The Florida Panthers flexed their championship muscle in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, smashing the Edmonton Oilers 6-1 at home in Sunrise, Florida. With the win, the defending champs take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and look firmly on track to retain the coveted trophy.
Brad Marchand continued his red-hot form, scoring for the third straight game, a feat that set two Stanley Cup Final records. Meanwhile, Sam Bennett extended his playoff goal lead with his 14th strike, helping Florida run riot.
“This team plays with the discipline and maturity of a seasoned squad,” said Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk. “It’s our third Finals, so we know how to handle the pressure and stick up for one another.”
Sam Reinhart also broke his three-week goal drought, while Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues both contributed with goals and assists. Eetu Luostarinen assisted twice, and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky kept the Oilers at bay with 32 saves.
The Oilers’ stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were surprisingly quiet. McDavid managed only two shots on goal, while Draisaitl failed to register a single attempt. Edmonton’s goalie Stuart Skinner was pulled early in the third after conceding five goals, replaced by Calvin Pickard.
Despite being gifted 11 power-play opportunities, the Oilers allowed Florida to convert three times. Penalties flew thick and fast, with a combined total of 35 penalties and 140 penalty minutes, including several misconducts late in the game.
Florida captain Aleksander Barkov praised his team’s performance. “We were good today, simple as that.”
The game started explosively when Marchand scored within the first minute, making history as the first player to net an overtime winner in the previous game, then score early in the next. At 37, Marchand also became the oldest player to score in the opening three games of a Stanley Cup Final series.
Verhaeghe stretched the lead with a power-play goal before Corey Perry pulled one back for Edmonton early in the second period. However, Reinhart quickly restored Florida’s two-goal cushion, setting the tone for the rest of the match.
Bennett’s slick breakaway goal further put the Panthers in control, followed by Aaron Ekblad’s power-play strike, which ended Skinner’s night. Rodrigues sealed the emphatic win with a late power-play goal.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged his team’s unravelling in the final period but remained optimistic. “We have a shot to split the series on Thursday, and that’s the focus.”
Game 4 is set for Thursday night, and the Oilers will be desperate to bounce back and avoid falling into a 3-1 hole against the defending champions.
Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images
