Panthers Dominate Oilers 6-1, Lead Stanley Cup Final/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Florida Panthers crushed the Edmonton Oilers 6-1 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, seizing a 2-1 series lead. Florida capitalized on Edmonton’s defensive lapses while Sergei Bobrovsky anchored the victory with 32 saves. With momentum firmly on their side, the Panthers eye a commanding 3-1 lead in Game 4.
Panthers vs. Oilers Game 3 Quick Looks
- Florida wins Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final 6-1
- Panthers take 2-1 series lead over Edmonton Oilers
- Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett lead scoring with key goals
- Carter Verhaeghe, Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart, and Evan Rodrigues also score
- Bennett’s playoff-leading 14th goal follows a major turnover
- Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky makes 32 saves in dominant showing
- Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner pulled after allowing 5 goals
- Oilers commit 15 penalties, including misconducts and a late-game brawl
- Game 4 set for Thursday night in Sunrise, Florida
- Panthers aim to move within one win of back-to-back titles
Deep Look: Panthers Dominate Oilers 6-1 in Game 3 Blowout, Take 2-1 Stanley Cup Final Lead
SUNRISE, FL — The Florida Panthers erupted for a commanding 6-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and shifting momentum firmly in their favor.
Seizing on a sloppy performance by the Oilers—one of their worst in weeks—the Panthers dominated in every aspect of the game. Brad Marchand, playing in his first Stanley Cup Final with Florida, continued his veteran scoring streak, becoming the oldest player to find the net in each of the first three games of a Final.
Marchand’s offensive leadership was backed by another standout night from Sam Bennett, who tallied his 14th goal of the postseason—tops in the NHL—after a crushing hit on Vasily Podkolzin led to a turnover and his breakaway finish.
“We’re a very deep team,” Marchand said. “That’s one of our strengths—from the front line to the back end and especially our goaltending.”
Depth Scoring, Defensive Pressure Fuel Florida’s Win
The Panthers’ attack didn’t stop with Marchand and Bennett. Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe both scored their first goals of the series, while Aaron Ekblad netted one that ended Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner’s night early.
Skinner, overwhelmed by Florida’s relentless pressure, was pulled after surrendering five goals on 23 shots.
Evan Rodrigues added a late goal to seal the lopsided win, as Florida’s offense surged while Edmonton struggled to generate any rhythm or sustained pressure.
Bobrovsky Brilliant in Net
At the other end, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky delivered yet another elite playoff performance. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner made 32 saves, many of them on high-danger chances, earning chants of “Bobby! Bobby!” from the raucous South Florida crowd.
“This time of year, you need some world-class goaltending—and that’s what we get consistently,” said Reinhart.
Even Edmonton’s lone bright spot—a silky power-play goal from Corey Perry, the oldest player in the series—couldn’t spark a comeback.
Oilers Unravel With Penalties and Frustration
Edmonton’s frustration boiled over in the third period. The Oilers committed 15 penalties, totaling 85 penalty minutes, including three from Evander Kane and misconducts assessed to Trent Frederic and Darnell Nurse, the latter of whom fought Florida’s Jonah Gadjovich.
Even Jake Walman got in on the chaos, resorting to squirting water at Panthers players from the bench in a bizarre scene that highlighted Edmonton’s unraveling.
“Emotions are high in these games,” said Marchand. “That’s what makes playoff hockey intense—you want to be in these moments and embrace every second.”
Looking Ahead: Game 4 Could Be the Turning Point
After two closely contested games—Game 1 went to overtime and Game 2 to double OT—Game 3 proved to be a one-sided mismatch, revealing cracks in the Oilers’ game plan and exposing defensive vulnerabilities.
Now facing a 2-1 series deficit, the Oilers must regroup quickly ahead of Game 4 on Thursday night. A Panthers win would put them on the brink of a second straight Stanley Cup title.
“Game 4 is a really big game,” Oilers captain Connor McDavid admitted. “It’s a big swing game.”
With confidence surging in Florida’s locker room and Edmonton reeling, all eyes will be on Thursday’s showdown in Sunrise, where the Panthers could seize full control of the series.
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