**Panthers Poised for Game 2 Rebound After Heartbreaking OT Loss**

EDMONTON - The Florida Panthers aren't easily rattled by a Game 1 defeat. Despite surrendering a two-goal lead for a 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, the Panthers remain steadfast as they prepare for Game 2 at Rogers Place on Friday.

"We can be better, we can adjust a few things and come out tomorrow and try to get a win here and get some momentum going back home," said forward Matthew Tkachuk on Thursday, noting the team's resolve and battle scars developed over the past three seasons. This confidence stems from their track record of overcoming Game 1 losses, having done so five times since the start of the 2023 playoffs.

In their efforts to even the series, the Panthers will need to address several areas of their gameplay. High-danger shots favored Edmonton 15-6 in Game 1, and three of the Oilers' goals came from such opportunities. The Panthers also struggled against Edmonton's aggressive forecheck, resulting in a lopsided shot disparity in favor of the Oilers during key moments of the game.

Defenseman Seth Jones highlighted crucial adjustments, saying, "We went through some video and see the things we can do better through the neutral zone. Maybe a little bit more offensive zone time, some things we look at, but they played a good game."

The Panthers had a promising second period in Game 1, outshooting the Oilers 17-8 and securing a 3-1 lead, thanks to Sam Bennett's second goal. However, Edmonton's Viktor Arvidsson narrowed the gap to 3-2 swiftly, and Connor McDavid's setup for Mattias Ekholm's tying goal in the third period was pivotal. Leon Draisaitl then sealed the win for Edmonton with a power-play goal in overtime.

Despite this setback, the Panthers find solace in their comeback history. They recalled their second-round encounter against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where they bounced back from two games down and a 3-1 deficit in Game 3 to win the series in seven games.

Nate Schmidt spoke of the team's resilience, emphasizing their aptitude for learning and applying past playoff experiences to current challenges. This resolve is bolstered by their strong postseason road performance, boasting an 8-3 record and five consecutive road wins before Game 1's result.

Tkachuk voiced the Panthers' determined outlook, stating, "Take one game and get home-ice back. It's that easy... It's an adversity type of game, an adversity type of atmosphere... You treat it as a big-time must win in a hostile environment, and I feel like that's when we're at our best."

As the Panthers aim to replicate past successes and turn the series around, they look forward to Friday’s clash, ready to battle through adversity and return home with renewed momentum.