NHL Playoffs 2025: Panthers Dominate Oilers in Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final

The Florida Panthers absolutely dominated Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, crushing the Edmonton Oilers 6-1 in a game that wasn’t even as close as that lopsided score suggests.

It took just 56 seconds for the Panthers to strike first. Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand teamed up to win a battle in front of the net, with Marchand scoring his fourth goal of the series. That’s his third straight goal for Florida, showing he’s really heating up at the perfect time.

From there, things just got ugly for Edmonton.

The Panthers controlled every aspect of the game, frustrating the Oilers’ stars and getting under their skin all night long. By the second period’s end, Florida had built a commanding 4-1 lead thanks to some beautiful goals from Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett.

But it was Florida’s defensive masterclass that really told the story. They managed to do something almost unheard of – they completely shut down Connor McDavid and didn’t allow Leon Draisaitl to get a single shot on goal. When you can neutralize two of hockey’s biggest stars like that, you’re probably going to win.

The Oilers didn’t do themselves any favors either. They seemed to lose their cool early and often, taking three offensive zone penalties and a bench minor in just the first period.

By the final buzzer, Edmonton had racked up an incredible 85 penalty minutes. It was hard to believe this was the same team that had gone toe-to-toe with Florida in those thrilling overtime games to start the series.

Game 4 is set for Thursday night, and all eyes will be on how the Oilers respond. Meanwhile, you can bet the Panthers will try to copy this winning formula exactly.

The series now stands at 2-1 Florida, with the Panthers looking to take a commanding lead on home ice.