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2025 Stanley Cup Finals Game 3: NHL Fans React To Florida Panthers Dismantling Edmonton Oilers At Amerant Bank Arena

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Updated –
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Are the Florida Panthers taking control of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Final? 

Will defenseman Aaron Ekblad continue knocking superstars out of action and show offensive flair? 

Are the Edmonton Oilers beginning to buckle? 

Again. 

During the closing moments of the Panthers’ commanding 6-1 victory in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final Monday night, the Oilers, one of the NHL’s top offensive clubs, appeared disjointed. They started relying on goonery to get an edge on the defending champions. 

Good luck. 

This series rematch does not look like it will go seven games, similar to last summer. By the looks of Game 3, two more outings could clinch a repeat title.

X (Twitter) fans reacted to the Oilers devolving into buffoonery during Game 3 … 

The Panthers looked ready to go at home …

Oilers superstar Connor McDavid warmed up by displaying his elite hand-eye reactions …

An early finals MVP candidate, Brad Marchand connected on his eighth postseason marker, 56 seconds following the game’s opening faceoff. At that point, the trade deadline acquisition scored the Panthers’ previous three goals …

On the power play, Panthers coach Paul Maurice went with his second unit and Carter Verhaeghe connected off assists by Evan Rodrigues and Nate Schmidt, who became the ninth player to register at least one helper in the opening three Stanley Cup series outings … 

Playing like he’s 25 years old, Oilers veteran forward Corey Perry scored his ninth in the postseason, pulling the Oilers to within 2-1 1:40 in the second period. Perry joined Igor Larionov (2002) and Mark Recchi (2011) as the only 40-year-old skaters to score in back-to-back Stanley Cup games … 

One minute 20 seconds after Perry’s marker, Sam Reinhart put the Panthers back up by two (3-1), off an assist by Verhaeghe …

A coach’s dream play. Two checks and a breakaway later, free-agent-to-be Sam Bennett scored his 14th of the postseason, lifting the Panthers to a 4-1 advantage … 

About two minutes later, the Oilers received a scare when McDavid absorbed a clean check by Ekblad. McDavid fell awkwardly to the ice and immediately departed for the locker room. He returned after nine seconds of game action …  

Ekblad displayed his toughness with the check on McDavid. He also chipped in a third-period power-play goal 3:27 into the third period, capping a slick-passing play … 

“Tough night” for Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, who was pulled after Ekblad’s goal. Stuard allowed five goals on 23 shots … 

For good measure, Rodriguez made it 6-1 on the power play …  

Final score: Panthers 6, Oilers 1 … 

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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