Stanley Cup Final: Panthers stifle Oilers to take 2-0 series lead on b…
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If Game 1 was about Sergei Bobrovsky, Game 2 belonged to Florida’s entire defense.
The Panthers stifled Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers Monday night to secure a 4-1 win in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. Evan Rodrigues scored two goals, while Florida secured a 29-19 advantage in shots on goal. The Panthers now hold a commanding 2-0 lead with the series scheduled to shift to Edmonton for Game 3.
Oilers strike first despite stagnant offense
Florida set the tone early, tallying six shots on goal before Edmonton posted its first. But it didn’t pay off on the scoreboard as Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner stopped each offering, opening the door for Edmonton to strike first.
With the two sides playing 4-on-4 after a pair of penalties, Edmonton secured a 3-on-1 break late in the first period. Mattias Ekholm snuck the puck past Bobrovsky on an assist by McDavid with 8:43 remaining in the period.
After allowing zero goals on 32 shots in Game 1, Bobrovsky let Edmonton’s first shot Monday night into the net.
Florida finished the first period with a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal, but Edmonton led, 1-0 on the scoreboard. McDavid, who was held scoreless in Game 2 alongside the rest of his Oilers teammates, tallied an assist and two shots on goal in the opening period.
Panthers break through for chaotic first goal
Florida continued to control the puck in the second and finally broke through to the scoreboard on a chaotic sequence midway through the period. Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola almost scored on his own goal when he spun and sent the puck back toward Bobrovsky. Fortunately for Florida, Bobrovsky was ready for it and deflected the puck to his right down the goal line.
Panthers winger Vladimir Tarasenko corralled the puck by the board and sent it up ice to Anton Lundell. Lundell then took the puck past the opposing blue line and dropped it back to a waiting Mikkola, who one-timed it past Skinner to get the Panthers on the scoreboard.
The rocket of a goal was just…
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