SUNRISE, Fla – The Edmonton Oilers are in a tough spot heading home after being outmatched across the ice by the Panthers in a 4-1 loss on Monday night.
Evan Rodrigues hit for a double in the win. His two goals came in the middle of a four-goal run by the Panthers that erased an early 1-0 lead by the Oilers.
“It’s special. Trying to embrace it,” Rodrigues said. “Trying to stay in the moment. It’s two big wins for our team, and I think we’ve already turned the page and we’re getting ready for Game 3.”
Game 3 is set for Edmonton on Thursday night.
“We feel we came here and we played enough to get a split,” Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said. “That doesn’t always happen. We just have to take it one game at time.
“I don’t see any reason to panic or do anything drastic. … We just have to win the next game.”
Mattias Ekholm was the lone striker for the Oilers. He scored at 11:17 of the opening stanza, hitting off an odd man rush up ice He held the puck for a shot from the left circle.
“It’s another opportunity for group to come together and dig our way out,” the Oilers’ Connor McDavid said. “It’s supposed to be hard, it’s supposed to be difficult, and I’m excited to see what our group is made of. I’m excited to see our group come together, I’m excited to see us fight through adversity and I’m looking forward to people doubting us again with our backs against the wall.”
Sergei Bobrovsky made 18 saves in the win.
Niko Mikkola tied the game, 1-1, midway through the second period.
Rodrigues then hit for his double to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead.
He potted his first at 3:11 of the third period, scoring off a failed clearing attempt with a shot from atop the left circle.
“So good, so happy for him, proud of him,” the Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk said. “He was awesome. Playing with him the last few games, he reads the game so well. That’s two games in a row scoring some big goals for us.
“He’s a super smart player and I’m really happy to see him get rewarded right now. We work so hard, and tonight it was him and it could’ve been a number of guys, and he did a great job of finding the net for us.”
Rodrigues collected his double at 12:26, scoring off the power play for a 3-1 advantage.
“I’m not too worried about the point totals or goals,” Rodrigues said. “At the end of the day, we’re looking for wins here. That’s all I care about.”
Aaron Ekblad hit an empty net at 17:32 for the 4-1 final count on the scoreboard. 
Stuart Skinner made 25 saves in the loss.
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