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The 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Oilers and Panthers is tied 1-1 ahead of a pivotal Game 3 tonight at Amerant Bank Arena in Florida.
After Edmonton took Game 1 in overtime, Florida turned the tables on them and won Game 2 in double overtime, with Brad Marchand scoring the game winner. The Panthers had looked set to win the game in regulation until Corey Perry forced overtime with 18 seconds left, scoring the latest game-tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history.
If Game 3 is anything like the first two, you won't want to miss it! Follow along below for live updates.
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We've been treated to an incredible Stanley Cup Final so far, with neither of the first two games decided in regulation time. This is just the sixth time in NHL history that both of the first two games of a Final have needed overtime.
It happened in 1946 and again in 1951, and then remarkably happened in three consecutive years from 2012 to 2014.
If we get another overtime game tonight, 2025 would join 1951 as the only Stanley Cup Finals to need OT in each of the first three games. It's hard to imagine 2025 matching 1951's full streak, however – all five games of the 1951 SCF went to OT.
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Even at the latter stages of their lengthy, impressive NHL careers, Brad Marchand and Corey Perry continue to make an impact when the stakes are the highest.
In Game 2, the 40-year-old Perry scored the game-tying goal with 18 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime. Not to be outdone by Perry, the 37-year-old Marchand responded with the winner in double overtime to level the series.
If Marchand scores again tonight, he'll become the oldest player in NHL history to score in the first three games of a Stanley Cup Final.
Read more on Perry and Marchand below.
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The unlikely connection between Brad Marchand, Corey Perry and 2 Stanley Cup titles
In the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967), there have been two occurrences of a defending Stanley Cup champion overcoming a series deficit in the Final to hoist the Cup. The two teams to do so are the 1985 Oilers and 1979 Canadiens.
The Panthers, this year's defending champions, trailed after Game 1 of this series but enter tonight tied at one game apiece.
With the Stanley Cup Final shifting to Florida tonight, expect to hear some "Bob-by" chants from the Panthers fans at Amerant Bank Arena. Sergei Bobrovsky has performed particularly well at home during the postseason. Over his last six games in Sunrise, he's gone 4-2 with a .923 save percentage, a 1.78 goals against average and has recorded one shutout.
On Saturday, the NHL announced that Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery had been named this year's winner of the Jack Adams Award.
The award, which goes to “the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success,” is voted upon by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association. Scott Arniel of the Winnipeg Jets and Martin St. Louis of the Montreal Canadiens were the other two finalists.
Washington finished the regular season with the highest points total in the Eastern Conference but was eliminated in the second round. In total, 13 different coaches received votes, with voters casting ballots for first, second and third place.
Neither Paul Maurice nor Kris Knoblauch received any votes. And while the award is specifically for the regular season, it's telling that they failed to receive even a modicum of support despite coaching elite teams. At the end of the day, Carbery and the rest of the coaches who received votes would trade that distinction for an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final in a heartbeat.
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For Oilers, Panthers and other truly elite NHL teams, the regular season doesn’t matter much
Connor Brown also addressed the Oilers returning to Florida after losing the Stanley Cup Final here last year, saying that their familiarity with the environment gives them a “level of comfort” that they may not have had a year ago.
“We’ve played in this rink before,” he said. “There's a comfort level in that. And there’s a benefit in that you kind of know what to expect now that you’ve been here. And so, you learn from experience too.”
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Darnell Nurse spoke about the emotions the Oilers players are feeling as they return to the stadium where they lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last year.
“It was very emotional for us,” he said. “Obviously, a lot of memories come flying back. You get those whenever you return to a place you’ve played before in the playoffs, but obviously losing a Game 7 here is always going to stick with you.”
“I think we just look at it as another opportunity to win a Stanley Cup and, being back here, using that as motivation.
“Yes, it was one game – one very important game in which we didn’t get it done. But don’t forget (that) we’ve also had games here where we’ve had big moments and extended series," he added, referring to Game 5 of the Final here last year.
As for the Panthers, they're quite happy to be returning home for tonight's game. “It feels great,” Aaron Ekblad said. “Our fans buzz at home and we love that. It’s really exciting.”
The Panthers went 3-1 against the Oilers at home in last year’s Stanley Cup Final, including the clinching win in Game 7.
“Being in your own bed and a nice home cooked meal,” Sam Reinhart added. “Once the puck drops, you might use the crowd a little bit, you might not, for a little extra energy.”
With the series shifting to Florida for Game 3, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch was asked about the memory of losing Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final here last year.
“No matter how much time passes, it will always be on your mind, especially when you get that close,” he said. “But I think right now, being here, everyone’s concentration is on right now. So, I don’t think (past memories) help anything.
“I think we’re in a new stage, in our season, on our path, and we’re just focused on what we need to do right now.”
In the leadup to Game 3, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice addressed the physical nature of his team's style.
“We take some beatings,” he said. “We take hits, we get hit. People have a general, pretty strong idea of the game that we play, and they play the same game when they play us. For the guys that play on both teams, you just get used to it.”
The Panthers have a reputation for being in and around an opponent’s blue paint with great frequency, so the Oilers aren’t raising eyebrows about those tactics so far.
What the Oilers are scratching their heads about a bit, however, is what the Panthers — namely longtime nemesis Sam Bennett — are allowed to get away with when it comes to contact against goalie Stuart Skinner.
“You can accidentally drop into him, but, at one point, enough’s got to be enough,” Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm said.
An important component early in this Stanley Cup Final has been the battle for the space near Skinner’s crease, and the calls and decisions after contact from Panthers forwards.
The Oilers have failed on a coach’s challenge on one Panthers goal, opted not to seek a review on another Florida tally and benefited from one penalty call for goalie interference.
Read on at the link below.
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Sergei Bobrovsky made 42 saves in Game 1 and posted the very same number in Game 2. You don't normally say this about a goalie who has given up eight goals across two games, but the Russian netminder has played very well in this series.
He's the first goaltender on record to post back-to-back 40-save performances to begin a Stanley Cup Final, and he's just the 11th on record all-time to have multiple 40-save outings in his career.
No one has ever recorded three straight 40-save performances in the Final.
Through the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final:
Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA)
Stuart Skinner (EDM)
Caroline D.: Loving the Panthers and what they've been able to achieve on the road. They seem to thrive on adversity which definitely helps. Cross fingers they are able to take that into the next couple of games.
Christopher M.: I got into hockey in the late 70s and fell in love with the Oilers in the old WHA. I cheered their runs in the 80s, and still think Bill Ranford is the ultimate "luck into being amazing for 16 wins" player of all-time. That said, I'm cheering for the Panthers because I love the narrative of the greatest player of a generation not winning the Cup.
Bear B.: Is Brad Marchand actually becoming likeable?
You can send us your thoughts, questions and predictions by emailing us at live@theathletic.com. If you're a subscriber, you can also join the Game 3 discussion page here.
Connor McDavid was asked what advice he'd have for a young kid trying to master the unbelievable move he made to set up Leon Draisaitl's goal in Game 2. He struggled through an answer.
Draisaitl interjected. "You can't learn that," he said. "Let me answer it for you. I'll answer it for him."
Kurt T.: Blackhawks fan here rooting hard for the Oilers. That Connor McDavid assist was unbelievable. Couldn’t believe my eyes. He’s going to will this team to a Cup victory.
R O.: Oilers keep playing the way they have – while cleaning up a few things – and they stand a very good chance of knocking off Florida. At some point here soon, Bennett is going to disappear and Marchand will cool off.
Victor E.: Getting dominated in the second period is a major concern but, for me, the power play was the main difference in Game 2. The only way to dissuade Florida from their style is to consistently punish them on the scoreboard for their transgressions. Great PP goal but they needed more. Failing on the 5-on-3 and giving up the short-handed goal were major turning points in the game.
Matt S.: Kasperi Kapanen has obviously played well but it was his miscues that allowed the third Florida goal. He has a chance to send puck in deep in the offensive zone when he crossed the red line and made a weak cross-ice pass that was intercepted . Florida brought the puck back into the Edmonton zone, where he had another chance to clear the zone and failed, brutal shift. Florida scored after that failed attempt.
You can send us your thoughts, questions and predictions by emailing us at live@theathletic.com. If you're a subscriber, you can also join the Game 3 discussion page here.
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Could this Stanley Cup Final be any tighter?
Two overtime games. One win apiece. Each team takes control before the other punches back until someone lands the final blow.
There have been unbelievable goals and thunderous hits. There’s even been some controversy.
The Oilers nearly went up 2-0 in the series but had to settle for a split as things shift to South Florida. There’s been a lot to like about their performance and also some aspects to quibble about.
Let’s look at three areas where they’re doing well and three where they’re not.
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What’s gone right and wrong for Oilers against Panthers in Stanley Cup Final
Panthers 5, Oilers 4 (2OT)
Thanks to the Oilers and Panthers splitting the first two games, this will mark the 26th consecutive Stanley Cup Final to require at least five games. Of the past 25 SCF series from 1999 to 2024: six went to five games, 11 went to six games, and eight went all the way to seven games.
While it's common for the SCF to avoid being a sweep, it's quite rare to have an entire postseason without one. This is just the fifth postseason since 1987 (when all rounds went to best-of-seven) without any sweeps, following 2020, 2016, 2002 and 1991.
