EDMONTON, Alberta – In a thrilling showdown, Brad Marchand scored two breakaway goals, leading the Florida Panthers to a dramatic 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of their Stanley Cup final rematch on Friday night. This victory ties the series at one game each.
Marchand’s critical second goal came at 8:04 in the second overtime, setting the stage for Corey Perry to score with just 17.8 seconds left in regulation. This move came after Stuart Skinner, the Oilers’ goaltender, was pulled for an extra attacker.
This matchup marks the sixth time in NHL history that a final has gone to double overtime, with the previous occurrence happening in 2014.
Once again, Sergei Bobrovsky was a standout player, making a series of impressive saves, stopping 42 of the 46 shots directed at him. His teammates effectively provided the offensive support he needed.
In addition to Marchand, Sam Bennett also made headlines by scoring the 13th goal of this postseason, breaking an NHL record.
Seth Jones found an open net after an impressive passing sequence, while Dmitry Kulikov evened the score amid heavy traffic that may have obscured Skinner’s view.
Kulikov’s goal resulted from the Panthers dominating the offensive zone, having a clear 34-13 edge in shot attempts during that period.
Marchand’s game-winning overtime goal marked his 10th in a Stanley Cup final, the most among active players.
Game 3 is scheduled for Monday evening, as the teams prepare to shift locations.
The Panthers emphasized that they wouldn’t go down without a fight against stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, bouncing back nicely after a loss in Game 1. They seem determined to capture the cup for the first time.
Although the Oilers’ superstars had their moments, like the assist on Evan Bouchard’s goal, they had a hard time maintaining dominance. McDavid showcased his skills, weaving through defenders to create highlights and set up a power-play score for Draisaitl.
The night was filled with penalties, totaling ten throughout the game, particularly after a lengthy 14-minute stretch that left both teams trying to regain their footing.
While both teams played a fairly even match overall, there was still a sense of dissatisfaction, as any competitive game might breed.
