\u201cIt has been a grind, it\u2019s been so hard,\u201d Maurice said afterward. \u201cI think we played so well tonight because we have so much respect for Edmonton. Even though Leon Draisaitl is out of the lineup, Connor McDavid is so dynamic that he forces your attention to [playing] the right style of game, one we play very well. \u2026 They bring out the best in us.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Sergei Bobrovsky played a big role in Florida keeping the Oilers off the board, sure, but Edmonton\u2019s 21 shots on goal were its fewest in some time.<\/p>\n
Edmonton, after all, had averaged 34 shots in its previous four games and are averaging close to 30 per night which have the Oilers ranked sixth in the league.<\/p>\n
The Oilers also have the top-rated power play in the NHL. Thursday, they were 0-for-2 with just one shot on goal.<\/p>\n
McDavid was not dynamic Thursday. Just quiet.<\/p>\n
The Oilers star was basically nonexistent with Florida limiting him to one third-period shot on goal and only two shot attempts.<\/p>\n
The Panthers made the Oilers look so bad that their fans not only fled the building in the third, but those who stuck around let them have it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great rivalry,\u201d said Bobrovsky, who has four shutouts this season. \u201cThey have a great offense and we have a great defense. It was a great fight, great game. It was fun to watch, and even more fun to play in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maurice pointed to Florida finally having its expected defensive rotation on the ice Thursday.<\/p>\n
Dmitry Kulikov got hurt in Florida\u2019s second game against the Flyers, and Seth Jones most recently returned.<\/p>\n
Those two, certainly, were missed.<\/p>\n
And they looked great on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the best defensive corps that we have put on the ice since 2 minutes into Game 2 of the season,\u201d Maurice said. \u201cYou see what those guys can do.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Panthers will now return to running out the string tonight in the finale of this weeklong road trip.<\/p>\n
The Calgary Flames do not offer any real motivational fuel for the Panthers what with Jonathan Huberdeau out for the season with injury and MacKenzie Weegar traded to Utah.<\/p>\n
Sure, Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk may be amped up for tonight\u2019s game at the Saddledome, but this is just another game for the Panthers.<\/p>\n
To paraphrase Forrest Gump, you just don\u2019t know what you\u2019re gonna get from the Panthers in these final weeks of the season.<\/p>\n
Games like Thursday in Edmonton? Pretty good bet the Panthers were going to come out flying.<\/p>\n
Tonight?<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
ON DECK: GAME No. 69
\nFLORIDA PANTHERS at CALGARY FLAMES<\/p>\n
![\"Get](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Get-FHN.png\")
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