The difference between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers has been razor thin through the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final.
Each side has an overtime victory heading to Game 3 on Monday night in Sunrise, Fla., leaving the best-of-seven series tied 1-1.
“They’re very intense games,” Panthers forward Brad Marchand said. “It’s exciting to be a part of.”
The only two-goal lead of the series lasted about as long as a commercial break.
After the Panthers went ahead 3-1 during the early parts of the second period of Game 1 on Wednesday, the Oilers not only closed the gap 1:17 later, but scored the final three goals of the game to win 4-3.
And when Edmonton forward Corey Perry scored with 18 seconds left in regulation in Game 2 on Friday, the latest game-tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history, the Oilers seemed to have momentum fully on their side.
That fizzled out as the game carried into the second overtime, however, and Marchand won it with his second goal of the game and third of the series.
“When you win the first one, you’re disappointed when you don’t follow up and win the second one, but we’re going (to Florida) with a split,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “That’s fine with us.”
Marchand has lived up to his billing after the Panthers acquired him from the Boston Bruins on March 7 for a conditional second-round draft pick.
Marchand spent his first couple weeks in Florida recovering from an injury, but the 37-year-old has come alive in these playoffs, totaling seven goals and 10 assists through 19 games.
“He’s been incredible for us this whole playoffs, scoring massive goals at massive times,” Panthers forward Sam Bennett said. “That one (in overtime) was definitely the biggest.”
Marchand now has 10 goals in the Stanley Cup Final in his career, including two short-handed.
“He’s a gamer. He’s a competitor,” Panthers defenseman Seth Jones said. “He brings so much energy to our team on and off the ice.”
Jones is another player who has fit in seamlessly after arriving from the Chicago Blackhawks on March 1 in exchange for goalie Spencer Knight and a conditional first-round draft pick.
“Our system is very aggressive,” Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling said. “You need to be able to skate and I think all those guys can skate really well. I think everyone’s on the same page and it’s very easy to jump into our team and our lineup.”
The Panthers also received good news on the defensive side when Aaron Ekblad took part in the optional practice on Sunday after taking a shot off his hand in the second overtime on Friday.
The Oilers lost their first two road games of the playoffs at the Los Angeles Kings, but have since won six of seven away from Edmonton.
“We know we’re comfortable playing on the road,” Knoblauch said. “We’ve won a lot of games so far in the regular season and playoffs, so we’ll get ready for Game 3.”
Edmonton center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, fourth on the team with 18 points in the postseason, did not practice on Sunday and will be a game-time decision, said Knoblauch, who did not provide a reason.
The high-scoring duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have done their part to try to bring Edmonton its first Stanley Cup title since 1990.
McDavid has five assists through the first two games and Draisaitl has three goals and an assist, including the overtime goal in Game 1.
–Field Level Media
