Kris Knoblauch watched his Edmonton Oilers erase a 3-0 deficit in a heart-stopping Game 4 against the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final, and now the series heads back to Edmonton tied 2-2.
After the miraculous comeback, Knoblauch spoke with reporters and made it clear just how much of an advantage playing at home could be—especially with the series now even and the Oilers having etched their name in Stanley Cup history with the 3-0 comeback.
“I don’t think there’s a better place to experience a hockey game than in Edmonton… The atmosphere there with the fans, the excitement in the building,” Knoblauch said following the win over the Panthers.
Knoblauch puts his trust in Pickard
Another key message from Knoblauch during the postgame press conference centered on backup goalie Calvin Pickard, who stepped in after Stuart Skinner was pulled. It wasn’t just about trusting Pickard—it was about the solid track record he’s shown with the team so far. There’s now a real chance he could get the start in Game 5, he is 7-0 in the playoffs.
“He’s making the big saves when we needed them,” Knoblauch said of Skinner. But it was after Skinner’s injury last season that Pickard began proving himself as a reliable option. “I remember just him making some really key timely saves,” he added.
Oilers must capitalize at home
It’s worth noting that the 2025 Stanley Cup Final opened in Edmonton, where the Oilers took Game 1 in a gritty 4-3 overtime win. But they couldn’t slow down the Panthers in Game 2, also on home ice, falling 5-4 in OT.