Oilers' Depth Players Must Drill Down In Game 4

Playoff fact: You almost always win Stanley Cups on the strength of the play of your star players.

Also playoff fact: You also win Stanley Cups when your depth players are difference-makers as well.

The Florida Panthers choked off the head of the snake so well in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final that the Edmonton Oilers' duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl was limited to two shot attempts. That might be difficult for the Panthers to repeat, but with home-ice advantage and the last change, they'll have the opportunity to get the players they want out on the ice against the Oilers' stars.

Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart aren't exactly lighting the world on fire themselves, but the likes Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell and Nate Schmidt have been lights-out.

It's time for the likes of Evander Kane, Connor Brown, Viktor Arvidsson and John Klingberg to do the same.

Evander Kane and Tomas Nosek (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

Watch today's video column for more, and share your thoughts.

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