Panthers visit the Oilers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final with the series tied

Leon Draisaitl scoring in overtime to tie the Stanley Cup final for the Edmonton Oilers ensured the series against the Florida Panthers cannot be decided in Game 5 on Saturday night.

Hockey’s hallowed trophy will not yet be in the building. But it is guaranteed to be on Tuesday night back in Sunrise, Florida, making Game 5 another pivotal swing point in the NHL’s championship series rematch.

“The team that can move on fastest is going to be have the best chance,” Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk said.

“The team that moves on from this and team that recovers the fastest is going to have the bigger advantage.”

WATCH | Oilers fans survive roller-coaster of emotions in Game 4: 

Oilers fans survive roller-coaster of emotions in Game 4

Game 4 started with rain and a dreadful start for fans in Edmonton’s Ice District, but it ended with showers of beer as Oilers fans celebrated a wild overtime win in Game 4. Travis McEwan talks to fans about the emotions they experienced.

The coaches involved, Florida’s Paul Maurice and Edmonton’s Kris Knoblauch, don’t believe much in game-to-game momentum, and that theory has played out so far.

Draisaitl and Brad Marchand traded OT heroics in the first two games, the Panthers won the next in a rout, and took a three-goal lead in Game 4 before the Oilers erased it and got another from Draisaitl to even things up.

The Oilers are favoured to go up 3-2 and are slightly favoured to win it all, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

The Panthers have won 10 of the 11 playoff series they have been in over the past three years, including a year ago beating Edmonton in seven games in the final.

This has been different, but still feels like it could go the distance.

“It’s two good teams, and they’re equally matched and you’re going to get some good hockey,” said 40-year-old Oilers winger Corey Perry, whose first intermission speech helped spark their Game 4 comeback.

“There are some superstars on both sides of the puck. It’s fun to be a part of.”

Pickard to start

Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard will get the start in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final Saturday night.

The 32-year-old is set to face the Panthers after making 23 saves off the bench in Edmonton’s dramatic 5-4 overtime victory Thursday.

The flat, uninspired Oilers trailed 3-0 after an ugly first period — Stuart Skinner allowed three goals on 17 shots, but also made some massive stops — before Pickard took over to start the second.

Pickard improved to a perfect 7-0 this post-season with the victory.

The former journeyman also replaced Skinner with Edmonton down 2-0 in the opening round against the Los Angeles Kings. He would go on to win six straight starts, but got hurt in Game 2 of the second round against the Vegas Golden Knights, which opened the door for Skinner to return.

The Oilers went on to beat Vegas and the Dallas Stars in five games apiece to set up a Cup rematch against the Panthers, who took last year’s series in seven.

Game 6 of this roller-coaster final goes Tuesday in Sunrise, Fla. Game 7, if necessary, would be back in Edmonton on Friday.