilers to 7 games without Demko and with Pettersson not at 100% is a really good sign for next year. (assuming we can re-sign the players we need) So my suggestion: Just enjoy the hockey and think about the positives.

Colton is an excellent bottom six player... but a little expensive. If you are going to pay him $4 mil, then you might as well keep Joshua, who is bigger and put up similar stats.

I think its great the Oilers have come back and taken it to 6 games. It says good things about the quality of the Canucks. We took the Oil to 7 games with a 3rd string goalie and Pettersson at 70%. I like our chances next year if management can make some critical signings and add some toughness on the 4th line.

Here's my perspective on Big Z: - He's not a superstar if you look at his record... his stats are those of a 2nd pairing D. But he is still under 30, and still has the potential to grow and learn. Big Defensemen develop later... just like Big Forwards. There is still the potential for Z to become a Byflugien-like player. - He does seem to be able to elevate his play in the post season... which is huge. A big physical presence in the playoffs... who can score timely goals, is so important. This is the guy who took Kane out of the Oilers lineup and who probably is the reason Draisaitl is hurting and not playing his best. - He hates Putin... he is smart enough to know his country's President is a thug and a crook and wasn't afraid to stand up and say it. He probably can't go back to Russia... if he did, he'd probably end up in jail. That alone is worth an extra 1/2 million a year for me... I think the chances are if we sign him for 6 years he will be a Canadian citizen at the end of that time... and he will play extra hard for the Canucks if they put their confidence in him and let him stay here and become a member of the family. - He is a smart guy... smart players learn from their mistakes even when they are older. - He doesn't have a long record of injuries... he is durable. There is every chance he will play for the team for a long time. Sometimes one player can set the character of a team even if they are not the star player. Think Alexander Burrows... I think Big Z has the potential to be that kind of guy. He is well liked in the dressing room... he is funny... and he is a Sonuvab*tch to play against. The team has a swagger when he is playing. For all the above reasons I think signing him should be a no brainer... even if they have to pay an extra $250,000 a year.

Team needs hitters on the bottom six.

Tocchet already showed he had no tolerance for a real offensive talent like Kuzmenko who might be a little suspect defensively. There is no way he'd want Mantha on his team. Better to sign some 6'4" 230 lb fast skating 4th line hitter who has hands of stone for league minimum and put the money into signing Z.

Canucks need to sign this guy. An extra $250,000 a year means nothing... SIGN HIM !!!

What the heck happened to PL Dubois? Guy had all the skills and physical attributes... and has completely underachieved. Gotta wonder if something else is a factor???

This will make NJ a lot more competitive. Markstrom is far from being washed up... should have another couple good years in him.

I thought this game was being dominated by the Panthers in the first. But the first period shortie changed everything. All of a sudden the wind was taken out of the Panther's sails and the Oilers got energy... especially McDavid. He loves playing with the lead because his number of chances triple because the other side is pressing. Panthers didn't get their legs back till Tkachuk scored. Series odds still in favour of Florida... winning 4 games in a row is a really tough job in the playoffs. I think the first goal is critical in game 6... Oilers score first and we're going back to Florida. Panther's score and the Oilers start to feel the pressure.

If the Oilers somehow win this series, the Conn Smythe should not go to McDavid or Bouchard or Skinner. It should go to the Oiler PK unit as a whole... these guys are the ones who have been the real difference all playoff long.

If the Canucks cannot sign Lindholm, then Wennberg might be in the mix as they will have $ available. He wouldn't replace Lindholm in the top six, but he could add depth at center in the bottom six.

Kuzmenko "...didn't just stop scoring" when he was on the Pettersson line. He stopped scoring when he was taken off the line and demoted to the 4th line or benched. At Game 20 he had 14 pts... he was not potting a lot of goals but he was contributing and was on a 60 pt pace. Rest of the time he was with Vancouver his production tailed off. At exactly the same time, Mikheyev went into his scoring drought and Pettersson's league leading production started into a tailspin. As soon as Kuzmenko was put back with top sixers, (in Calgary) his scoring picked up again. He ended the year with 22 goals, 24 assists... 46 pts in 72 games... which is top six numbers. He had 14 goals and 25 points in the 29 games he played with Calgary.... which would have been a 70 pt/35 goal pace over a full season. My prediction is he will get at least 30 goals with Calgary this upcoming year... maybe goes over 40 if he develops chemistry with Kadri and shows what he is capable of on the PP. I'm gonna be the Devil's advocate and ask questions about the trade that sent him to Calgary and Lindholm to Vancouver. By any standards, Calgary easily won the trade when you consider the regular season. Kuzmenko's production was far better than Lindholm... and we aren't even counting the extra players thrown in as gifts to Calgary. Yeah, everyone talks about Lindholm's play in the playoffs, but how does that rank compared to players on other playoff teams? 5 goals and 10 points from 13 games is not even close to top tier... yeah he had some critical goals, but overall, his production was not superlative by any means. Yes, there were compliments on his defensive play, but again, defense wasn't the problem with the Canuck play... the problem was lack of scoring. Canucks could have used the creativity and finish of Kuzmenko... I doubt he would have missed the opportunities given to Mikheyev and Suter in both series... which they regularly squandered. We will never know what could have happened with a Canuck team with Kuzmenko and without Lindholm... what we can know is where the trade will leave Vancouver in 2024/2025. If Lindholm doesn't sign, then the Canucks have real gaps in their top six... they will have to sign free agents and/or spend more picks. If they don't find quality players, then the team will very likely regress. I think Kuzmenko is a rare offensive talent... just hoping this trade doesn't come back to bite the Canucks later.

I've said it before... say it again. For the Canucks to have spent the picks and made the trade for Big Z and then to let him walk would be complete stupidity. I would consider that a failure of management. Personally I don't think you make that trade unless you sign him at the same time. I consider Z to be worth more dollar wise to the team than Hronek. At least with Hronek, even if we can't sign him longterm, we have him for another year with arbitration.

Shania is actually a Montreal fan... but she cheers for the last Canadian team standing like a lot of people. She'd be cheering for the Canucks if they were in the final.

Because of Deadmonton's comeback, Gazdic is getting out of the doghouse and getting another shot. Typical of the Toronto weasels, sucking up to the Western fanbase even though Gazdic should be permanently disqualified.