SUNRISE, Fla. – This outcome was precisely what the Panthers desired.
The Florida Panthers draw opponents into chaos and then dominate them on the scoreboard.
They provoke and hit hard. They exchange verbal jabs and deliver punishing checks. Following a victory, they defeat their opponents decisively and show their swagger on the ice.
“Sometimes you just have to take a hit,” stated a pleased Matthew Tkachuk, now just two wins away from a second Stanley Cup title.
Game 3 in Sunrise perfectly showcased the Florida Panthers` identity. The Edmonton Oilers, seemingly still on Mountain Time despite two days to adapt, were completely drawn into the Panthers` game.
The Panthers quickly took an early lead and overwhelmed their visitors with scoring contributions from across their lineup. They were effective at drawing penalties while taking fewer themselves and had the superior goaltender. By the time their fans threw plastic rats, they had secured their preferred large-margin victory of 6-1.
Crucially, the most frustrating, relentless, and arguably best team in hockey is clearly bothering an Oilers squad that sees itself as having matured.
“Looking at some of the calls, obviously some are frustrating. They seem to get away with more than we do,” commented Evander Kane, who has accumulated 18 penalty minutes in the series.
“It’s hard to know where the line is. They are doing just as much as we are.”
Indeed. But whether it`s driving to the net, embellishing to draw penalties, or capitalizing on the excessive number of power plays awarded, the Panthers are simply executing these tactics more effectively.
That fine line Kane mentioned?
The Panthers behave as though they invented this physical, boundary-pushing style, navigating it with the finesse of a tightrope walker like Philippe Petit.
Imagine the frustration of facing the defending champions when they impose their heavy, physical game and control the pace?
“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t played against the Panthers,” captain Aleksander Barkov remarked with a smile. “It’s fun to play. It’s a tough game. We played well tonight.”
“We are prepared for anything.”
On Monday, the Oilers appeared anything but ready.
As the game descended into penalties, cheap shots, and frequent scrums – with incidents like Jake Walman spraying water at the home bench, fourth-liner Jonah Gadjovich taunting Darnell Nurse and receiving a standing ovation, and starting goaltender Stuart Skinner being pulled – the Oilers completely lost their composure, going from unprepared to unraveling.
“The third period was definitely an unraveling,” said Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch. “That game was out of reach. I don’t think we would have behaved or played that way if it had been a one- or two-goal game.”
However, one might argue that no game should be considered out of reach for the team known for the best playoff comebacks. Yet, the Oilers stopped playing hockey and started seeking retaliation instead.
Notably, Florida coach Paul Maurice mentioned the Canucks` recent dramatic three-goal, last-minute comeback against the Stars after the game. The Oilers certainly have the offensive skill for similar heroics, but they were too consumed by frustration to deploy their offensive talent.
