When the Florida Panthers needed a goal in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, an unlikely hero emerged.
The Panthers and Oilers tied the score in the second period with a goal from Niko Mikkola and were tied 1-1 going into the third period.
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Florida Panthers player Evan Rodriguez (No. 17) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of Game 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 10, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Then the Panthers’ Evan Rodriguez came on, beating Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner about three minutes into the game, but that wasn’t the end.
The Panthers went on the power play after Leon Draisaitl received a roughness penalty on Aleksander Barkov, and Rodriguez scored again for his second goal of the night and third of the Stanley Cup Final, more than enough for the Panthers to close out the game.
Aaron Ekblad scored an empty-net goal to give Florida a 4-1 victory in Game 2.
Chants of “We want the Cup” rang out across the arena in Sunrise, Florida, as the seconds ticked away.
Florida Panthers player Brandon Montour (No. 62) looks on as he watches Evan Rodriguez (No. 17) celebrate a goal with his teammates during the third period of Game 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Ameranto Bank Arena on June 10, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Rodriguez became the first Panthers player in history to score multiple goals in a Stanley Cup Final.
Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky also played well for the second straight game, blocking multiple shots from Connor McDavid, including a one-on-one opportunity with three-time Hart Trophy winner Matthew Tkachuk.
“Bob” finished with 18 saves.
Connor McDavid (No. 97) of the Edmonton Oilers has a shot saved by Sergei Bobrovsky (No. 72) of the Florida Panthers during the third period of Game 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals at AmerantBank Arena in Sunrise, Florida on June 10, 2024. (Elsa/Getty Images)
McDavid again took three shots but was scoreless. He assisted Mattias Ekholm on a goal. Draiseitel had two and Zach Hyman had one.
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The series will begin on Thursday night in Edmonton with Games 3 and 4, with the Panthers just two games away from clinching their first Stanley Cup title.
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