The Florida Panthers survived what proved to be a hectic second game in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, defeating the Edmonton Oilers by a 5-4 final score in double overtime.
Veteran Brad Marchand, who was acquired from the Boston Bruins at the NHL Trade Deadline, scored his second goal of the night on a partial breakaway just minutes into the second extra session by slipping the puck through the pads of goaltender Stuart Skinner.
3 Panthers Who Most Impressed During 5-4 Double OT Win Over Oilers
Courtesy of Marchand’s overtime heroics, the Panthers have now knotted the series at one game apiece following their Game 1 loss in overtime, with Games 3 and 4 on deck from Florida.
On that note, let us take a look at three Florida Panthers players who stood out with their performances on Friday night.
#1. Brad Marchand
Simply put, Marchand continues to impress at 37 years of age. One of the elder statesmen on the Panthers roster, he was acquired specifically for his past championship experience, having already won the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins and also appeared in two more Cup Final series before this season.
Marchand led the way for the Panthers with a pair of goals, including the double-overtime game winner. He fired seven shots on goal and also finished with a +3 rating.
#2. Seth Jones
Speaking of recent acquisitions by the Panthers, Jones was picked up in a major trade with the floundering Chicago Blackhawks at the NHL Trade Deadline, and he’s fit in like a glove on the Florida blue line.
He led all Panthers players in ice time with 34:35, while also contributing a goal and an assist, along with a +3 rating.
#3. Anton Lundell
One of the most underrated forwards on the Panthers, Lundell continued his strong postseason by setting up both of Marchand’s goals during their double overtime win over the Oilers. Not only did he pick up a pair of assists, but also finished with a +3 rating and fired four shots on goal.
The Panthers found the back of the net first after forward Sam Bennett scored his 13th goal of the postseason, the most of any player so far in the 2025 playoffs. However, Edmonton responded quickly with a pair of goals from Evander Kane and Evan Bouchard, taking a 2-1 lead.
The excitement in the first period continued as Florida knotted the score at 2-2 with a goal from Seth Jones, only to see Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl restore the lead after one-timing a ridiculous pass from Connor McDavid past Sergei Bobrovsky. The Oilers took their 3-2 lead into the first intermission.
But the Panthers once again tied things up after Dmitry Kulikov scored at the 8:23 mark, followed by a breakaway goal from Brad Marchand while shorthanded to give Florida the lead.
The Oilers pressed late in the third period for the tying marker, and with goaltender Stuart Skinner on the bench for a sixth attacker, they miraculously knotted the score after 40-year-old Corey Perry banged home a loose puck with 18 seconds left in regulation.
Neither team found the back of the net in the first overtime, but that was quickly solved by Marchand just minutes into the second overtime.
