Mike BrehmUSA TODAY
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The Edmonton Oilers outplayed the Florida Panthers for much of Game 1 but lost 3-0 because of a 32-save shutout by Sergei Bobrovsky.
The Oilers expect the Panthers to play better in Game 2 on Monday night and Edmonton also is expected to do so.
The Oilers are 5-1 following a loss in this season's playoffs. Captain Connor McDavid has played a role in that. The three-time Hart Trophy winner and 2023-24 finalist has 54 career points in 28 games all-time after a playoff loss, including 16 points during this year's postseason.
The Panthers are 3-1 in Game 1 in the 2024 playoffs and 2-1 in Game 2.
Follow along for live updates on Game 2 between the Panthers and Oilers:
Panthers take another penalty
It's 4-on-4 again as Matthew Tkachuk is penalized for hooking Connor Brown. Edmonton now has killed 33 in a row. Panthers kill off the rest of Tkachuk's penalty. Still 1-0 Edmonton.
Second period underway
Oilers still killing an Evan Bouchard penalty. Darnell Nurse isn't on the Edmonton bench.
Oilers 1, Panthers 0: End of first period
This is the opposite of Game 1 with the Panthers controlling play but trailing by a goal. Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm scored on a shot that squeezed through Sergei Bobrovsky. Connor McDavid has been flying around the ice and has an assist. Shots are 9-4 Florida. The Oilers will be down a man the rest of the game with Warren Foegele ejected for kneeing.
The Oilers will start the second period killing a penalty with Evan Bouchard in the box for roughing Matthew Tkachuk.
Panthers' Aaron Ekblad goes to the dressing room
He got tangled up with Connor McDavid in the Panthers zone. But he has returned to the bench and Eetu Luostarinen also returned from his injury.
Oilers kill off rest of the penalty
That makes it 32 kills in a row.
Oilers 1, Panthers 0: Mattias Ekholm scores
Mattias Ekholm scores on an odd-man rush, keeping the puck and shooting it between Bobrovsky's legs at 11:17 for Edmonton's first goal of the series. It was the Oilers' first shot of the game. Connor McDavid picked up the assist. Bobrovsky probably wants to have that goal back.
Panthers' Oliver Ekman-Larsson penalized
We're going 4-on-4 after Oliver Ekman-Larsson is penalized for tripping Mattias Janmark.
Eetu Luostarinen down on ice after Warren Foegele hit
He was down for a while after a knee-on-knee hit from Edmonton's Warren Foegele. He's able to skate off with help. Foegele is called for five minutes for kneeing and it's upheld on review. The Oilers have killed off 30 consecutive short-handed situations. This will be a big test.
The Panthers' Evan Rodrigues went doubled over to the bench earlier in the period. Both Panthers players scored in Game 1. Rodrigues has since returned.
Panthers kill off penalty
The Oilers don't get a shot. Panthers showed good pressure and broke up several passes.
Oilers go on power play
Sam Bennett is called for tripping Evan Bouchard. The Oilers' power play went 0-for-3 in Game 1, but it's clicking at 35% in the playoffs.
Panthers off to better start
No score yet, but the Panthers lead in shot attempts 11-2.
Oilers load up with top line
The Oilers put out Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman out for an offensive zone faceoff. Coach Kris Knoblauch used that line in the third period of Game 1.
Game 2 underway
Panthers coach Paul Maurice is using Aleksander Barkov against Connor McDavid.
Florida Panthers starting lineup
The Florida Panthers are going with the same starting lineup as in Game 1.
Center:Aleksander Barkov
Wingers:Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe
Defensem*n:Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling
Goalie: Sergei Bobrovsky
Edmonton Oilers starting lineup
The Edmonton Oilers are going with the same starting lineup as in Game 1.
Center:Connor McDavid
Wingers:Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Defensem*n:Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm
Goalie:Stuart Skinner
Corey Perry scratched for Game 2
Edmonton Oilers forward Corey Perry and defenseman Cody Ceci are healthy scratches for Game 2. Coming in are forward Sam Carrick and defenseman Vincent Desharnais. Adam Henrique is moving up to the second line with Leon Draisaitl with Evander Kane dropping to the third line
When is Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final?
Game 2 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Monday at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
How to watch Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final
Game 2 will be shown nationally on ABC in the United States.
How to live stream Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final
Game 2 can be streamed on ESPN+ and services that carry ABC, such asFubo.
Dallas Stars' Jim Nill named general manager of the year
Nill won for the second year in a row. He signed Matt duch*ene in the offseason and traded for Chris Tanev at the deadline. The Stars finished with the Western Conference's best record. The Panthers' Bill Zito and Vancouver Canucks' Patrik Allvin were the other finalists.
Top NHL draft prospects attend Stanley Cup Final
In an annual tradition, the top NHL draft prospects attended Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. McDavid and Oilers teammate Evander Kane met with them earlier Monday.
"It was a super cool experience," projected No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini told ESPN. "Me and the top prospects were really fortunate to talk to those guys. I know they have a busy day today. We just appreciate them talking to us."
Florida Panthers Game 2 keys to victory
Take advantage of the last line change and try to keep forward Aleksander Barkov and defense pairing Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad out against McDavid.
Read more Panthers keys to victory
Edmonton Oilers Game 2 keys to victory
Press Bobrovsky a little harder when he plays the puck. He made a few mistakes in Game 1, though the Oilers couldn't capitalize. Also shoot higher against him. He's so good covering the bottom of the net.
Read more Oilers keys to victory
Oilers making change on defense pairing
Defenseman Cody Ceci, who lost a puck battle to Sam Bennett on the Panthers’ second goal of Game 1, will be a healthy scratch. Vincent Desharnais will move to his spot alongside Darnell Nurse.
“Vinny has played very well for us this year, whether it’s been through the playoffs or regular season,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters before Game 2. “We have a lot of confidence in him. He can move the puck out. He’s a big defender. … We have an excellent capable person who hasn’t been playing the last few games. We feel that he can help us.”
Stanley Cup Final TV ratings
Game 1, shown on ABC, averaged 3.1 million in the USA, peaking at 3.65 million. That's up 12% from last year's Panthers-Golden Knights Game 1 on TNT, according to ESPN.
The NHL said that factoring in Canadian viewership, there were 7.1 million viewers across North America. The league said that made it the most-watched Stanley Cup Final Game 1 across North America since the St. Louis Blues-Boston Bruins series in 2019.
Panthers are 0-2 in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final
They were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in 1996 and lost 7-2 last year to the Vegas Golden Knights. Bobrovsky was pulled in that game after giving up four goals.
Oilers are 1-2 when losing Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final
They were swept after losing Game 1 of the 1983 final against the New York Islanders. But they won four in a row in 1985 after losing Game 1 to the Philadelphia Flyers. They lost Game 7 in 2006 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
What is the expected goaltending matchup?
Panthers' Bobrovsky (13-5, 2.08 goals-against average, .915 save percentage) vs. Oilers' Stuart Skinner (11-6, 2.47, .897)
Is all of Canada rooting for the Edmonton Oilers?
The Oilers might be the last Canadian team standing, but that doesn’t mean all Canadians are rooting for them to end the country’s decades-long Stanley Cup drought.
That became clear when the Calgary Tower social media site noted that the structure will be lit orange and blue on Monday night for Action Anxiety Day and not for the Oilers.
“We’ve got love for our (neighbors) to the north and all across this province, but no. Never,” the tower’s X (formerly Twitter) account said.
The Battle of Alberta between the Flames and Oilers is one of the NHL’s fiercest.
What was the last Canadian team to win a Stanley Cup?
The Montreal Canadiens won in 1993. Read more on Canada’s Stanley Cup drought.
How many Stanley Cup titles have the Panthers won?
None. They reached the final previously in 1996 and 2023.
How many Stanley Cup titles have the Oilers won?
Five. They won in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990. They also went to the final in 1983 and 2006.
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