The Florida Panthers tied the Stanley Cup Final at one game apiece with a dramatic double-overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night. What will we see in Game 3? Let’s take a look at the first two games to see how this pivotal matchup might unfold.
Oilers vs. Panthers Stanley Cup Finals Recap Through Game 2
The high-octane Game 2 matchup saw an explosive first period, starting with Sam Bennett’s 13th postseason goal on a power-play just over two minutes in.
What followed was pure chaos: four goals were scored in five minutes. Evander Kane and Evan Bouchard gave Edmonton the lead before Seth Jones equalized, only for Leon Draisaitl to fire back with a power-play goal.
The period was not just thrilling but controversial, with referees handing out 11 minor penalties, six against Florida, in a game that felt more like October than June. The second period saw fewer whistles and more action, as Dmitry Kulikov tied the score and Brad Marchand gave Florida a 4-3 lead with a shorthanded breakaway goal.
NHL Morning Skate: #StanleyCup Final Edition – June 9, 2025
▪️ #StanleyCup Final returns to Florida for third straight year
▪️ Big names have stepped up for @FlaPanthers, @EdmontonOilers
▪️ Final set to welcome top prospects for 2025 #NHLDraft#NHLStats: https://t.co/gLvOb0amyA pic.twitter.com/griWaBEs9g— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) June 9, 2025
The Panthers tried to cling to their one-goal lead in the third but failed to clear the puck with seconds left in regulation, allowing Corey Perry to tie it at 4-4 with just 18 seconds remaining. After a scoreless first overtime, the Panthers’ third line struck gold.
With the puck rolling off a missed shot by Edmonton’s Matthias Ekholm, Anton Lundell retrieved it quickly and set up Brad Marchand for his second breakaway of the night. The veteran forward calmly tucked the puck past Stuart Skinner, sealing a clutch win for Florida in double overtime.
It marked Marchand’s second OT winner of the playoffs and may have shifted the momentum of the series entirely. With the series now tied 1-1, the Panthers return home to Sunrise looking to take the edge in Game 3.
Florida Panthers Projected Lineup
Forwards:
- Evan Rodrigues – Aleksander Barkov – Sam Reinhart
- Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
- Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand
- Jesper Boqvist – Tomas Nosek – Jonah Gadjovich
Defense:
- Gustav Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
- Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones
- Nate Schmidt – Dmitry Kulikov
Goaltenders:
- Sergei Bobrovsky
- Vitek Vanecek
Edmonton Oilers Projected Lineup
Forwards:
- Jeff Skinner – Connor McDavid – Corey Perry
- Evander Kane – Leon Draisaitl – Kasperi Kapanen
- Trent Frederic – Adam Henrique – Connor Brown
- Vasily Podkolzin – Mattias Janmark – Viktor Arvidsson
Defense:
- Darnell Nurse – Evan Bouchard
- Brett Kulak – Jake Walman
- Mattias Ekholm – John Klingberg
Goaltenders:
- Stuart Skinner
- Calvin Pickard
Florida Panthers Injury Report
- A.J. Greer (LW): Day-to-day—lower body injury
Edmonton Oilers Injury Report
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (C): Game-time decision—undisclosed issue
- Zach Hyman (LW): Out—Upper body injury
- Alec Regula (D): On Injured Reserve, not rostered—knee injury
Key Matchups to Watch in Game 3
- Connor McDavid vs. Aaron Ekblad
McDavid’s speed and vision remain the biggest threat to Florida’s defense. Ekblad will be tasked with limiting his space and time on the puck, especially in transition. - Sam Bennett vs. Stuart Skinner
Bennett’s physical, net-front presence has caused chaos in the crease. Skinner must stay composed under pressure, especially with Bennett crashing hard during power plays and rebounds. - Leon Draisaitl vs. Sasha Barkov
This battle of elite two-way centers could tilt the game. Barkov’s defensive prowess will be tested against Draisaitl’s sharp passing and lethal shot, particularly during the Oilers’ man-advantage.
How to Watch Stanley Cup Final, Game 3:
- Date: Monday, June 9
- Time: 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: Amerant Bank Arena
- TV Channels: TNT, truTV
- Streaming: MAX