FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) \u2014 Staying out of the penalty box is a good place to start for all the players involved in the Stanley Cup Final.<\/p>\n
After talking all week about being more disciplined<\/a>, the Edmonton Oilers were whistled for high-sticking a couple of times and tripping once in the first 16 minutes of Game 4 on Thursday night. Naturally, Matthew Tkachuk scored twice for Florida Panthers, and then a slashing call put the Oilers on the power play and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ goal sparked their comeback that tied the series<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a good series,\u201d Tkachuk said. \u201cSpecial teams, both teams’ power play seemed to be clicking.\u201d<\/p>\n Florida is clicking at a higher rate at 33%, going 7 of 21 with the man advantage, compared with 20% on 4 of 20 for Edmonton. In a final knotted 2-2 that has often been as tight as it can be<\/a> with three games already decided in overtime, the Panthers’ power play production has the potential to be a difference-maker.<\/p>\n Until Tkachuk broke through, it had been the second unit of Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Evan Rodrigues and Nate Schmidt<\/a> doing most of the damage.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re building a lot of chemistry playing together,\u201d Verhaeghe said. \u201cWe have so many great players on the unit. Both units have been pretty good. I mean, we just want to move the puck right and get pucks to the net.\u201d<\/p>\n The Panthers have five power play goals over the past two games and have scored at least one every night in the final. The Oilers have also cracked Sergei Bobrovsky at least once on the power play each game. Nugent-Hopkins scoring Thursday night could be a sign Connor McDavid and Co. are revving up against what has been a fairly effective Florida penalty kill.<\/p>\n Coach Paul Maurice<\/a> believes that task has gone \u201creasonably well.\u201d<\/p>\n “I think they\u2019re still going to generate some action,” Maurice said Friday before flying across North America. “I think the even strength chances are pretty tight through four games.\u201d<\/p>\n Ekholm’s block<\/p>\n Tkachuk almost completed a hat trick in Game 4, and it could have changed the course of the entire series. With the score tied at 3-all late in the second period, he had the puck with a wide-open net to shoot at.<\/p>\n Edmonton defenseman Mattias Ekholm got his right skate and leg in front of Tkachuk’s shot just in time<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t even know that the net was empty or anything \u2014 I was just in the moment trying to get as big as possible,\u201d Ekholm said. “It ended up hitting me. It was obviously a big block at the time. I haven\u2019t thought too much more about it. It was a block, and sometimes you need those.\u201d<\/p>\n Better Barkov?<\/p>\n Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov picked up his first two points of the series in Game 4 with assists on Tkachuk’s power-play goals. He has none at even strength.<\/p>\n Some of that could be connected to how much energy Barkov \u2014 a three-time Selke Trophy winner<\/a> as the NHL’s best defensive forward \u2014 is expending trying to keep McDavid’s line and also Leon Draisaitl from scoring. He does not want to use that as an excuse.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s tough to say,\u201d Barkov said. “You need to know, those two guys, where they are on the ice. Of course you\u2019re trying to have your head on a swivel, but I think I could be better, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n AP NHL playoffs: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/stanley-cup<\/a> and https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/nhl<\/a><\/p>\n Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. 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