After two consecutive games in the Stanley Cup Final went into overtime, the Florida Panthers ensured Game 3 would not follow the same pattern. The Panthers delivered a dominant 6-1 blowout victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
Florida took an early lead, scoring just 56 seconds into the contest following a net-front scramble.
The game did not improve for the Oilers from that point. Florida controlled all aspects of play and frustrated Edmonton throughout the night. By the conclusion of the second period, the Panthers held a substantial 4-1 advantage, featuring impressive goals from Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett.
Defensively, the Panthers were outstanding. They prevented Leon Draisaitl from registering a shot on goal and effectively neutralized Connor McDavid. When Edmonton`s key players are shut down like this, victory becomes nearly impossible for the team.
Perhaps the most damaging factor for the Oilers were their own mistakes. In the first period alone, they incurred three penalties in the offensive zone and a bench minor. By the game`s end, Edmonton had completely lost composure, accumulating 85 penalty minutes as a team. It was difficult to reconcile this performance with the competitive Oilers team seen in Games 1 and 2.
The response from the Oilers in Game 4 on Thursday night will be interesting to see, as the Panthers will aim to replicate their dominant Game 3 performance.
Stanley Cup Final
Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers
Game 1: Oilers 4, Panthers 3 (OT)
Game 2: Panthers 5, Oilers 4 (2OT)
Game 3: Panthers 6, Oilers 1
Game 4: Thursday, June 12 | at FLA | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
Game 5: Saturday, June 14 | at EDM | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
*Game 6: Tuesday, June 17 | at FLA | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
*Game 7: Friday, June 20 | at EDM | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
Western Conference Final
(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
Game 1: Stars 6, Oilers 3
Game 2: Oilers 3, Stars 0
Game 3: Oilers 6, Stars 1
Game 4: Oilers 4, Stars 1
Game 5: Oilers 6, Stars 3
Eastern Conference Final
(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) Florida Panthers
Game 1: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 2
Game 2: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 0
Game 3: Panthers 6, Hurricanes 2
Game 4: Hurricanes 3, Panthers 0
Game 5: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 3
Round 2
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3) Florida Panthers
Game 1: Maple Leafs 5, Panthers 4
Game 2: Maple Leafs 4, Panthers 3
Game 3: Panthers 5, Maple Leafs 4 (OT)
Game 4: Panthers 2, Maple Leafs 0
Game 5: Panthers 6, Maple Leafs 1
Game 6: Maple Leafs 2, Panthers 0
Game 7: Panthers 6, Maple Leafs 1
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes
Game 1: Hurricanes 2, Capitals 1 (OT)
Game 2: Capitals 3, Hurricanes 1
Game 3: Hurricanes 4, Capitals 0
Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Capitals 2
Game 5: Hurricanes 3, Capitals 1
(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (2) Dallas Stars
Game 1: Stars 3, Jets 2
Game 2: Jets 4, Stars 0
Game 3: Stars 5, Jets 2
Game 4: Stars 3, Jets 1
Game 5: Jets 4, Stars 0
Game 6: Stars 2, Jets 1 (OT)
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
Game 1: Oilers 4, Golden Knights 2
Game 2: Oilers 5, Golden Knights 4 (OT)
Game 3: Golden Knights 4, Oilers 3
Game 4: Oilers 3, Golden Knights 0
Game 5: Oilers 1, Golden Knights 0 (OT)
Round 1
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators
Game 1: Maple Leafs 6, Senators 2
Game 2: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)
Game 3: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)
Game 4: Senators 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT)
Game 5: Senators 4, Maple Leafs 0
Game 6: Maple Leafs 4, Senators 2
(2)Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Florida Panthers
Game 1: Panthers 6, Lightning 2
Game 2: Panthers 2, Lightning 0
Game 3: Lightning 5, Panthers 1
Game 4: Panthers 4, Lightning 2
Game 5: Panthers 6, Lightning 3
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens
Game 1: Capitals 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
Game 2: Capitals 3, Canadiens 1
Game 3: Canadiens 6, Capitals 3
Game 4: Capitals 5, Canadiens 2
Game 5: Capitals 4, Canadiens 1
(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) New Jersey Devils
Game 1: Hurricanes 4, Devils 1
Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Devils 1
Game 3: Devils 3, Hurricanes 2 (2OT)
Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Devils 2
Game 5: Hurricanes 5, Devils 4 (2OT)
(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues
Game 1: Jets 5, Blues 3
Game 2: Jets 2, Blues 1
Game 3: Blues 7, Jets 2
Game 4: Blues 5, Jets 1
Game 5: Jets 5, Blues 3
Game 6: Blues 5, Jets 2
Game 7: Jets 4, Blues 3 (2OT)
(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Colorado Avalanche
Game 1: Avalanche 5, Stars 1
Game 2: Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT)
Game 3: Stars 2, Avalanche 1 (OT)
Game 4: Avalanche 4, Stars 0
Game 5: Stars 6, Avalanche 2
Game 6: Avalanche 7, Stars 4
Game 7: Stars 4, Avalanche 2
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild
Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Wild 2
Game 2: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2
Game 3: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2
Game 4: Golden Knights 4, Wild 3 (OT)
Game 5: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2 (OT)
Game 6: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2
(2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
Game 1: Kings 6, Oilers 5
Game 2: Kings 6, Oilers 2
Game 3: Oilers 7, Kings 4
Game 4: Oilers 4, Kings 3 (OT)
Game 5: Oilers 3, Kings 1
Game 6: Oilers 6, Kings 4