Watch: Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final gets off to chaotic start

Reducing that to a minor penalty was an interesting call because Nurse seemed to make no effort to avoid making contact with Bennett's leg. ESPN referee analyst Dave Jackson – who rarely goes against the on-ice call – seemed convinced a five-minute call would have been appropriate, but the referees disagreed. 

It almost seems like one of those situations where the referees did not want to insert themselves too much into a potential Cup-clinching game by making a major penalty call. 

During the ensuing penalty, the Panthers hit posts behind Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner on back-to-back shot attempts setting the stage for the Oilers to open the scoring with a shorthanded goal from Mattias Janmark.

The Oilers' penalty kill has been incredible all postseason and has chipped in a couple of shorthanded goals. None were bigger than this as the Oilers attempt to fight off elimination and keep their season going.