The Edmonton Oilers were stopped from taking a two-game-to-none stranglehold over the Florida Panthers, as they were defeated by a 5-4 score in double overtime thanks to the second goal of the night from Brad Marchand.
It almost seemed like destiny for the Oilers to earn a victory in Game 2 after veteran Corey Perry scored the game-tying goal with just 18 seconds left in regulation with goalie Stuart Skinner on the bench for a sixth attacker.
However, what’s done is done, and the Oilers must move on.
The Oilers Know They Have No Choice But To Press On After Their Disappointing Loss In Game 2
While the Oilers can be excused for feeling like they let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers to take a two-game lead in the Stanley Cup Final, they know they have no choice but to press forward and not dwell on what could have been.
“Right after the game there’s frustration and the ‘what ifs’ start going through your head a little bit,” Leon Draisaitl said. “But the next day, you move on. You have to. You have no choice. We gotta get ready for tomorrow. Coming in here, looking to play our best game. We’re comfortable playing our best on the road, so you just shift your focus.”
The Oilers, who trailed two games to none in their opening round series against the Los Angeles Kings before eventually rebounding for a series win, know they can’t afford to feel too down about their bad luck in Game 2.
“That’s kind of the name of the game here when you get deep in the playoffs,” Connor Brown said. “Finding that balancing act of not getting too high or low. It was an emotional win for us in Game 1, so both teams have kind of felt that. It’s a bit of a reset here with travel and hanging with the boys a little on the road and getting ready for Game 3.”
One of the positives for the Oilers is the play of Perry, the 40-year-old veteran who ultimately chose to re-sign with the team this past offseason after joining them in the 2023-24 season when his contract with the Chicago Blackhawks was terminated.
He has already scored eight goals and four assists in 17 games so far in the postseason, a far more productive performance than the 2024 postseason, in which he managed only a goal and two assists in 19 games.
The Oilers will depend on Perry to continue his strong play when they play the Panthers in Game 3 on Monday night in Sunrise.