Oilers and Panthers Share Strong Messages After Heated Game 3
Oilers and Panthers Share Strong Messages After Heated Game 3 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final had a very different tone from the first two, in terms of how unbalanced and physical it was.
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The Florida Panthers' 6–1 blowout of the Edmonton Oilers on Monday included 140 total penalty minutes, three power-play goals for the Panthers, and multiple scrums that led to misconducts on both sides.
The Oilers started poorly, surrendering the first goal just 56 seconds into the game and allowing five before pulling Stuart Skinner early in the final frame.
By then, the game was well out of reach, but the physical damage was just beginning, with things escalating steadily through the night until the explosion occurred in the shape of a late line brawl.
Matthew Tkachuk explained the Panthers' mentality entering the final period of Game 3 with a 4-1 lead and aiming to close things out no matter how.
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'We talked about it in the third. If you have to take a punch, take a punch. If you have to take a cross-check, take a cross-check. Spear, slash in the face, whatever the case is, you've got to take it,' Tkachuk said. 'We just played a really smart game.'
Oilers defenseman Jake Walman, on the other side of the bruising affair, captured the same sentiment in rather raw terms.
'I mean it's for the Stanley Cup, you know. So (expletive). There's not an inch out there," Walman said, per Chris Johnston. "It's a grown man's game out there. That's not for the faint of heart."
'Guys are putting everything on the line, you know?'
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) puts a rat on the stick after beating the Edmonton Oilers in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Evander Kane picked up 25 minutes in penalties, including a misconduct for striking a downed Carter Verhaeghe with his stick, prompting his ejection from the game.
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The Oilers committed 15 minor penalties overall, and the Panthers capitalized with three power-play goals in 11 opportunities.
Florida now holds a 2–1 series lead with Game 4 set for Thursday night in Sunrise, FL.
Related: Oilers Coach Sends 'Unraveling' Message After Panthers Take 2-1 Finals Lead
Related: Oilers Raise Concerns About Officiating and Panthers' Actions on Stuart Skinner
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
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