By Michael Russo, Daniel Nugent-Bowman, and Chris Johnston
EDMONTON — The Stanley Cup will be on display at Amerant Bank Arena this Tuesday, but it remains uncertain whether it will be celebrated by the Florida Panthers for a second consecutive year. With a commanding 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night, the Panthers have taken a 3-2 lead in the series, edging closer to becoming the first team to defend their title since the Tampa Bay Lightning did so in 2020 and 2021.
The Panthers showcased their resilience, illustrating that momentum often fails to transition smoothly between games. Despite succumbing to a dramatic overtime loss in Game 4 after squandering a 3-0 lead, Florida remained undaunted.
“We can just learn from that experience from last year. I think we were already looking ahead before we were ready to put in the work to get the job done. So we know what we have to do now,” said center Sam Bennett.
Throughout the playoffs, the Panthers have scored an NHL-record 61 goals on the road and matched a league record by securing their 10th away victory (10-3).
Bennett and Brad Marchand made history as the first teammates in 52 years to each net at least five goals during the Stanley Cup Final, during a performance that included Marchand’s impressive two goals. The last duo to achieve this was Frank Mahovlich and Yvan Cournoyer of the Montreal Canadiens in 1973.
Notably, Bennett, who leads the playoffs in goal-scoring, found the net for the 15th time and has scored in six consecutive away games, a feat only accomplished by four other players in NHL history.
Of Marchand’s 10 playoff goals, six have emerged in this series, marking a milestone as the last player to achieve six goals in a Stanley Cup Final was Esa Tikkanen in 1988.
“Those big moments when you need guys to step up, time and time again, he’s there to produce,” remarked right wing Sam Reinhart.
Though Connor McDavid scored for Edmonton during the third period, his effort came too late as the Panthers maintained a commanding 3-0 lead. Sam Reinhart quickly responded with a goal just 46 seconds later, followed by an empty-netter from Eetu Luostarinen.
In what can be described as a defensive clinic by the Panthers, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 saves before McDavid’s goal, followed by Corey Perry’s 10th of the postseason coming with an extra attacker on the ice. The previous four games had seen teams explode for a total of 32 goals.
“It was a great effort for 60 minutes,” said defenseman Aaron Ekblad. “I think obviously we defend by creating (a) low amount of time and space for their players. So that’s a full team effort.” Bobrovsky added, “I thought guys did an amazing job with the skating, with the gap, with the sticks. On the PK, that was probably the most (blocked) shots I have ever seen. So the guys put on an unbelievable performance in front of me.”
Calvin Pickard, who had started in net for Edmonton after replacing Stuart Skinner in recent games, faced his first playoff loss, bringing his record to 7-1. The Oilers are attempting to make history by winning the Stanley Cup with two different goalies in the Final, a feat not seen since the 1984 Oilers.
Some key moments from Saturday night include:
The Panthers dominated the first period, securing a 2-0 lead while the Oilers struggled to generate offensive momentum. Florida successfully maintained a remarkable first-period score advantage in the series, increasing it to 11-4. Edmonton managed only three shots in the period.
Marchand’s opening goal added to his legacy, marking his 13th career goal in the Stanley Cup Final, the most among active NHL players. He also became one of only two players in the last 59 years to score five goals in multiple Stanley Cup Finals.
Needless to say, Edmonton’s defensive pairings faced challenges, notably Ekholm and Walman, who struggled together as they had minimal experience playing alongside each other during the season.
Finally, McDavid broke his scoring drought in the third period, marking the first time he found the net in this series with a deft maneuver, though he kept his celebration subdued, acknowledging the dire situation for his team.
Overall, the Panthers thrived on the penalty kill, shutting down the Oilers’ power play while Bobrovsky secured pivotal saves to highlight Florida’s impressive performance.
“I think we had a whole minute without a stick on the PK, which is never a fun thing, but obviously, pretty proud of the guys for getting it done,” concluded Ekblad.