Evan Rodrigues had two goals in the third period, Niko Mikkola and Aaron Ekblad also scored and the Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-1 on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final.
APTOPIX Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (10) reacts after defenseman Niko Mikkola scored during the second period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
APTOPIX Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers players acknowledge cheers from the fans at the end of the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) is assisted by teammates after he was injured during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) is assisted by teammates after he was injured during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) kneels on the ice after he was injured during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
AP Photo/Michael Laughlin
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) is assisted on the ice after he was injured during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and center Kevin Stenlund (82) celebrate at the end of the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
AP Photo/Michael Laughlin
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
AP Photo/Michael Laughlin
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Edmonton Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak (27) throws a punch at Florida Panthers center Kevin Stenlund, front right, during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) stops a shot by Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
AP Photo/Michael Laughlin
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) defend the net from a shot by Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) celebrates after scoring during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
AP Photo/Michael Laughlin
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice. center top, reacts during the second period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
AP Photo/Michael Laughlin
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) and Edmonton Oilers center Ryan McLeod (71) go after the puck during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
AP Photo/Michael Laughlin
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman (18) looks to pass the puck as Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) defends during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) and Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour (62) go after the puck during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Edmonton Oilers right wing Connor Brown (28) waits for the puck during the second period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola, back center, celebrates after his goal with teammates during second-period Game 2 action in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers in Sunrise, Fla., Monday, June 10, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid is tripped during second-period Game 2 action in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., Monday, June 10, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues (17) battles for the puck against Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (29) during second-period Game 2 action in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals in Sunrise, Fla., Monday, June 10, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner makes a save against the Florida Panthers during second-period Game 2 action in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals in Sunrise, Fla., Monday, June 10, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save as Edmonton Oilers forwards Zach Hyman (18) and Connor McDavid (97) watch the puck during second-period Game 2 action in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals in Sunrise, Fla., Monday, June 10, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save on a tip by Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) during second-period Game 2 action in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals in Sunrise, Fla., Monday, June 10, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl knocked Florida’s Aleksander Barkov out of the game. The Panthers made sure they responded by landing the bigger blow.
And the Stanley Cup Final took a heated turn Monday night.
Evan Rodrigues had a pair of third-period goals, Niko Mikkola and Aaron Ekblad also scored and the Panthers used yet another airtight finishing kick to pull away and beat the Oilers 4-1 for a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final.
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 18 shots for Florida, which was 1-8 all-time in Cup final games before this series started — and now is two wins away from capturing its first championship. Score through two games: Florida 7, Edmonton 1.
“A six-man job against the best players in the world,” Ekblad said.
But the win came with a price for Florida as the Panthers lost Barkov, their captain when Edmonton forward Draisaitl launched toward him midway through the third period and hit him in the head. Barkov remained down for some time, needed help getting to the bench and went down the tunnel for the Florida locker room for further evaluation.
Florida coach Paul Maurice offered no update on Barkov’s condition, and was far more tight-lipped than he tends to be after wins.
“This isn’t The Oprah Winfrey Show,” Maurice said of the Barkov hit. “My feelings don’t matter.”
Mattias Ekholm scored and Stuart Skinner stopped 25 shots for the Oilers, who now have to buck some serious history.
Edmonton has only successfully rallied from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series once — against San Jose in Round 2 of the 2006 playoffs. And teams that start the Stanley Cup Final down 2-0 have come back to win only five times in 54 previous situations.
“I think we feel that we came here and played well enough that we should have a split,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “It doesn’t always happen.”
The series resumes with Game 3 in Edmonton on Thursday night.
“We can certainly be better,” Draisaitl said. “It starts with me. … I certainly have a lot more to give. Not my best tonight. Obviously, owning that.”
Draisaitl was given only a minor penalty for roughing on the hit that knocked Barkov from the game. Rodrigues got a tip-in goal to make it 3-1, the first power-play score Edmonton allowed in its last 34 times being down a man.
Connor McDavid had a chance to get Edmonton within one on a breakaway with about 6 minutes left. He got stopped by Bobrovsky, and then he and Matthew Tkachuk tussled a bit along the boards after the play — the Panthers still steaming over the hit on Barkov.
“I have no response or comment on that,” Tkachuk said when asked what he thought of Draisaitl’s hit on Barkov, and if he had a level of concern that Florida’s captain could miss time.
Said McDavid of the hit: “I thought it was part of the game.”
And added Ekblad: “We’re hoping he’ll be fine.”
Emotions were high all night. Edmonton’s Warren Foegele was ejected in the first period for a knee-on-knee hit that knocked Florida’s Eetu Luostarinen from the game briefly; that ejection, plus an injury to Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse left them with only 11 forwards and five defensemen for much of the game.
Rodrigues scored early in the third off a turnover for a 2-1 lead, setting the tone for yet another Florida comeback. The Panthers — who trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes — are now an NHL-best 5-2 when trailing after one period in these playoffs.
Ekblad sealed it with an empty-netter with 2:28 left.
“It’s supposed to be hard. It’s supposed to be difficult,” McDavid said. “I’m excited to see what our group’s made of.”
Just like Game 1, one team cashed in on its first shot. It was Florida on Saturday, and Edmonton this time.
There wasn’t much to it: Ekholm skated nearly the full length of the ice with the teams playing 4-on-4, taking a harmless-looking shot that got between Bobrovsky’s leg pads and squirted into the back of the net. McDavid — playing in the building where he got drafted in 2015 — got one of the assists on the goal, his 27th assist of this postseason.
Midway through the second, the Panthers knotted it up. Mikkola had two shots on a shift; one was at the wrong net, and the other more than atoned for that near-blunder.
Moments after he inadvertently wheeled a backhand toward Bobrovsky — who was alert enough to save his teammate from the embarrassment of an own goal — Mikkola handled a delivery from Anton Lundell and blasted it past Skinner to pull Florida into a 1-1 tie.
“Bob was awake,” Mikkola said.
Shots were 22-7 Florida after 40 minutes, the Oilers — who led the league in shots on goal this season — being held to a season-low entering the third. Bobrovsky was tested a ton more in the third than he was in the first two periods, but was up to the task again and yielded two goals or fewer for the 12th time in his last 13 games.
And Florida, for the first time, is two wins from the Cup.
“It’s special,” Rodrigues said. “Trying to embrace it. Trying to stay in the moment. That’s two big wins for our team, but I think we’ve already turned the page and are getting ready for Game 3.”