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Maurice and the Panthers led the best-of-seven
series 3-0 when the famous hardware first appeared in Edmonton
to signal the possibility of the end of the championship series.
But that lead is down to a narrow 3-2 advantage as the Oilers
return home with consecutive wins and a chance to become the
second team to force a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final after
trailing 3-0.
"It's still 3-2, I think," Maurice said Wednesday as the
Panthers prepared for Game 6 on Friday night. "I've got to check
when I get back to the office.
"You guys are all in a bad (expletive) mood. How can I be the
only person in a decent mood here today?"
The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs won four straight to overcome a 3-0
deficit, but history isn't front of mind for Edmonton.
"It seems to be that we've been able to grind it out. We've been
able to go through those types of experiences where we have to
figure it out," Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner said. "Again,
we put ourselves in a little bit of a hole and we're just going
to keep on digging and climb our way out."
No Canadian team has won the Cup since 1993.
Florida appeared to be on the verge of winning the Stanley Cup
one year after being the NHL's runner-up.
Maurice said he's not buying storylines that Florida faces any
pressure to close out the series in Alberta after dropping the
last two games by a combined score of 13-4.
"I understand the feeling of 3-2 because most series are like
that; 3-0 is more of an aberration," Maurice said. "Pressure ...
I think we think about these things possibly differently, and
I'm not sure that I would agree with the assessment that the
pressure has shifted so heavily to us."
Game 7, if necessary, is scheduled for June 24 in Sunrise, Fla.
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