Florida thrives in this environment. The Panthers draw opponents into chaos and then defeat them soundly. They provoke physically and verbally, dominate the game, and show little remorse.
Matthew Tkachuk, nearing a second Stanley Cup, was content, stating, “If you have to take a punch in the face, take a punch in the face.”
Game 3 truly showcased the Panthers` style in Sunrise, and the Oilers, perhaps still adjusting to the time difference, were completely overwhelmed. Florida quickly took the lead and overpowered the visitors with goals from across the lineup. They earned more power plays, had superior goaltending, and ended with a dominant 6-1 score, triggering the celebratory throwing of plastic rats.
Crucially, hockey`s most frustrating, tenacious, and arguably top team is clearly irritating the Oilers, despite Edmonton`s claims of maturity.
Evander Kane, who has spent significant time in the penalty box (18 PIMs) this series, voiced frustration with the officiating and perceived inconsistency, saying, “You look at some of the calls and whatnot, obviously some of them are frustrating. They seem to get away with it more than we do.”
He added that the boundaries are unclear, as both teams are engaging in similar actions. Regardless, the Panthers are more skilled at this approach, whether it involves net-front presence, diving, or capitalizing on numerous power play chances.
The boundary Kane mentioned? Florida plays with extreme confidence in this style, balancing aggression and discipline effectively.
Imagine the frustration of facing the champions when they impose their heavy, fast-paced game.
Captain Aleksander Barkov smiled and said, “I don’t know. I haven’t played against the Panthers.” Regarding the style of play, he commented, “It’s fun to play. It’s hard to play. We were good today.”
He concluded by stating, “We’re ready for anything.”
Edmonton seemed unprepared on Monday. As the game dissolved into penalties, cheap shots, and constant skirmishes, including Jake Walman spraying water at the Panthers` bench, Jonah Gadjovich provoking Darnell Nurse to the crowd`s delight, and Stuart Skinner being replaced, the Oilers lost all composure.
Coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged the third-period collapse, saying, “Definitely the third period is an unravelling. That game was out of hand. I don`t think we would have acted or played like that had the game been a one-goal or two-goal game.”
Counterpoint: A team known for comebacks shouldn`t consider a game out of reach. However, the Oilers shifted their focus from playing hockey to seeking retribution.
Notably, Paul Maurice brought up the Canucks` recent improbable late comeback post-game. While Edmonton possesses similar offensive capability, their frustration prevented them from accessing that potential.
