Panthers Overwhelm Oilers in Game 3, Seize Control of Stanley Cup Final

SUNRISE, Fla. — Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final delivered fireworks in every sense, and it wasn’t just because of the Florida Panthers’ relentless offense. In a game marked by big hits, rising tempers, and a third-period melee that sent officials scrambling, the Panthers dominated the Edmonton Oilers 6-1 at Amerant Bank Arena to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

From the opening faceoff, Florida imposed its will. Veteran forward Brad Marchand continued his historic playoff run by scoring just 56 seconds into the contest his fourth goal of the series. At 37, Marchand became the oldest player in Stanley Cup Final history to score in each of the first three games. The Panthers built momentum from there, adding a power-play tally from Carter Verhaeghe late in the first to take a 2-0 lead into the break.

Edmonton briefly found life in the second period as Corey Perry capitalized on a power play, trimming the deficit to 2-1. But that hope evaporated quickly. Sam Reinhart responded less than two minutes later, ending a personal scoring drought dating back to May 18. Then came Sam Bennett, who continued his blistering postseason with a breakaway goal his 14th of the playoffs, to make it 4-1.

The game, though, will be remembered as much for its chaos as for its goals. With Florida firmly in control, frustrations boiled over for the Oilers in the third period. After Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad scored Florida’s third power-play goal to make it 5-1, Edmonton’s discipline unraveled. Trent Frederic ignited a line brawl after cross-checking Bennett near center ice, triggering a full-ice melee involving nearly every skater on the ice and even catching a referee in the scrum. By the end of it, 140 combined penalty minutes had been issued, with Edmonton alone racking up 85, the most in a Cup Final game since 1986.

Evan Rodrigues tacked on one final power-play goal for Florida to complete the rout, but the real damage had been done long before the final horn.

Sergei Bobrovsky was solid in net, turning away 32 of 33 shots after allowing four goals in each of the first two games. Meanwhile, Edmonton’s goaltending carousel continued as Stuart Skinner was pulled after allowing five goals on 23 shots, replaced by Calvin Pickard.

Florida’s physical, disciplined performance stood in stark contrast to Edmonton’s unraveling. Coach Paul Maurice praised Ekblad’s control and poise, calling his effort “a smart, veteran game.” Matthew Tkachuk echoed that sentiment: “You’ve got to take a punch, a crosscheck, whatever it takes. We played our game, stuck up for each other, and got the result.”

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, two of the league’s most explosive offensive players, were held without a point. McDavid registered just two shots, and Draisaitl didn’t record a single attempt a testament to Florida’s defensive clamps, especially from Ekblad and Reinhart.

With the Panthers now two wins away from their second consecutive Stanley Cup, all signs point to a team hitting its peak at just the right time. Florida has played with the experience of a team that’s been here before because they have. And in Marchand, they’ve found the perfect postseason weapon: a battle-tested scorer whose leadership and grit are propelling this group toward a potential repeat.

Game 4 is set for Thursday night in Sunrise. If the Panthers bring the same intensity, and if the Oilers can’t find answers, this series may not be going back to Edmonton.

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