The Stanley Cup Final returns to Sunrise.
The Florida Panthers, after beating the Edmonton Oilers in double-overtime in Game 2 on June 6, have evened the series at one game apiece, and will now look to take a lead on home ice. Florida hosts Edmonton tonight, June 9, at 8 p.m. ET for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Stadium.
Following Game 2’s thriller, one that saw Brad Marchand score on a breakaway with 11 minutes and 55 seconds left in the second overtime frame, Florida followed its recent trends of being a strong bounce-back team following a loss.
The series is bound to go at least five games now, but all eyes shift to Game 3 tonight.
Florida Panthers Game 3 live updates vs. Edmonton Oilers
Here’s a list of all the penalties in the last half of the third period
You asked, we delivered. Well, maybe you didn’t ask, but it sure was chaotic in the last 9 1/2 minutes of Game 3, starting with that scrum that began with Trent Frederic going at Sam Bennett, following by a ton of 10-minute misconducts and fights.
There was a combined 140 penalty minutes between both teams, 120 of which came in the third period alone. Edmonton’s 85 penalty minutes are the most in a Stanley Cup Final game since 1986.
10:29 of the 3rd: AJ Greer was called for roughing against Mattias Ekholm. Sam Bennett was called for roughing against Trent Frederic. Darnell Nurse was called for roughing against Jonah Gadjovich.
Darnell Nurse and Jonah Gadjovich were given matching five-minute majors for fighting, as well as matching 10-minute misconducts. Both Sam Bennett and AJ Greer were given misconducts. Trent Frederic was called for cross-checking and roughing against Sam Bennett. Frederic and Mattias Ekholm were both given 10-minute misconducts.
That means Greer, Bennett, Gadjovich, Ekholm, Nurse and Ekholm all had their nights end early.
13:55 of 3rd period: Evander Kane was called for slashing against Carter Verhaeghe when he was down on the ice, and then given a consequent 10-minute misconduct, ending his night.
14:44 of 3rd period: Jake Walman was given a pair of roughing penalties against Matthew Tkachuk. Aaron Ekblad was also given two roughing penalties against Jake Walman. Walman also received an unsportsmanlike conduct. Walman was sent to the dressing room.
15:47 of 3rd period: Kasperi Kapanen was called for cross-checking against Eetu Luostarinen, and was given a consequent 10-minute misconduct, ending his game early.
16:57 of 3rd period: Eetu Luostarinen was called for charging against Brett Kulak
FINAL: Panthers survive chaotic Game 3 over Oilers, 6-1
Lots of penalties. Lots of chaos. Lots of power plays. And lots of goals.
The Panthers stayed as disciplined as they could in the last half of the third period, with the game seemingly already decided, and held on for a dominant 6-1 win as chaos ensued late in the contest.
Florida scored half of its goals on the power play to take a 2-1 series lead over the Oilers, heading into Game 4 in Sunrise later this week.
Outside of all the penalties, Sergei Bobrovsky was stellar with 32 saves on 33 shots.
Edmonton had 85 penalty minutes in the game, the most in a single Stanley Cup Final game since 1986. This is surely to make Game 4 interesting, especially if there’s anything to come of additional punishments in the off-days from the NHL. That’ll likely come out in the next day or so.
The final horn rings, and players are still going at it
Corey Perry wanted the last laugh in a tough loss, going at a couple different Panthers before ultimately being separated from Evan Rodrigues as players finally headed to the locker room.
Eetu Luostarinen gets called for a penalty now with 3:03 left
It doesn’t look like this one will result in a misconduct, but Eetu Luostarinen was called for charging with 3:03 left in the game, putting Florida in a 4-on-4 situation (followed by an abbreviated penalty kill).
Florida’s Evan Rodrigues scores team’s third power-play goal of the game
Well, it was bound to happen. With the Panthers’ 11th power play of the night, still in a 5-on-3 scenario, Evan Rodrigues found twine with 3:50 left in the game.
It’s 6-1 Panthers. This one is, surely, all but over.
Kasperi Kapanen with a late cross-check with 4:13 left, and he heads to the locker room
There’s another penalty. Edmonton’s going to run out of players soon. He gets called for cross-checking and a 10-minute misconduct.
We’ll be sure to recap all the penalties at the end of this one because, well, there’s a lot of them.
Walman and Matthew Tkachuk go at it now
Will anyone be able to play hockey after this one? Walman is headed to the locker room as well after appearing to spear Tkachuk in front of the night, followed by a scrum between a few players.
It’s 5-on-3 for the Panthers.
Evander Kane called for a penalty, and his night is over too
Evan Bouchard chopped at Carter Verhaeghe, sending him down to the ice. No penalty there. But Evander Kane was called for a penalty after little whack of the stick that hit Verhaeghe’s face.
Kane was called for a slash and a 10-minute misconduct. His night is over, as well. Corey Perry is in the box to serve the two-minute penalty. It’s the ninth power play for Florida.
Florida kills penalty, stays up 5-1 against Oilers
Well, that was a relatively quiet power play, all things considered. Panthers still lead, 5-1, late in this one.
Florida Panthers/Edmonton Oilers penalties after major scrum
Trent Frederic (Edmonton) was given both cross-checking and roughing penalties, hence the Florida power play (and Corey Perry in the penalty box) against Sam Bennett. Bennett was called for a roughing penalty against Frederic in retaliation.
Both Darnell Nurse and Jonah Gadjovich were called for fighting, and earned 10-minute misconducts, as well. Frederic also received a 10-minute misconduct. All their nights, are realistically, over.
Things are getting extremely chippy: fights, penalties galore. ‘All heck breaks loose’
That was a wild sequence.
A penalty and lots of fighting between players. Frederic and Bennett. Nurse and Gadjovich. Schmidt and Brown. Edmonton and Florida. This one is getting out of control as the refs just let Gadjovich and Nurse go.
The officials finally separated the fight, and there surely a lot of penalties to come.
Trent Frederic tried to punch Sam Bennett in the back of the head. He missed, then cross-checked him and dragged him to the ice.
“All heck breaks loose,” announcer Eddie Olczyk said of the sequence.
A list of the penalties to come soon.
Florida Panthers hold Oilers to just one shot during power play
The Panthers killed off yet another penalty, thanks to a couple blocked shots including a goal-saving one from Tomas Nosek. Sergei Bobrovsky only had to make one save during the penalty kill.
Brad Marchand called for hooking, sending Florida to penalty kill
Brad Marchand is the first player in NHL history to score a game-winning overtime goal, then score a goal in the first minute of next game of the Stanley Cup Final.
But, for now, he’s headed to the penalty box at 7:52 of the third period after hooking Connor McDavid. Panthers to the penalty kill.
Edmonton kills off Mattias Janmark roughing penalty
The Panthers got in close a few times, but a bouncing puck could never be controlled near the net. Calvin Pickard made a couple saves while on the penalty kill. Florida still leads, 5-1, late in this one.
Florida Panthers immediately go back on power play
Mattias Janmark, after getting tangled up with AJ Greer at center ice, was called for roughing at 5:07 of the third period. The Panthers are on the man-advantage for the seventh time, having already converted twice.
Calvin Pickard comes in for Stuart Skinner after Aaron Ekblad goal
Stuart Skinner’s night is done. He’s allowed five goals on 23 shots as the Oilers are struggling in Game 3. Calvin Pickard will head into the game and try to keep this one where it is.
Pickard last played when Edmonton won in overtime, 5-4, over Vegas on May 5.
Florida scores again on the power play, this time from the stick of Aaron Ekblad
It’s another power-play goal for the Panthers with 16:33 left in regulation. Sam Reinhart, on a nice behind-the-back pass from the circle, crossed the slot and found Aaron Ekblad wide open on the back door.
Ekblad fired the puck home by a sliding Stuart Skinner, and it’s 5-1 Panthers.
Panthers back to the power play after Edmonton delay of game
Stuart Skinner tried to pass the puck along the boards from behind the net. Instead of hitting the glass, the puck went out of the playing surface and that’s a delay of game penalty (similar to Game 1 against Tomas Nosek in overtime, leading to the Oilers’ game-winner).
Since Skinner can’t serve the penalty, Evander Kane is in the box at 2:19 of the third period.
Edmonton kills off remainder of penalty to begin 3rd period
Florida didn’t have too many dangerous chances in the remnants of the Darnell Nurse cross-checking penalty. Edmonton killed the penalty, but Florida still boasts a 4-1 lead.
END 2: Florida with some breathing room 4-1, over Oilers
The period nearly went without a single penalty. But that changed with under a minute to go when Darnell Nurse was called for cross-checking against Anton Lundell.
That period seemed to go a lot quicker with a lack of penalties, but there were still three goals scored. Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart both gave Florida some insurance goals over the Oilers after 40 minutes.
Sergei Bobrovsky also had a stellar period, despite allowing the goal against Corey Perry. The Panthers appear to be in control, and will be on the power play to begin the third stanza.
Another scrum leads to another penalty
Things got chippy in the corner between a handful of players. Darnell Nurse, of Edmonton, was called for cross-checking. Walman could’ve been called for a penalty, as could have Anton Lundell.
But this is the ninth penalty of the game with 44.7 seconds left in the period. Florida to the power play.
Tempers flare on both benches now, too
AJ Greer, in his first game back, got tangled up with Jake Walman and wound up taking Walman’s glove off his hand. He tossed it in Florida’s bench.
Walman then started spraying a water bottle across to Florida’s bench in a minor retaliation. Announcers noted that’ll most likely be a fine against Walman.
Sam Bennett’s goal set a franchise record
Bennett has now scored in four consecutive postseason games, dating back to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes to punch the Panthers’ ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.
Four consecutive games with goals sets a franchise record for the Panthers. Bennett’s an upcoming free agent after the season ends, and his stock continues to rise.
All good: Connor McDavid is back on the bench
During the very next stoppage, after Sergei Bobrovsky made an incredible diving save without his goal stick, a long scrum ensued between the teams, continuing this chippy game.
McDavid was back on the ice during the next shift.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid heads down the tunnel
Aaron Ekblad laid a big hit on Connor McDavid a little after midway through the second period, and apparently rattled the Oilers’ captain. With 9:44 left in the frame, McDavid was headed down the tunnel to get checked out by team trainers.
Sam Bennett scores on breakaway for 4-1 lead
That was almost too easy. With 12:34 left in the first period, Sam Bennett gives the Panthers even more breathing room.
Bennett started the sequence with a huge hit. After a turnover from Vasily Podkolzin, it quickly became a 2-on-0 breakaway for Sam Bennett and Eetu Luostarinen.
Luostarinen left the puck off for Bennett, who skated in all alone, deked around a bit, and then hit the back of the net for his 14th goal of the postseason and fourth of this series alone.
Sam Reinhart gives Florida a two-goal lead quickly after Perry goal
Carter Verhaeghe found the loose puck, then slid the puck to Sam Reinhart. On a short-side goal, it went through Stuart Skinner’s five-hole and rang the post to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead with 17:00 left in the period.
It’s Reinhart’s first goal of the Stanley Cup Final.
Corey Perry scores for Edmonton on the power play
And now the Oilers have converted on the power play. After a long shot from Evan Bouchard that was saved by Sergei Bobrovsky, the puck rebounded off his pads, and Corey Perry was right in front to flip the puck in uncontested with 18:20 left in the period.
Edmonton has cut the lead in half, 2-1. Perry tied Game 2 to send the game to overtime, scoring the two most recent Oiler goals, now.
Florida Panthers begin second period on penalty kill after Anton Lundell roughing call
Anton Lundell landed a punch on Evan Bouchard after the buzzer, and that led to a giant scrum. But Lundell was the only one called for a penalty, which means the Panthers will be down a man to begin the frame.
END 1: Florida scores twice for early advantage over Oilers
A penalty-filled 20 minutes saw Florida get some breathing room at the end of the frame.
After a combined seven penalties in the period, Florida found itself on top, 2-0, over the Oilers. Brad Marchand scored less than a minute into the game, and then Carter Verhaeghe scored on the power play late in the frame on a beautifully placed shot that hit the top corner.
But the period didn’t end with some fireworks. A giant scrum after the horn led to some shoving and some punches thrown.
Florida’s Anton Lundell was called for roughing at the end of the period against Evan Bouchard, which means the Panthers will go on the penalty kill for the fourth time to start the second frame.
Lundell’s penalty is the eighth of the game.
Florida finally converts on power play with Carter Verhaeghe goal
Carter Verhaeghe ended the drought and scored the Panthers’ second power-play goal at home of the postseason. And what a shot it was.
Right at the faceoff dot, Verhaeghe took an absolute snipe on the near side of the net, hitting the top corner on the inside of Stuart Skinner, in between his helmet and the post, finding the smallest slot possible.
It’s Verhaeghe’s seventh goal of the postseason. 2-0 Panthers with 2:15 left in the first period.
Guess what, it’s another penalty! Florida Panthers to the power play
Viktor Arvidsson collided with Sergei Bobrovsky and was called for goalie interference at 17:14 of the first period. The teams had a hefty scrum immediately after, but no further penalties were called.
It’s Florida’s fourth power play of the game. And the first period hasn’t even ended yet.
Florida Panthers with a handful of blocked shots, kill off penalty
Another killed penalty for the Panthers after some nice saves from Bobrovsky and a couple blocked shots from Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart.
Panthers still lead, 1-0, with 3:10 left in the first period after the Oilers iced the puck.
Florida’s back to the penalty kill for the third time
Sam Bennett was called for high-sticking against Connor Brown in open ice with 5:23 left in the first period. That’s the sixth penalty between the two teams, now.
Panthers kill abbreviated Edmonton power play
Sergei Bobrovsky made a nice save on a shot from Evan Bouchard, who was looking to tie the game up, but other than that, the Oilers didn’t have too many dangerous chances on that 53-second power play.
Panthers lead, 1-0, with 6:58 left in the first period.
Florida fails on the power play after Aaron Ekblad tripping minor
Just 53 seconds into the power play for Florida, Aaron Ekblad was called for tripping against Darnell Nurse after Ekblad stuck his leg out a touch, and Nurse fell to the ice.
The Panthers are now 1-for-31 at home in the postseason. It’ll be 1:07 of 4-on-4 hockey before a short power play for the Oilers.
Florida’s on the power play … again. That was quick
Just seconds after the Evander Kane cross-checking penalty expired, the Oilers are headed right back to the penalty kill. A bench minor for too many men on the ice (meaning six or more skaters were on the ice) has been called, and Florida stays on the power play with 9:51 left in the first period.
Edmonton head coach Kris Knoblauch called it a “recipe for disaster,” having three penalty kills in the first period already.
Florida Panthers’ power play struggles again
Brad Marchand had a last-second redirect off a shot from Evan Rodrigues, but other than that, there wasn’t much happening on the Panthers’ latest power play.
Florida still leads, 1-0, though.
Evander Kane called for another penalty. This time it’s high-sticking
Brad Marchand scored a goal, and now he’s drawn a penalty. Evander Kane got his stick up high and wound up hitting Marchand on the face below his visor, and that’s another Florida power play at 7:54 of the first period.
No blood was drawn by Marchand, meaning it’s just a two-minute minor penalty. If there was blood, it would’ve been a four-minute, double-minor penalty.
Florida’s power play fails to convert on first attempt
The Florida Panthers continue to struggle at home on the power play. They had some chances in close, including a deflection from Sam Reinhart near the crease, but that went wide as well.
Florida is now 1-for-29, clipping at a success rate of just 3.4%, when on the power play at home in the postseason.
Florida Panthers kill off the penalty thanks to Oilers cross-check
Sergei Bobrovsky used his head during that power play, literally, after a shot was deflected and wound up hitting his mask. Connor McDavid also had a close chance that Bobrovsky saved. It bounced out, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ shot went wide of the net.
The Oilers had a ton of pressure during that segment, but the Panthers got away with it. Edmonton’s Evander Kane was called for cross-checking against Gustav Forsling in front of the net, and it’ll be 4-on-4 hockey for just 9 seconds.
The Panthers will have a man-advantage right after.
Anton Lundell called for tripping, Panthers to the penalty kill
Edmonton’s lethal penalty kill will get an early opportunity with 16:38 left in the first period. Anton Lundell is headed to the penalty box after tripping up Leon Draisaitl.
That was fast: Brad Marchand scores just 56 seconds into game
Nothing like scoring fast at home.
Brad Marchand, who scored the game-winning goal in double-overtime in Game 2, got the party started in Game 3. In the slot, Marchand took a shot that got through basically everyone on the ice and hit the back of the net.
Panthers lead, 1-0, early in this one. That’s Marchand’s eighth goal of the postseason.
Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo bangs the drum for Florida Panthers
Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo got the crowd fired up even more, banging the drum ahead of the opening faceoff of Game 3.
DJ Khaled’s in the house for Game 3
Turns out DJ Khaled is a Florida Panthers fan. At least for tonight.
He had a pregame performance, and will also perform in during the first intermission, according to the Florida Panthers. He was getting the crowd going before the announcement of both rosters.
Florida Panthers starting lineup. Who’ll be on the ice first?
Here’s who’s taking the puck drop for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final:
Carter Verhaeghe – Aleksander Barkov – Sam Reinhart
Gustav Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
Sergei Bobrovsky
Florida Panthers lineup combination. Here’s the Game 3 roster
Forwards
Carter Verhaeghe – Aleksander Barkov – Sam Reinhart
Evan Rodrigues – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand
AJ Greer – Tomas Nosek – Jonah Gadjovich
Defense
Gustav Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones
Nate Schmidt – Dmitry Kulikov
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky
Vitek Vanacek
The only change is AJ Greer returning to the fourth forward line, coming back from injury and taking back over for Jesper Boqvist.
Sam Bennett currently leads the Panthers in the postseason
Returning home into Game 3, Sam Bennett currently leads the Florida Panthers with 19 points in the postseason. That includes a league-leading 13 goals, including one in Game 2 while still in Edmonton.
Now that the Panthers are back in Florida, Bennett was asked how they’re able to “reset and recharge” after the two-day break heading into Game 4.
“I look to do more of that (scoring) at home, as well,” Bennett said. “It’s certainly easy to relax when you’re living in a place like Florida.”
Florida Panthers rally towels. See the special gift left on seats
Those lucky enough to attend Game 3 in person, in the arena, received a rally towel left on their seats.
A picture of the famed rat, which Brad Marchand has brought with him after his trade from the Boston Bruins, is featured with hidden logos of the three teams the Panthers have beaten along the way: the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Can you spot them all?
Injury report for Game 3. Is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins playing for Edmonton? What about AJ Greer for Florida?
Florida head coach Paul Maurice said in the afternoon that AJ Greer would be back for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. He had a day-to-day, lower-body injury that kept him out of the first two games of the series. Jesper Boqvist took his spot on the fourth line.
Maurice, and Aaron Ekblad, also confirmed that Ekblad is fine after taking a puck to the hand in overtime. “When you get that stinger, you can’t really grip for a second, but all good now,” Ekblad told reporters on June 8.
On Edmonton’s side, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who played over 25 minutes in Game 2, did not practice on June 8 due to an undisclosed injury. He’s a game-time decision for Game 3, and will take warmups with the Oilers. Nugent-Hopkins did participate in the team’s morning skate today.
Jeff Skinner took Nugent-Hopkins’ place at left wing during practice in anticipation of Nugent-Hopkins potentially being out for Game 3.
2025 Stanley Cup Final schedule
Game 1: Edmonton 4, Florida 3 (OT) [Edmonton leads series, 1-0]
Game 2: Florida 5, Edmonton 4 (2OT) [series tied, 1-1]
Game 3: June 9 in Sunrise, 8 p.m. ET
Game 4: June 12 in Sunrise, 8 p.m. ET
Game 5: June 14 in Edmonton, 8 p.m. ET
*Game 6: June 17 in Sunrise, 8 p.m. ET
*Game 7: June 20 in Edmonton, 8 p.m. ET
*if necessary
How to watch Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers
Where: Amerant Bank Stadium; Sunrise, Florida
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: TNT/truTV.
Stream: HBO Max and Sling TV
Watch Panthers hockey on Fubo with free trial
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Panthers survive chaotic, penalty-filled Game 3 with 6-1 win over Edmonton Oilers: Recap
Reporting by Ben Grieco, Pensacola News Journal / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
