2 days ago
Leon Draisaitl scores in overtime, Oilers beat the Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final
Edmonton's Kris Knoblauch unsuccessfully challenged for goaltender interference, with the NHL's situation room ruling that his own player, Jake Walman, tripped Bennett into Skinner. The resulting penalty paved the way for Florida's Brad Marchand to score the go-ahead goal on the power play.
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Bennett scoring his second of the night early in the second period put the Panthers up 3-1. They entered 31-0 over the past three playoffs since coach Paul Maurice took over when leading at the first or second intermission.
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GAME 1 BELONGS TO THE OILERS 🗣️🗣️🗣️
Leon Draisaitl scores the Subway Canada OT winner to give the Oilers the 1-0 series lead in the
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet)
With Connor McDavid leading the way, the Oilers rallied. Fourth-liner Viktor Arvidsson brought the crowd back to life early in the second, and fellow Swede Mattias Ekholm — playing just his second game back from an extended injury absence — tied it with 13:27 remaining in regulation off a perfect pass from McDavid.
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At the other end, Skinner made a handful of saves that were vital to keeping the Panthers from extending their lead or tying it late in the third. Florida counterpart Sergei Bobrovsky did the same, in between derisive chants of 'Sergei! Sergei!' that followed goals he allowed.
Skinner was greeted with friendlier chants of 'Stuuuu' after saves, including one in the first minute of overtime on a quality scoring chance. Bobrovsky stone-cold robbed Trent Frederic nine minutes in but eventually cracked.
Game 2 is Friday night in Edmonton before the series shifts to Sunrise, Fla., for Games 3 and 4.
