Sights, sounds, highlights from Rogers Place in Edmonton
© Bill Price
Welcome to Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers. The best-of-7 series is tied. NHL.com Editor-in-Chief Bill Price is insider Rogers Place to provide all the sights, sounds and highlights of this crucial game.
The anthems – which were epic – are over and the puck has dropped.
The DJ is 100 percent on my good side. After “O Canada” he played some Dick Dale surf music to really set the tone.
It’s absolutely bonkers in here. Would you expect anything else.
All eyes will be on Calvin Pickard in the Oilers net tonight. He starts after saving the Oilers bacon in Game 4.
The “Let’s Go Oilers” chants haven’t stopped in about the last 10 minutes, except for the anthems.
Here we go.
The crowd is absolutely amped. First, they had game host Tony Brar on a video urging the fans to make the building shake and reminding them it’s Oil Country. Then the DJ – he’s back on my good side – played “Welcome to the Jungle” to jump it up a notch, then the “Let’s Go Oilers” chants started and “Enter Sandman” played when the Oilers hit the ice.
I feel like I’m driving in a car with Shawn Roarke.
It’s ear-splitting loud in here. Imagine if the Oilers get the the first goal.
It will be really interesting to see if there is any carryover from Game 4, which was less than 48 hours ago.
It’s been a quick turnaround, with both teams getting to Edmonton early afternoon on Friday. And remember, this is a 6 p.m. local start here in Edmonton.
The NHL.com crew has a new look for this one — Tom Gulitti has joined us while Tracey Myers stayed behind in Florida to rest up for Game 6.
The rest of the NHL.com crew is all sugared up after a media meal that featured an ice cream bar. There is also a candy/nacho bar up the in press room that me and Dan Rosen just checked out (see photo).
Ok, enough about candy, the NHL.com crew and food in general. It’s go time.
© Bill Price
Warmups are over, the players are back in their rooms for final preparation.
The fans are still filing in and I’m sure as we get closer to puck drop it’s going to be jam packed and the decibel level will be insane.
Not only are the Oilers two wins from the Cup, this series has been absolutely epic through the first four games.
I was not here for Games 1 and 2, so I’m looking forward to the anthems when the singer does both from the crowd and let’s the crowd sing along to “O Canada.”
Now, the DJ here in Edmonton is already on my bad side. Before the players came out he played a disco/techno pop version of “Centerfold” by J. Geils Band. It was Peter Wolf’s voice, but is was all club music’d up. I mean, really? I will keep an eye on the DJ tonight and report back any other issues.
Now, I don’t want to get in the prediction business, but Declan, who runs the media elevator here in Edmonton, told us on the way up to the press box the final score will be 6-0 Oilers.
It’s a bold prediction.
For some other numbers, here are some to chew on from our NHL Stats crew:
— This is the highest-scoring Stanley Cup Final through four games in 44 years and trails only three series in League history: 36 in 1981 (NYI vs. MNS), 36 in 1918 (Toronto Arenas vs. Vancouver Millionaires) and 33 in 1980 (PHI-NYI).
— The 2025 Stanley Cup Final is tied for the second most overtime games in an entire championship series (3) and one of five in history to feature OT three times within the first four games, following 2013 (Blackhawks-Bruins in Games 1, 2 & 4), 1993 (Canadiens-Kings in Games 2, 3 & 4), 1951 (Maple Leafs-Canadiens in all five games of the series) and 1946 (Canadiens-Bruins in Games 1, 2 & 4).
— There have been three comeback wins in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final (2 by EDM, 1 by FLA), the most in a Final since 2022 when there were three in the entire series between the Avalanche and Lightning. There have been only six Final series with at least four comeback wins overall: five in 1987, 1971 and 1950, as well as four in 1980, 1978 and 1964.
— This is the ninth Stanley Cup Final in history to feature more than one multigoal comeback win (EDM has both) and first since 2014 (2 in LAK vs. NYR, both by LAK). Each Final with more than one multi-goal comeback victory: three in 1987 and 1950, as well as two in 2025, 2014, 1973, 1971, 1942, 1940 and 1931.
— The 2025 Stanley Cup Final has featured a tying goal in the final minute in multiple contests (Games 2 & 4), the most in any Final in League history.
We are about 40 minutes from puck drop and this town is absolutely buzzing. The series is even, the Oilers are coming off an emotional comeback win in Game 4 and Stanley Cup fever is super high.
Taking a walk to the arena the line to get into the Moss Pit was massive, stretching around several blocks. There had to be thousands of fans in the line to get into the outdoor area to watch the game.
The excitement was palpable.
And the weather was gorgeous. The rain and wind from this morning gave way to sunshine and autumn-like temperatures.
Oh, and some fans were posing with some signs that were taking some shots at the Panthers’ ice cream trips to a certain chain (see photo).
© Bill Price
There is so much riding on this game. If the Oilers win, they have two chances to win the Cup on Tuesday in Game 6, and at worst, will be back here on Friday for Game 7. If the Oilers lose, this could be the last home game of the season.
Not surprisingly, Calvin Pickard will start in goal for the Oilers tonight after he played great in relief of Stuart Skinner in Game 4 and allowed Edmonton to come back.
Also, Viktor Arvidsson is back in the lineup for the Oilers, replacing Kasperi Kapanen.
While you wait for the game to start, here is some pregame reading for you from the crack NHL.com staff on our Stanley Cup Final landing page.
FLA vs. EDM
FLA vs. CAR | EDM vs. DAL
FLA vs. TOR | CAR vs. WSH | DAL vs. WPG | EDM vs. VGK
OTT vs. TOR | FLA vs. TBL | MTL vs. WSH | NJD vs. CAR
STL vs. WPG | COL vs. DAL | MIN vs. VGK | EDM vs. LAK
