Stanley Cup Final gets nasty as Edmonton Oilers get blown out in Florida
The Edmonton Oilers will need another comeback if they’re planning to win it all this year.
And they might need a mental reset.
Taking on the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Monday night, the Oilers fell by a 6-1 score to fall behind 2-1 in the series. After a pair of overtime games in which the two teams picked up a win apiece, the third game of the series was firmly in the Panthers’ control.
The most exciting sequence in the game might’ve been the all-hands-on-deck brawl with a little under 10 minutes left in the third period, culminating in a fight between Jonah Gadjovich and Darnell Nurse. Three players on each team ended up picking up penalties on the play, with Florida ending up with another power play as a result.
Gadjovich drops the gloves with Nurse.
As I mentioned earlier, not smart to fight Gadjo. pic.twitter.com/DdSLHpo1ai
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) June 10, 2025
The two teams combined for 140 penalty minutes, with the Oilers picking up 85 to Florida’s 55.
Things didn’t exactly start on the best foot for the Oilers. Just 56 seconds into the game, Florida’s Brad Marchand found the back of the net. Edmonton weathered the storm for much of the opening frame, but Carter Verhaeghe doubled the lead with a little under three minutes left in the period.
On a power play under two minutes into the second period, Edmonton’s Corey Perry scored his ninth goal of the postseason to bring the lead back to one. But the elation was short-lived, with Sam Reinhart moving the cushion back to two just 80 seconds later. Within five minutes of that, Sam Bennett gave the Panthers their biggest lead of the series so far with the Panthers’ fourth goal of the game.
Ekblad STEPPED UP on McDavid š pic.twitter.com/MSeCHB8yXs
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 10, 2025
Stuart Skinner took a delay of game penalty early in the third period for shooting the puck over the glass in the defensive zone, and gave up the 5-1 goal from Aaron Ekblad.
The goal ultimately saw Skinner yanked from the game in exchange for Calvin Pickard, marking the second time these playoffs that he’s been replaced mid-game. While it didn’t make a difference to the outcome, Florida forward Evan Rodrigues made things 6-1 with a goal past Pickard to really put salt in the wound.
The Oilers dealt with a scary moment in the middle of the game, with Connor McDavid briefly heading to the dressing room following a big hit from Ekblad, though he returned within a few moments.
You’ll get a few days off before having to get up to watch the next matchup between the two teams, as the Oilers and Panthers return to Amerant Bank Arena for Game 4 in Florida on Thursday night.
2025 Oilers-Panthers Stanley Cup Final schedule
Thursday, June 12: Edmonton at Florida
Saturday, June 14: Florida at Edmonton
*Tuesday, June 17: Edmonton at Florida
*Friday, June 20:Ā Florida at Edmonton
*if necessary
All games are set for 5 p.m. PT/6 p.m. MT/8 p.m. ET.