In a thrilling showdown during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers showcased their resilience by overcoming the Edmonton Oilers with a dramatic 5-4 victory in double overtime. This game marked a historic moment, as it featured the latest tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Brad Marchand emerged as the hero of the night, scoring the game-winning goal 8:04 into the second overtime. Reflecting on the moment, Marchand admitted, “To be honest, I blacked out. I don’t even know where it went. It was a fortuitous bounce. We’ll take it.” His crucial goal came after Corey Perry had tied the game with just 17.8 seconds left in the third period, capitalizing on a pulled goalie situation for the Oilers.
This game highlighted an unusual trend, as both of the first two games in this Stanley Cup Final have gone to overtime, a feat not seen since 2014 and only the sixth occurrence in NHL history. Defenseman Seth Jones, who logged an impressive 34:15 minutes on ice, remarked, "Obviously a long game. We came here for a split and got it, and just going to recover now.”
Sergei Bobrovsky continued to be a cornerstone for the Panthers, making 42 saves out of 46 shots, including 14 critical saves during the overtime periods. Winger Evan Rodrigues praised Bobrovsky’s performance, stating, “He gives us a chance every night. That’s all you can ask for. Some big saves, key saves at key moments, and we’re not taking him for granted, that’s for sure.”
The Panthers' offense was not solely reliant on Marchand. Sam Bennett contributed significantly with his postseason-leading 13th goal, setting an NHL record with 12 of those goals scored on the road. Additionally, Jones scored into an open net following a beautiful tic-tac-toe passing play, while defenseman Dmitry Kulikov tied the game with a shot through traffic that left Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner with little chance to react.
As the teams prepare to shift to Sunrise for Game 3 on Monday night, the Panthers have successfully wrested home-ice advantage from the Oilers. Coach Kris Knoblauch of the Oilers expressed his disappointment, noting, “Obviously when you win the first one, you’re disappointed not to win the second.” Despite the loss, Edmonton's stars, including Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, made their presence felt, contributing to Evan Bouchard’s goal and showcasing their skills through multiple highlight-reel moments.
The game was marked by a total of 10 penalties, as officials whistled 14 infractions throughout, including three in the first four minutes. Both teams had their grievances regarding officiating, but the balance of calls generally evened out as the game progressed.
As the Stanley Cup Final continues, fans can expect more electrifying action as both the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers vie for hockey's ultimate prize.
