SUNRISE, FL – After an important win to open the Final, the Florida Panthers skated onto Game Two ice knowing the team winning the first two games of the final would have a 92.7% (38-3) chance of winning the Cup.
It took a while, but in the end, on the strength of Evan Rodrigues’ two goals, Anton Lundell’s two assists and Sergei Bobrovsky’s 18 saves on 19 shots, the Florida Panthers took a commanding lead in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers have outscored opponents 28-11 in the third period during this year’s playoffs. They focus on puck possession, shot volume, grinding their opponents and being patient along the way and apply heavy, punishing hockey. The St. Louis Blues won their cup in 2019 with the same formula.
The series shifts to Edmonton on Thursday night and would require the Oilers to win 4 of the next 5 games to win the Cup. History is not on their side.
It is difficult to see the Oilers overcoming some of the challenges of playing well, but not well enough. The Panthers are just that good, they stay true to their game and don’t waiver, even if it means going deep into the game to complete the mission.
In the first two games, the Oilers have scored just one goal of the stick of defenseman Mattias Ekholm a little more than halfway through the first period of Game Two. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are both in minus territory through the first two tilts with one assist between them.
Meanwhile, Evan Rodriques has three goals for Florida and Serge Bobrovsky has stopped 49 of 50 Edmonton shots.
Edmonton was looking to get a jump earlier, needing to get the early goal and something to build on for a must-win game. A deficit of losing the first two games would historically give Edmonton just a little more than a 7% chance of winning the Stanley Cup.
It did not start out well for the visitors. Florida hammered the first 4 shots toward Edmonton netminder Stuart Skinner.
With under seven minutes into the game, Florida’s Sam Bennett was whistled for tripping Edmonton defenseman Evan Bouchard inside the Oilers crease. It was a poor play and should have never happened, but it did and it gave Edmonton an early shot at opening the scoring.
On the ensuring power play, Zach Hyman aggressively fought for position in front of Bobrovsky, knocking him into his crease sending him sprawling across the ice. No penalty was called. The Oilers tried everything to get an opening, but couldn’t register a single shot on the first power play of the game.
Then just shy of the period’s midpoint, Edmonton’s Warren Foegele locked knees with Florida’s Eetu Luostarinen, earning a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for kneeing. The suspect attempted to abscond from the scene, but could not.
It was a clear major penalty and it took place nearly a minute after a similar play in which Evan Rodrigues was struck in the knee with a similar, but not as devastating a strike.
Foegele was done for the night and from the looks of thing, Luostarinen might be, too. A gaze toward the locker room haul way upon his departure revealed a very delicate step for evaluation.
Edmonton would be shorthanded for five minutes. Florida was ready to strike, until the home team earned a penalty of their own.
Just a minute and a half into the power play for the major penalty, Florida’s Vladimir Tarasenko was whistled for tripping near the center circle, puting a dent in a golden opportunity for the Panthers to blow things up.
Just 19 seconds into play with the teams now at even strength, Edmonton gained a two-on-one rush. That’s when Mattias Ekholm handled the puck on the left side and just over the Florida blue line. Despite help to his right, he kept the puck before firing a snap shot through Florida netminder Sergie Bobrovsky’s wickets to give the visitors the game’s first goal. It was Ekholm’s 5th of the postseason.
The Oilers first shot led to that goal and they had life in their first such lead of the Final.
The Panthers remained undaunted, though. Florida’s Brandon Montour corralled a loose puck just inside the Edmonton blue line and sent it toward the net. Skinner stumbled as he attempted to move laterally, but somehow just barely got his blocker on the shot, deflecting it over the glass.
The Panthers kept at it, sending a trio of players into the zone in an attempt to razzle dazzle the Oilers defense. They weaved in front of Skinner and then fired a drive that struck Skinner’s shoulder sending the puck over the glass once again.
Florida continued the attack right up until, receiving help when Edmonton’s Bouchard was called for roughing Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk.
In a direct reverse of Game One, Florida held the lead in shots 9-4 while Edmonton had the 1-0 lead. Florida edged in hits 15-12, but their potency wasn’t in line with their Game One success in the physical category.
Florida began the period on the man advantage for 1:14, the carryover from Bouchard’s roughing infraction on Tkachuk. Not only could they not get anything going, but with 33 seconds left in the power play, Tkachuk took a hooking penalty against Edmonton’s Connor Brown. Any chance at momentum to start the second period was now lost.
But just after Tkachuk’s penalty expire and upon achieving even strength, Florida continued pressure on the Edmonton net. Good puck movement and quick shots found their way to Skinner, but quick reflexes and a sure mitt kept the Panthers scoreless.
The Panthers would have to find another target to shoot at on Skinner, avoid the catch glove.
That persistence and better shot selection eventually paid off for Florida when Vladimir Tarasenko carried the puck out of his own zone.
The Russian sniper shovel-passed the biscuit to Anton Lundell who crossed through neutral ice and into the Edmonton zone. After drawing defenseman Vincent Desharnais toward him, Lundell dropped it back to Niko Mikkola who made no mistake in penetrating Skinner
The tying goal seemed to put Edmonton a little back on their heels. The teams traded penalties late in the period, Florida’s Carter Verhaeghe for slashing Connor McDavid with just more than six minutes in the period while Evan Bouchard was whistled for slashing Verhaeghe with under four minutes to play.
Neither team cashed in on the ensuing man advantage situations.
After two periods, the Panthers had knotted things up, led in shots 22-7, 13-3 in the second period along, and allowed the Oilers to measure up their own physical play as hits were tied at 25 each.
With the game within Florida’s clutches, a significant shot advantage, it was clear they were committed to their game, heavy hockey and a punishing forecheck. Just more than three minutes into the period, that plan reaped a reward.
With the Oilers hemmed into their own zone, the Panthers kept at it, looking for that opening and then found it.
Edmonton’s Bouchard attempted to clear the puck out of the zone, but it went right to his Evan equivalent from Florida, Rodrigues, who sure shot it over Skinner’ right shoulder to light the lamp giving the Panthers their first lead of the game a little more than six minutes after tying the game.
Florida was making it uncomfortable for the Oilmen. It became near impossible for them to make clean exits from their own zone without getting hit. The frustration showed.
Stoppages were often followed by cross checks, emphatic shoves or punches. Their actions weren’t enough to earn a penalty, but enough to demonstrate frustration and that things were not going their way.
The disciplined Oilers were about to rupture.
While on the forecheck, Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl addressed Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov by making direct contact to what appeared to be the player’s head. Officials gathered and assessed a minor to Draisaitl for roughing. Panthers went on the power play with just under half the final regulation period to play.
As for Barkov, he never returned to the ice and when Florida coach Paul Maurice was asked about how he may have held him back after the play, he responded “there was about 9:28 to play in the game and they were leading 2-1, so no need to hold him out, we needed him.” There was no word on Barkov’s condition after the game and there was no comment on if there should be supplemental discipline.
With just six seconds left in the man advantage, Florida’s Lundell seeped into the Edmonton zone, evaded a full-on check along the boards and dished a nifty pass to his right that found Rodrigues stick. His clever deflection eluded Skinner who seemed to catch the goaltender off guard by the change in direction. The Panthers extended their lead to 3-1.
Edmonton kept pounding the Panthers net when Ekholm’s drive from between the circles found Bobrovsky’s melon, unsnapping the goaltenders mask and leading to immediate stoppage in play. Fists, sticks and arms were swung leading to Edmonton’s Evander Kane for removing an opponent’s helmet and Brandon Florida’s Brandon Montour for rouging. Teams played four on four for two minutes.
Just less than six minutes left with the puck squirting out of the Edmonton zone, Connor McDavid burst into the Florida end with Tkachuk trailing and doing all he could to legally disrupt the scoring attempt. McDavid got the shot away and Bobrovsky answered with the right pad. Before the goal was knocked of its moorings and play halted.
Edmonton pulled Skinner for the extra attacker, taking a tremendous risk, but with very few other options in order to get back into the game. Then they found some luck, a delay-of-game penalty to Vladimir Tarasenko for shooting the puck directly over the glass Edmonton would shortly go on a 6 on 4 advantage.
With just under three minutes to play in regulation, Tkachuk used his strength to get the puck out of the zone, all while being taken down from behind. No penalty was assessed. The puck exited the zone and the Oilers circled back. Efforts to advance the puck toward Bobrovsky failed and eventually the puck eased toward neutral ice. Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad followed and upon crossing the center red line, fired the puck toward the empty net to make it 4-1 Panthers.
Nastiness developed after the ensuring face off when Edmonton’s Sam Carrick applied a reverse, upward slash between the legs of Kevin Stenlund, likely causing his voice to rise a few octaves for the short-term. Carrick also earned a ten-minute misconduct on the vicious play and he was dispatched for the night. Teammate Desharnais joined him on the march back to the dressing room with an accompanying ten-minute misconduct, too.
Final shot totals were in favor of Edmonton 32-18 while Florida dominated in hits 63-35.
Everyone was talking about how the Panthers have neutralized the firepower of the Oilers, allowing just one goal in two games despite Edmonton playing pretty well. The Oilers are in trouble and will have to do something different in Game Three to generate a different result. That will be at Rogers Centre in Edmonton on Thursday night.
Dennis Morrell has developed a deeply rooted passion for our game over many decades as a goaltender, writer, photographer, goalie coach, and active Level 3 USA Hockey-certified, on-ice official with over 2,000 games with the whistle. His passion for the game began in the early 70s upon his first glance at players battling for the puck at Clayton’s Shaw Park.
And yes, the ice is perfect.
He has been fortunate to journalistically cover 2 NHL Entry Drafts, 5 NHL All-Star Games, 8 NHL Outdoor Games in two countries and 22 games played in the context of 10 Stanley Cup Final games, witnessing the oldest trophy in sports lifted by the champion 3 times, including when his beloved hometown team, the St. Louis Blues, won their first chalice in 2019.
He has witnessed over 1,000 major and minor professional games in over 250 different arenas. He can be reached at dennis.morrell@prohockeynews.com and you can follow him on Twitter at DMMORRELL.
Photo Credit: Bill.Kober@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.