Panthers drawing on experience ahead of Game 5 of Cup Final

LAS VEGAS -- Eric Staal has seen this before.

No, not the 3-1 series deficit the Florida Panthers are currently facing against the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final, a predicament they already overcame earlier this postseason against the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference First Round. Instead, Staal has seen it from the other side.

In 2006, Staal and the Carolina Hurricanes were leading the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 in the Final with the chance to clinch their first championship on home ice.

They lost.

It's the sort of history that Staal and the Panthers are hoping repeats itself ahead of Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; TNT, truTV, CBC, SN, TVAS).

"Obviously, situation where we have to win. Been there before," Staal said. "For me personally, I've been on the other side of it. I've been in a Stanley Cup Final where you're up 3-1. It's not easy. There's some pressure there. There's a lot of variables that go along with it: family, friends, the Cup in the building. Your mind can wander.

"For us, it's just about winning tomorrow night and enjoying the game and playing as hard as we can and getting the W and then taking it back home. That's our focus. That's all it can be."

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Although the Hurricanes would eventually go on to win the Cup in seven games in 2006, the Panthers firmly believe that all they need to do right now is win Game 5. They'll deal with the rest of it if and when they can make that happen.

"Use that stress/pressure on them to our advantage," Staal said. "And be excited."

Of course, the Panthers also have that more recent experience to point to, having won the final three games of the first round to knock out the Bruins, who had the best regular-season record in NHL history.

So, they know it's possible.

"It's the same spot, 3-1. We've done it before," forward Sam Bennett said. "We know we're capable of doing it again. So, it's definitely nice to know that we've been able to do it. We feel good about that."

That experience gives them confidence, even if they are significantly more banged up now, which includes a question mark surrounding the health of forward Matthew Tkachuk for Game 5.

And that confidence allowed them to feel good at the team's practice on Monday.

"Surprisingly pretty loose," Bennett said. "I think everyone's very confident. Excited to play the game tomorrow. Everyone's still in a good mood. We know it's a tough spot, but everyone's in a really good mood."

It's a feeling born of that series against the Bruins, of knowing what they can do and how they can do it.

"We're not excited about being in the situation we're in," Staal said. "No one wants to be down 3-1, but our guys enjoy being around each other, enjoy being at the rink, enjoy everyday experiences in this league. Today was a good day to get together, talk about things, talk about what we can do tomorrow to get a win. That's our focus."

There's no question the Boston series has come up in conversation in the past 48 hours, ever since the Panthers put themselves in this position with a 3-2 loss to the Golden Knights in Game 4 at FLA Live Arena on Saturday.

It's been thought about it, mentioned, and it will serve as a framework for what's ahead for the Panthers.

But there is also that experience that Staal gained back in 2006. Game 5 of that series between the Hurricanes and Oilers ended at 3:31 of overtime on a goal from Fernando Pisani, which extended Edmonton's season by another game.

Even though it ultimately didn't end the way the Oilers would have liked, the Panthers will take their inspiration wherever they can find it.

They'll also try to approach Tuesday night the same way they have every game since the start of the playoffs, when they entered as underdogs with few believers who thought they would even make it out of the first round.

"Have some fun," forward Carter Verhaeghe said. "There's no reason to be tight out there. They're in the driver's seat. We just go play one game, try and win one game. We've won one game before. Play a little free out there, not afraid to make mistakes."

Unlike for the Golden Knights, unlike for the Hurricanes in 2006, there is no pressure for the Panthers.

They have one game ahead of them. And, if they can pull it off, one win. That's the plan.

"We're comfortable," Staal said. "We're excited for the challenge tomorrow. Obviously, everything is on the line for us. We should enjoy it."