The Florida Panthers topped the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 in a chaotic rematch of last season’s Stanley Cup Final. This wasn’t a showcase of defensive excellence, but it certainly delivered entertainment. There was a ton of hype going into the rematch, and while it wasn’t what many likely expected, it lived up to the hype. From bizarre goals to a gutsy Zach Hyman performance, here are the key takeaways: (the highlights are below and worth watching).
A Sloppy Game By Both Teams
Neither team will be proud of their defensive play or goaltending in this one. Players slipped, passes missed their mark, and odd bounces led to seemingly endless scoring opportunities. “Not acceptable tonight,” said Evan Bouchard, who struggled defensively. This was not Bouchard’s night, and it started with a fall on the power play, and things just got worse as the game went along.
Both teams made uncharacteristic mistakes, and while it wasn’t pretty, it was wildly entertaining.
Sergei Bobrovsky had a .833 save percentage, letting in five goals on 30 shots. Stuart Skinner was worse, posting a .786 save percentage and allowing six goals on 28 shots.
Zach Hyman: Warrior Mode for Oilers
Zach Hyman took a deflected puck to the face in the second period, leaving the ice with what looked like a broken nose. Hyman, showing he’s got the pain tolerance of a cadaver, returned for the third period wearing a full face shield. He had two goals before the injury and twice almost his third goal of the night.
The Oilers are happy that Hyman avoided serious injury, which was one of the silver linings in an otherwise regrettable evening.
Panthers Score Bizarre Goals
The game had its share of odd goals. Matthew Tkachuk’s tally stood despite him arguably kicking the puck into the net. Officials ruled there was no “distinct kicking motion.” but it seemed like a little flex in his knee offered the puck some help.
Meanwhile, Sam Reinhart’s goal off Stuart Skinner’s mask—snapping the strap as it crossed the line—highlighted the night’s strange bounces.
Draisaitl and McDavid Keep Producing for the Oilers
Leon Draisaitl (1-1-2) and Connor McDavid (0-3-3) continued their strong play, combining for five points. Draisaitl now has 15 points in his last six games, while McDavid has 13. Despite the loss, Edmonton’s superstars remain in elite form.
Unfortunately, both players were on the ice for several goals against, ending the night a plus/minus -2.
Nurse’s Double Trouble Penalty
Darnell Nurse’s night took a turn when he earned a tripping penalty followed by two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct. The referee’s dramatic gesture while signaling the second penalty summed up the overall chaos.
The Oilers fell to 8-2-0 in their last 10 games, but as Bouchard noted, this performance wasn’t up to their standard. As Jason Gregor pointed out, head coach Kris Knoblauch might just “burn the video” of this one and move on.
For the Panthers, it was a hard-fought win in a game that showcased more chaos than control. If these two teams meet again in the playoffs, it will need to be a lot more disciplined, even if it was a ton of fun for the fans.