The Edmonton Oilers were frustrated in their Game 3 setback, in the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, in which they suffered a 6-1 beatdown in the first game of the series on Florida ice. The Panthers scored early and often against the Oilers, who were forced to pull goaltender Stuart Skinner from the net in the third period as part of the setback.
And while the Panthers appear to be picking up steam, one notable aspect of the Game 3 loss for the Oilers was particularly troubling, and it involves their two best players.
ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski Speaks About Oilers Forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl
While appearing on The Sheet with Jeff Marek show on Wednesday, ESPN Hockey Insider Greg Wyshynski exposed a particularly troubling aspect involving Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl during their loss to the Panthers in Game 3.
“The bottom part of this just awfully-tasting parfait for the Edmonton Oilers is that ever since around the second period of Game 2, the Panthers have kind of gotten to their game,” he said. “Their forecheck is pulverizing the Edmonton defense, (Sergei) Bobrovsky is playing really well, they keep scoring a bunch of goals in every game.”
“And also, you know, it’s funny,” Wyshynski added. “All this stuff happened last night to obscure what probably should have been the two biggest headlines: (Stuart) Skinner getting pulled after giving up five goals, and Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for the 13th time in their history as teammates not registering a point in the same game. Draisaitl in particular, for the second time in his 93-game postseason career, not registering a shot attempt.”
Keeping Draisaitl, who led the NHL with 52 goals during the 2024-25 NHL season, to zero shot attempts only underscores how effective the Panthers have been in their commitment to neutralize the chances of Edmonton’s dynamic duo.
Draisaitl did score twice as part of Edmonton’s overtime Game 1 win, including the game-winning goal in the extra session on the power-play. But the Oilers will need more from him if they are to have a chance at flipping the script from last season’s Stanley Cup Final against the Panthers.
“Ever since around the second period of Game 2, the Panthers have kind of gotten to their game”@wyshynski and @JeffMarek dive into the Panthers’ last two wins, highlighting what’s clicking for Florida and how they’ve managed to neutralize McDavid and Draisaitl like few teams… pic.twitter.com/A22Vmqq70m
— The Sheet with Jeff Marek (@thesheethockey) June 11, 2025
“I’m not going crazy, I don’t know if anybody’s going crazy,” Draisaitl said after practice on Tuesday. “It’s an emotional time. It’s two teams that want to win, two teams doing it their own way, but I don’t think anybody is going crazy here. They’re good at what they do, but last night was the first night where it got out of hand a little bit.”
The Panthers and Oilers will face off in Game 4 on Thursday evening, and the puck drops at 8:00 p.m. ET.
