HIGHLIGHTS
- Stuart Skinner pulled after allowing 5 goals on 23 shots in Game 3
- Panthers demolished Oilers 6-1 to take 2-1 series lead in Stanley Cup Final
- Read below for video of the fifth goal, plus Skinner’s postgame reaction
The Edmonton Oilers’ Stanley Cup Final dreams took a brutal hit Monday night in Sunrise.
Stuart Skinner got the hook after allowing five goals on 23 shots as the Florida Panthers absolutely demolished the Oilers 6-1 in Game 3. The blowout gives the Panthers a 2-1 series lead with Game 4 set for Thursday.
It all went south fast for Skinner and the Oilers. Brad Marchand scored just 56 seconds into the game, becoming the oldest player in Cup Final history to score in the first three games of the series.
Things spiraled from there. The Oilers took 21 penalties for 85 minutes, and Florida made them pay with three power-play goals.
Video:
Aaron Ekblad’s power-play blast at 3:27 of the third period ended Skinner’s night. Calvin Pickard came in cold and finished the game, making seven saves.
“I mean, as a goalie, you gotta come up with a save,” Skinner said postgame. “It’s a game of inches. If I’m out a quarter of an inch farther on Verhaeghe’s goal, then it could be a save.”
The chaos started early with what Skinner called “penalty chaos.” Edmonton couldn’t stay out of the box, and it killed any chance at momentum.
“Right away I thought we ended up playing what Florida kind of wanted,” Skinner explained. “Just a little bit of a track meet, a little bit of grinding, lots of penalties.”
Watch Skinner’s full post-game below:
Sam Bennett scored his NHL-leading 14th goal of the playoffs on a breakaway. Sam Reinhart finally got on the board. Even Evan Rodrigues piled on with a late power-play marker.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? Held completely off the scoresheet.
Corey Perry’s power-play goal was Edmonton’s lone bright spot in an otherwise disastrous evening.
“They could have beat us 12-0, and it’s the same result. It’s still just 2-1,” Skinner said, trying to keep perspective. “It doesn’t change how we’re gonna respond.”
The dressing room was quiet afterward, but Leon Draisaitl delivered what Skinner called “some really good words of wisdom” to rally the troops.
Now Edmonton faces its biggest test yet. Down 2-1 with Game 4 in hostile territory Thursday.
“Every test from here on out is gonna be the greatest test,” Skinner said. “This is another moment where we definitely gotta look in the mirror and change a couple things.”
The Oilers better figure it out fast. One more loss and they’ll be staring at elimination.
