Latest news with #NHLStanleyCupFinal
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oilers are playing the hits early in the Stanley Cup Final, matching the Panthers' physicality
Edmonton Oilers' Jake Walman (96) checks Florida Panthers' Jesper Boqvist, back right, during the first period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Evander Kane (91) checks Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (5) during the first period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) checks Florida Panthers' Evan Rodrigues (17) into linesman Scott Cherrey during the second period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) checks Florida Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe (23) during the second period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) checks Florida Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe (23) during the second period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Jake Walman (96) checks Florida Panthers' Jesper Boqvist, back right, during the first period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Evander Kane (91) checks Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (5) during the first period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) checks Florida Panthers' Evan Rodrigues (17) into linesman Scott Cherrey during the second period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) checks Florida Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe (23) during the second period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Connor McDavid had two hits on the opening shift of the Stanley Cup Final, and that was just the start of the Edmonton Oilers taking the body in Game 1 of their rematch against the Florida Panthers. The series opener was a clear message that for all their skill and talent, the Oilers are eager to counter Florida's physicality with some of their own. The teams combined for 102 hits, many of them bruising body checks sending opponents into the glass and to the ice. Advertisement 'We're a team that has proven we're going to play hard throughout the entire playoffs,' winger Evander Kane, who had a game-high nine hits, said Thursday. "Just because we're playing Florida, that's not going to change.' Doing so without injured forward Zach Hyman, the leading hitter in the playoffs, meant a team toughness, by committee approach. Guys like Kasperi Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin who are not known for that aspect of hockey, showed they were more than willing to finish checks when available. 'We're a team built for a lot of the physical edge and whatnot,' defenseman Darnell Nurse said. "Our team's not afraid of that. (We are) playing a really, really good opponent that brings up the physicality each night, and we have to match that.' Best of Bennett Advertisement Florida's Sam Bennett scored twice in Game 1, in the process breaking the franchise record for goals in a playoff year with 12. The first was trademark Bennett on the edge of the crease, showing why he's so good this time of year and is about to get paid — either by the Panthers or someone else — this summer as a free agent. 'He's got a nose for the net," winger Matthew Tkachuk said. 'He's at the net a lot. Good things happen when you go to the net. He's confident. He's hard to play against on both sides of the puck, and he wants the puck and demands the puck. He's been playing really well.' Bennett is second to Hyman in hits, and his goal total is the most of any player this postseason. Teammate Seth Jones, who played against Bennett for several years in Chicago, Columbus and Nashville, thought Game 1 was a display of 'a little bit of everything' from the 28-year-old forward. 'He's been one of our best players through his playoffs and is capitalizing on a lot of big plays for us and timely goals,' Jones said. "But as a defenseman, you see where he gets around that blue paint. He pushes off. He makes himself big, screens (for goals), as well. It's just that constant body contact around the net that really elevates his game and makes it difficult to handle.' Advertisement ASL broadcast For a second consecutive year, the final is being broadcast in American Sign Language, with some improvements and additions. David McGregor, a deaf professional referee based in Vancouver, is now an intermission correspondent, and the alternate telecast now includes player pre- and postgame interviews. 'I'm very proud of our growth and our evolution and also a tip of the cap to the NHL for being bold and brave and buying into this and allowing this to grow,' said Brice Christianson, founder and CEO of P-X-P, which is doing the broadcasts. 'We're again making history. The NHL and PXP, every time we expand this, we keep on doing an unprecedented, groundbreaking, historic moment.' P-X-P, a company that works to make sports more inclusive through interpretation, has been involved with the league since Christianson first did Commissioner Gary Bettman's annual pre-Cup final news conference in Denver in 2022. Advertisement This year, broadcasters Noah Blankenship and Jason Altmann got a hand from TNT play-by-play guru Kenny Albert, whose daughter Amanda is an associate producer for the NHL in ASL. Albert spent 40 minutes on a Zoom call with them, lending some of his expertise and answering their questions. 'A lot of it was just talking about the preparation, some advice as far as calling the game,' Albert said. 'It was great to meet with them over zoom and chat with them and just share some knowledge that they can hopefully use in their broadcasts.' Icings aplenty The teams combined to ice the puck 21 times in Game 1, including nine in overtime alone. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch chalks that up a little to the pressure and players not having as much time as they thought to make a decision, along with human nature Advertisement 'It was Game 1 and it's a little bit of nerves, feeling out what the other team's doing and where that pressure's coming from and not wanting to make a mistake,' Knoblauch said. "It was something that we would like to stay away from but understand that's part of the game. Florida counterpart Paul Maurice splits up icing into three categories: smart ones to stay out of trouble, maddening ones when players don't get to the center red line to avoid it and ones where stretch passes just get missed. He also has fond memories of the puck sailing down the ice several times late in the Panthers' Stanley Cup clincher last year. 'I think we had 42 in the third period in Game 7 last year," Maurice said with a chuckle. "We iced that puck 1,000 times.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
CBS News
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
"Spectacular" Stanley Cup Final Game 1 shows Florida Panthers-Edmonton Oilers rematch could be classic series
If the series opener of the Stanley Cup Final is a hint of things to come, the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers are about to give everyone a memorable show. The two best teams in the NHL over the past couple of years traded hits, goals and saves through an instant-classic Game 1 that ended with Leon Draisaitl scoring 19-plus minutes into overtime. It was at the same time tight-checking and also wildly entertaining. Even Panthers coach Paul Maurice on the losing end could appreciate the value of must-see hockey. "Its potential [is] just a spectacular seven-gamer," Maurice said. "Up and down the ice, it's still fast. There isn't any casualness. ... It was honest, it was hard, it was fast, and it was tight. It was an overtime game." A Game 1 with a little bit of everything It had a little bit of everything, from Draisaitl scoring 66 seconds in to Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch unsuccessfully challenging Florida's tying goal by Sam Bennett, only to watch Brad Marchand get a power-play goal less than two minutes later. Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) scores against Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) as Aaron Ekblad (5) and Gustav Forsling (42) defend while Edmonton's Kasperi Kapanen (42) and Evander Kane (91) watch during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck//The Canadian Press via AP) DARRYL DYCK / AP Edmonton rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie it. And Sergei Bobrovsky and Stuart Skinner each made some stops on high-danger scoring chances along the way. "It's my job to give us a chance to win," Skinner said. "I think you've got to give a lot of props to Bob over there, too. He made some fantastic saves, especially in overtime." There were times the play bogged down, particularly late in regulation and in sudden-death OT when two powerhouse teams minimized the risks they were taking. Even for long stretches when the Panthers had the lead, there was not much ice for the Oilers to get through — and they expect more of that moving forward. "Tight checking," said Mattias Ekholm, who scored Edmonton's tying goal in the third period. "I think that there's two very experienced lineups with a lot of playoff experience and have been in these situations. Everybody's pretty confident and comfortable in these. I think it's going to be a lot of the same." Hockey at its finest Part of what made it masterpiece hockey was how good the Panthers and Oilers are when the pressure is on. Sure, mistakes were made that led to goals, including the puck over the glass penalty in OT, but much of the game was textbook fundamentals. "The pucks go deep that are supposed to go deep," Maurice said. "I think we had one all night we didn't like, maybe two all night that we didn't like our decision of the line. They didn't fool around with it, either." A year after the Panthers went up 3-0 in the series only to lose three in a row and then defeat the Oilers in a tight Game 7, it's clear these opponents are again evenly matched. That is a recipe for some fun times ahead, with Game 2 Friday night in Edmonton the next chapter of a growing rivalry. "It's two great teams," Ekholm said. "The thing now, too, is we know exactly how they play, they know exactly how we play. It's those little, little details that are going to matter so much in the end. It's one lost coverage for a second here or there, or a penalty like you saw tonight, or whatever it is. It's teams that are also very comfortable in these moments and in these high-stakes games."
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump announces travel ban on 12 countries and restrictions on others
Good morning, all. Looking for a new healthy breakfast? Dietitians say this one will help support your metabolism. Now, on to the news. Subscribe to get this newsletter in your inbox each morning. President Trump's immigration policies took focus again yesterday as he announced a travel ban on a dozen countries and escalated his standoff with Harvard University, while a judge ruled on his deportations. Travel ban: It bars citizens of 12 countries from visiting the U.S. and applies travel restrictions to seven others. Trump said the countries had 'deficient' screening and vetting, and cited visa overstay rates for the ban. Here's what travelers need to know. [AP/USA Today] Harvard visas: Trump also signed a proclamation suspending foreign nationals from entering the U.S. to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard, and directs officials to determine whether students already in the U.S. should have their visas revoked. [Time] Deportations: A federal judge ruled that the hundreds of migrants deported to El Salvador in March must be allowed to challenge their removal under the Alien Enemies Act. The ruling came as the U.S. returned a Guatemalan migrant who'd been deported to Mexico. [CNN] 🏒 Oilers in overtime The Florida Panthers blew a 3-1 second-period lead in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final last night, losing 4-3 to the Edmonton Oilers in overtime after a dramatic power play goal by Leon Draisaitl. [Miami Herald] 🏛️ Big Beautiful Bill Act An analysis by the Congressional Budget Office found that Trump's big tax and spending bill that's currently with the Senate would raise deficits by $2.4 trillion over a decade and leave nearly 11 million people without health insurance. [AP] ➡️ Israeli hostages recovered Israel announced that its military had recovered the bodies of Judy Weinstein-Hagi and her husband, Gadi Hagi, two Israeli-Americans who were killed during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and abducted by Hamas. [GMA] 🏥 Ground beef warning The USDA issued a public health alert for some Organic Rancher ground beef products sold at Whole Foods over concerns of E. coli contamination. The products were sold from May 26 to June 3 in 26 states. Here's what to know. [CNN] 🧙♀️ Return to Oz Universal released the trailer for Wicked: For Good, the conclusion of the Broadway film adaptation starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, which teases Glinda's and Elphaba's fates and gives a first look at Dorothy. Watch it. [Hollywood Reporter] 📺Now streaming: Season 3 of the mother-daughter drama Ginny & Georgia dropped on Netflix. If you need a refresher, here's what happened in Season 2. [Marie Claire] ⚾ In baseball, after last night's 'idiot on the field' moment, the Dodgers again take on the Mets at 4:10 p.m. ET on the MLB app. [Yahoo Sports] ⛹️♀️ On the court, the Liberty try to keep their seven-game win streak alive when they face off against the Mystics at 7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video. [AP] 🏀 Also taking the court: The Pacers and the Thunder for Game 1 of the NBA Finals at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Heads up: You can get in on the (in)action during the coach's challenges to win free Chipotle. [USA Today] ☀️ And don't forget to: Read your daily horoscope. Play the crossword. Check the forecast in your area. In 1998, The Truman Show hit theaters. The psychological dramedy in which Jim Carrey's character, Truman Burbank, unwittingly lived in a reality show about his own life was one of several movies that paved the way for the reality TV boom we live in today. [Wealth of Geeks] The NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers begin tonight. I asked Yahoo Sports writer Ben Rohrbach for a preview. Jessica: What can we expect from the NBA's 'most overrated player,' Tyrese Haliburton, versus MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? Ben: Expect a fun, fast-paced brand of basketball. Both superstars play with speed — Haliburton as a playmaker and SGA as a scorer. SGA is also backed by a great defense, especially at the point of attack, which could mean all the difference when two of the NBA's best guards face off. Ben: The Pacers won championships in the ABA in the 1970s, and the Thunder won a title as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979, but neither has worn the NBA crown for its home city. Either way, it'll be an achievement for small markets, which so rarely win in this league. These are underdog stories. Ben: Haliburton has led not one, not two, but three of the most improbable playoff comebacks I have ever seen — one in each series. Indiana's 14-point comeback in the last three minutes of the Eastern Conference finals' Game 1, including a game-tying shot at the end of regulation, paved their Finals path. Go deeper: Both teams are showing fans what the future of basketball looks like. Here's why. Jenaca Rogers thought her childhood home was gone forever until she rediscovered it on Zillow and decided to buy it. 'This house is more than just a building,' she said. 'It's a piece of my heart.' Watch her surprise her grandmother with the sweet news. [People] Have a great day. See you tomorrow! 💡 P.S. Before you go, your daily advice: As the hotter weather sets in, follow these steps to lower your energy costs, like setting your ceiling fans counterclockwise. [CBS News] About The Yodel: The Yodel is a morning newsletter from Yahoo News. Start your day with The Yodel to get caught up on weather, national news, politics, entertainment and sports — in four minutes or less. Did you like this morning's newsletter? 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Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
McDavid and Draisaitl put Oilers on their backs to beat Panthers and win Stanley Cup Final Game 1
Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (second left) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Florida Panthers with teammates in the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl, from left to right, Evan Bouchard, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins celebrate Draisaitl's winning goal during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (5) and Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) battle for the puck during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (not shown) scores on Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) as Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) looks on and Panthers' Seth Jones (3) defends during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (not shown) scores on Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) as Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) looks on and Panthers' Seth Jones (3) defends during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (second left) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Florida Panthers with teammates in the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl, from left to right, Evan Bouchard, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins celebrate Draisaitl's winning goal during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (5) and Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) battle for the puck during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (not shown) scores on Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) as Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) looks on and Panthers' Seth Jones (3) defends during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — When the Edmonton Oilers needed a spark to open the Stanley Cup Final, Leon Draisaitl scored just more than a minute in. When they needed the tying goal after falling behind to the defending champion Florida Panthers, Connor McDavid delivered the perfect pass. Advertisement And when Game 1 was threatening to drag into a second overtime, McDavid found Draisaitl for the winner. Draisaitl and McDavid took over Wednesday night when it mattered most, delivering a series-opening 4-3 victory that put them three wins from the championship they've been working toward for a decade. 'They don't take many nights off, that's for sure,' teammate Brett Kulak said. "They usually are our top guys every single night, and the bigger the stage the better they get.' Playing through pain, Draisaitl did not score a goal in the final last year, when Edmonton lost the first three games, got back even and dropped a heartbreaker in Game 7 to fall short. Healthier now than during that run, he needed only 66 seconds to get on the board. Advertisement 'There's maybe nobody better,' McDavid said. An MVP finalist from a dominant regular season, Draisaitl was one of the best players on the ice all game and finished it with a power-play goal 19:29 into OT. 'He's a top-three player in the world,' Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. 'He just looks very confident, very comfortable and he's doing his thing.' So was McDavid, who fed Ekholm for the equalizer with 13:27 left in regulation. McDavid skated the puck through the zone and made everything happen late in overtime, too, with Draisaitl on the receiving end of a pass and thankful McDavid and everyone else made it easier for him to hammer a shot home. Advertisement 'It's a special feeling,' Draisaitl said. 'It's great for right now but we've got to look ahead and get ready for Game 2.' Edmonton forward Kasperi Kapanen, who nearly scored a few minutes earlier when he got in all alone, was almost speechless trying to explain what it's like watching McDavid and Draisaitl summon more playoff magic. 'I don't really have words for you guys,' Kapanen said. 'These guys are generational talents and future Hall of Famers, for sure." McDavid has taken home the Hart Trophy three times, led the NHL in scoring five times and last year won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP in a losing effort. Draisaitl has also won the Hart, the Art Ross for most points and the Rocket Richard for the most goals. Advertisement What they have not won together is the Stanley Cup, the trophy that was brought out onto a table on the ice just before puck drop. Thanks to McDavid and Draisaitl, the Oilers are another step closer to the franchise's first title in 35 years, and them raising their play at the most crucial of times was not at all surprising to those around them. 'I've seen them do it many times,' goaltender Stuart Skinner said. 'Hopefully I'm able to see them do it a lot more.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panthers endure uncharacteristic playoff collapse in losing Game 1 of Cup Final to Oilers
Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) is chased by Edmonton Oilers' Connor Brown (28) and Darnell Nurse (25) during the third period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (right) and Edmonton Oilers' Evander Kane (91) rough it up as Sam Reinhart (13) looks on during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett (9) celebrates Brad Marchand's goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner as Brett Kulak (27) and Jake Walman (96) look on during the first period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes the save on Edmonton Oilers' Kasperi Kapanen (42) during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Kasperi Kapanen, right, puts a shot wide of the net as Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky poke-checks him during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Kasperi Kapanen, right, puts a shot wide of the net as Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky poke-checks him during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) is chased by Edmonton Oilers' Connor Brown (28) and Darnell Nurse (25) during the third period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (right) and Edmonton Oilers' Evander Kane (91) rough it up as Sam Reinhart (13) looks on during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett (9) celebrates Brad Marchand's goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner as Brett Kulak (27) and Jake Walman (96) look on during the first period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final series in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes the save on Edmonton Oilers' Kasperi Kapanen (42) during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Alberta, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Edmonton Oilers' Kasperi Kapanen, right, puts a shot wide of the net as Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky poke-checks him during the first overtime period in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) For nearly three full years under coach Paul Maurice, the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers were unbeatable in the playoffs when holding a lead through either one or two periods. Until Wednesday night. Advertisement In a 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers blamed themselves for playing too conservatively in allowing the Oilers to score three straight goals and squander a 3-2 lead entering the third period. 'Just not let up. Don't sit back,' said Sam Bennett, who scored twice, including his franchise single-postseason-record 12th. 'We've been really good all year at not sitting back with the lead, and for whatever reason we sat back tonight.' It was an uncharacteristic collapse for a Florida team that had won 31 consecutive playoff games under Maurice when holding the lead at the intermission break. Worse yet, the Panthers actually blew a two-goal lead in an outing Leon Draisaitl sealed by converting Connor McDavid's centering pass 19:29 into overtime. It came on the power play, and 1:12 after Tomas Nosek was penalized for delay of game after lifting the puck over the glass. Advertisement Maurice was more concerned with how the Panthers performed well before Nosek entered the penalty box in an outing they were outshot 24-8 from the beginning of the third period. 'I think we had some real good pressure. They get it back and then there were some plays we didn't compete,' he said. 'I thought we were a little safe with the puck.' Florida dropped to 8-3 on the road this postseason and trails a series for the first time since losing the first two games of its second-round meeting against Toronto, which the Panthers rallied to win in Game 7. Game 2 of the Cup Final series is in Edmonton on Friday night. ___ AP NHL:
