### Panthers Face Uphill Battle in Stanley Cup Final After Game 1 Loss to Oilers

In the heart of Edmonton, Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers are gearing up for a relentless battle not just against the Oilers, but against a formidable crowd of 20,000 in the arena and an equal number outside. Tkachuk encapsulated the fierce competition, stating, "It's us against the 20-plus guys you're playing against, the 20,000 that are in the rink, the 20,000 that are outside the rink. It's just us against everybody."

The Panthers are trailing 1-0 in the Stanley Cup Final series following a tight 4-3 overtime loss to the Oilers on Wednesday night. Despite having an impressive playoff record of only three road losses in 11 games, the Panthers now find themselves needing to recalibrate their strategies.

"Our mindset is very much 'us against the world,' especially when we are down in a series," said Tkachuk. "Every game becomes a must-win in such a hostile environment, and that's when we seem to perform our best."

This year's series has taken on a different tone compared to last season when the Panthers raced to a 3-0 series lead. Both Tkachuk and the defending champions acknowledge the significant improvements in the Oilers' lineup, highlighting their more robust defense, effective shot-blocking, and the strong performance of their goalie.

"The Oilers have shown they're a very good team with dangerous players. Even their secondary lines can make an impact, which hasn't always been the case," Tkachuk commented. "They're better. We’re better. It's shaping up to be a great series."

A major concern for the Panthers was how they let a two-goal lead slip in Game 1. The Oilers managed to rally and tie the score before Leon Draisaitl clinched the win in overtime. Notably, this marks the first time under head coach Paul Maurice that the Panthers lost a playoff game after leading in the first or second periods.

Defenseman Seth Jones reflected on the adjustments needed before Game 2, stating, "We reviewed the game footage to see where we can improve, especially in the neutral zone and increasing our offensive zone time. They played solid defensively, blocking a lot of shots, which we anticipated."

Tkachuk highlighted the need for a stronger forecheck and more sustained zone time to disrupt the Oilers' counterattacks, stating, "They finished better than we did and probably deserved that win. We need to play better and adjust our strategies moving forward."

Game 2 is slated for Friday night in Edmonton. Historical data shows that the winner of Game 1 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final series has gone on to win 76% of the time, including 10 of the past 13 series.