Florida Panthers accused of getting cocky before Game 6 vs Oilers

The Panthers already have a reputation for being one of the nastier teams in the NHL, and apparently, even the trash talk in this series has reached new levels of vitriol. But the Panthers shouldn't take it too far yet.

As the Panthers took a commanding lead in Game 5 and inched closer to the Stanley Cup, they started laying it on with some cocky behaviours nearly celebrating a series win already.

When Brad Marchand scored his second goal to take a 5-1 lead over the Oilers, the Panthers began celebrating in the bench almost with a sense of finality that they've won the series, of are at least on the cusp.

After a dominant game over the Oilers, the Panthers were just joking around in the room with their post-game victory award. Instead of giving it to Brad Marchand or another player who had an effort in the win, the Panthers have the award to backup goalie Vitek Vanecek. Once again, it feels like taking a victory lap on the playoffs.

On top of this, the Panthers also even deliberately threw off the Oilers practice schedule today. Even outside of puck drop, the Panthers are just laying it on.

The Panthers can't take it too far as premature celebration, but this really is just the identity of this team. They're incredible deep, talented, and a bunch of pests that rub your face in a loss.

It looks like the Panthers can practically taste victory, and one win away from the Cup, they can. It's up to the Oilers to mount a comeback to be written in the history books of the NHL to stop them from lifting the cup.