Florida Panthers surge to 3-2 series lead in Stanley Cup Final

The GIST: The Florida Panthers (up 3-2) are just one victory away from clinching back-to-back Stanley Cups after Saturday’s 5–2 Game 5 win over the Edmonton Oilers.

• Before Game 6 begins in Florida tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET, here’s the standout storyline fueling each team, including why this best-of-seven series could still go the distance.

🐀 Age is just a number to Florida winger Brad Marchand: The 37-year-old third-liner has been on a postseason tear, scoring six goals this series alone — including two Game 5 beauties — not to mention 10 total across this playoff run. Turns out, Florida’s two “old guys” (Marshy and 36-year-old goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky) just may be the secret sauce that leads the Panthers back to Lord Stanley.

👀 The unfazed, but inconsistent Oilers have seen this film before: Yes, Edmonton is on the brink. Yes, the Oil failed to find any Game 5 spark until captain Connor McDavid’s third-period goal. Yes, they’re undecided on a starting tendy for Game 6.

• And yet, the Oilers persevere, notably fighting back to win Games 1 and 4 this series and clawing back from an 0-3 deficit to even the Final last season. It’s not over ’til it’s over.