NHL
Stanley
Cup Final
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Updated 27s ago
The Florida Panthers are hosting the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, knowing that a win would see them clinch their second straight championship.
The Oilers, who are attempting to force a Game 7 back in Edmonton, went back to goalie Stuart Skinner to start tonight's game.
Fairly evenly played second period so far. Lots of five-on-five action. Apologies for stating the extreme obvious, but the next goal looms so, so large.
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P2 9:04 – Panthers 2, Oilers 0
Evan Bouchard fires a wrist shot from the point that Sergei Bobrovsky stops. After the whistle, there's some pushing and shoving between the players that the referee needs to break up.
Edmonton is looking for an offensive spark.
P2 10:13 – Panthers 2, Oilers 0
It was another odd-man rush for the Florida Panthers. Nate Schmidt deflects a Sam Bennett shot from the point out of the air.
But Stuart Skinner gobbles up the loose puck to make the save. Edmonton is hanging on by a thread but needs to score.
P2 10:34 – Panthers 2, Oilers 0
It's another tough stop for Sergei Bobrovsky. Jeff Skinner, whose had quite the spark tonight for the Oilers, delivers a quick release short side.
But Bobrovsky squeezes the puck so it doesn't go through the five hole. Florida continues to lead by two halfway through the second period.
P2 12:16 – Panthers 2, Oilers 0
The third line continues to be a difference maker for the Florida Panthers. Eetu Luostarinen nearly sends a deflection into the back of the net.
Stuart Skinner makes the pivotal save for the Oilers.
The Panthers have now led the Oilers for more than 222 minutes during this series. That's the second-most time spent leading by any team in Stanley Cup Final history, behind only the 1987 Oilers (250:04 in seven games against the Flyers).
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P2 13:59 – Panthers 2, Oilers 0
It really feels like Sergei Bobrovsky is going to stop everything tonight, doesn't it? The Florida Panthers goalie, before the first TV timeout of the second period, stops shots from Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen.
If Edmonton can get on the score sheet, this is a whole new game. Big if, though.
P2 15:32 – Panthers 2, Oilers 0
Now it's Stuart Skinner's turn to make some critical saves. The Oilers netminder stops Nate Schmidt and Evan Rodrigues as Florida gets its first extended time in the offensive zone.
Edmonton can't afford to let this be a three-goal deficit.
P2 17:04 – Panthers 2, Oilers 0
Sergei Bobrovsky! My goodness!
The Florida Panthers goalie makes a sprawling save, denying Leon Draisaitl a goal. Definitely Bobrovsky's best save of the night, to keep this a two-goal lead for the Panthers.
Wowza!
P2 17:43 – Panthers 2, Oilers 0
Connor McDavid is one-on-one with Sergei Bobrovsky. But instead of shooting on net, the Oilers captain tries to pass to Corey Perry backdoor for a tap in.
But McDavid misplays the puck. No goal for the Oilers. Bad break for Edmonton.
Matthew Tkachuk scored his eighth goal of the playoffs in the final minute of the first period and took sole possession of the Panthers' team lead with 23 points this postseason.
He's now in line to become just the second player over the past 33 years and sixth in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1968) to lead a repeat Stanley Cup champion in points during each playoff run (outright or tied).
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P2 20:00 – Panthers 2, Oilers 0
The second period begins in Sunrise, Fla., with the Panthers up two goals.
The Panthers are just the fourth team in NHL history to score first in five straight games during a Stanley Cup Final series.
The others were the 1987 Oilers (six straight), 1975 Flyers (six straight) and 1921 Vancouver Millionaires (five straight).
Anytime you're mentioned alongside the Millionaires, you know you're in rare company!
There have been only nine multi-goal comeback wins by teams facing elimination in the Stanley Cup Final, most recently in 1987 when the Flyers did so in Games 5 and 6 against the Oilers to force a Game 7 back in Edmonton.
Edmonton had the puck a ton but, like in Game 5, Florida has been dynamite in the middle of the ice. The Panthers are doing a really nice job of keeping the Oilers to the outside. Sergei Bobrovsky looked a little shaky early but appeared to get sharper as the opening 20 minutes ensued.
Long, long way to go, and nobody can pull off a comeback like the Oilers. But they're in trouble. No power plays that period, which is another bad thing for Edmonton. I'd think five-on-five play is their enemy right now.
You can send us your thoughts, questions and predictions at live@theathletic.com. If you're a subscriber, you can also join the discussion page for Game 6 here.
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Florida 2, Edmonton 0
Here are a few themes to monitor as this game rolls on:
I have all the respect in the world for them and things can change quickly, but I thought No. 97 (Connor McDavid) and No. 29 (Leon Draisaitl) were awfully quiet for the visitors that period. That's not going to cut it.
With Sam Reinhart's opening goal, the Panthers became the eighth team in NHL history to score at least 90 goals in a single postseason, and the first to do so since the 1993 Kings.
Most goals in single postseason, NHL history

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