SUNRISE, Fla. — Capitalizing on the Edmonton Oilers’ lackluster performance, the Florida Panthers seized Game 3 with a decisive 6-1 victory on Monday night, securing a 2-1 lead in the series. In a show of skill and experience, Brad Marchand made history by being the oldest player to net goals in the first three games of a finals series. Meanwhile, Sam Bennett bolstered his NHL playoff tally with his 14th goal, coming after a significant hit on Edmonton’s Vasily Podkolzin, sparking a game-changing turnover that led to his breakaway. Together, Marchand and Bennett have scored eight goals, solidifying Florida’s dominant presence on the ice.
“We kind of played into Florida’s game,” admitted Edmonton’s goalie Stuart Skinner, who was pulled from the match after conceding five goals on 23 attempts. “Their performance was excellent tonight.”
It wasn’t just Marchand and Bennett contributing to the scoreline. Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart found the net for the first time in this series, Aaron Ekblad scored, providing enough pressure to see Skinner pulled, and Evan Rodrigues capped the win with a late goal.
“Our depth is one of our key strengths,” Marchand commented, highlighting the team’s capabilities from forwards to defense to goaltending.
Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida’s goaltender and two-time Vezina Trophy recipient, earned heartfelt “Bobby! Bobby!” cheers from the enthused South Florida crowd. He showcased his agility with 32 crucial saves against the few serious threats posed by the disorganized Oilers.
“As we play, perfection isn’t always achievable,” Reinhart noted. “At this time of the year, elite goaltending is a must, and that’s what we consistently rely on.”
Veteran player Perry, at 40, added to the tally with a power-play goal past Bobrovsky, maintaining the trend of seasoned players excelling in this final.
Despite Connor McDavid’s talents, the Oilers faltered, incurring 15 minor penalties, predominantly from Evander Kane, who also faced a misconduct, contributing to 85 total penalty minutes. A late-game scuffle involving Trent Frederic and Darnell Nurse—who clashed with Jonah Gadjovich—led to their game misconducts, rendering them inactive in a game with the result already decided.
“Every game’s emotion runs high,” Marchand reflected. “This is the peak season for play, and every moment is cherished.”
Despite Games 1 and 2 being closely contested into extra periods, Game 3 turned into a mismatch. The Oilers unraveled, with Jake Walman even squirting water at Panthers players from the opposite bench in frustration.
The teams now enjoy a brief respite ahead of Game 4 on Thursday night, where Florida hopes to extend their series lead to 3-1, putting them on the cusp of consecutive victories.
“Game 4 is pivotal,” McDavid stressed. “It could really change the direction of the series.”