Florida Panthers Dominate in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, Sparking Intense Brawl
You can now enjoy Fox News articles in audio form! While fighting is a common occurrence in the NHL, it’s relatively rare during Stanley Cup Playoff games. However, Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final showcased a fierce brawl as the Florida Panthers triumphed over the Edmonton Oilers with a commanding 6-1 victory, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.
In their first home game of this best-of-seven showdown, the Panthers capitalized on their advantage, while the Oilers attempted to retaliate physically rather than through scoring.
Brawl Breaks Out in the Third Period
The tension escalated during the third period when the score was already 5-1 in favor of the Panthers. Edmonton forward Trent Frederic targeted Panthers’ Sam Bennett, leading to a cross-check that sent Bennett crashing to the ice. In response, Bennett retaliated with punches, igniting a full-on brawl as every player on the ice paired off to fight. The referees allowed the chaos to unfold, showcasing some intense matchups, including Darnell Nurse of the Oilers and Jonah Gadjovich of the Panthers exchanging powerful blows, while A.J. Greer battled Mattias Ekholm.
When the dust settled, several players—including Nurse, Gadjovich, Bennett, Frederic, Greer, and Ekholm—were handed game misconducts and ejected from the match. With nearly half of the third period remaining, the rivalry intensified, particularly from the Oilers’ side. Evander Kane was subsequently ejected for a reckless slash to Carter Verhaeghe’s face while he was down.
As the clock ticked down, both teams were acutely aware of the risks involved, hoping to avoid injuries with more games left in the series. Even after the final buzzer, Oilers star Corey Perry was seen engaging with multiple Panthers players, prompting fans to throw debris onto the ice.
Panthers’ Offensive Dominance
Despite the brawls, Florida showcased exceptional offensive skills right from the start. Brad Marchand scored just under a minute into the game, becoming the oldest player in NHL history to score in the first three games of the Stanley Cup Finals. Sam Bennett joined the scoring spree in the second period, converting a breakaway opportunity set up by Eetu Luostarinen to extend Florida’s lead to 4-1, igniting an eruption of cheers from the Amerant Bank Arena crowd.
Verhaeghe added to the score with a power-play goal, assisted by Rodrigues and Nate Schmidt, sending the Panthers into the locker room with a 2-0 lead. Although Perry managed to score a power-play goal for the Oilers early in the second period, Florida’s physical play—deemed legal by referees—ultimately paved the way for more goals, including one from Aaron Ekblad that capped the Panthers’ fifth goal.
Looking Ahead to Game 4
Florida’s impressive performance not only solidified their lead in the series but also built significant momentum as they head into Game 4 on Thursday night.
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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
