After getting outplayed and winning anyway in Game 1, the Florida Panthers brought a better effort in Game 2 and beat the Edmonton Oilers once again to take full control of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers needed an all-world performance from goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to win on Saturday night, but they overcame a soft goal from the Russian, who closed the door after that, to earn a more decisive 4-1 win in Game 2.
The series now shifts back to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4 on Thursday and Saturday, where the Oilers will look to once again rally with their backs against the wall in front of what will be a raucous home crowd.
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Injuries Loom as Big Hits Pile Up
Monday night's game was characterized by a physicality and chippiness that we have come to expect from both of these teams, albeit more on Florida's end of things over the past several years.
It was the Oilers, though, doling out significant punishment on Monday. Winger Warren Foegele was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for a knee-on-knee hit to Eetu Luostarinen.
Luostarinen went down in a heap of pain, but did return to the game despite what appeared to have been a potential serious injury.
The major call was held up on review, and Florida had a golden opportunity to take a multi-goal lead with a five-minute power play.
Instead, the Panthers took a costly penalty, setting up two minutes of four-on-four and allowing Edmonton to strike first on a goal by Mattias Ekholm that Bobrovsky should have had.
Florida tied the game in the second on a rare goal from bruising defenseman Niko Mikkola, and Evan Rodrigues scored twice in the third to put the Cats ahead 3-1.
An empty netter by Aaron Ekblad sealed the deal for Florida, but the looming concern for the Panthers is the status of first line center Aleksander Barkov.
Barkov took a mean hit from Edmonton star Leon Draisaitl, who connected with his elbow to Barkov's jaw. Barkov did not return to the game, and Florida coach Paul Maurice said Barkov's absence was not his decision after the game.
In addition to Luostarinen's brief exit, Ekblad also had to leave the game for a stretch with an injury concern.
Presumably Ekblad will be available moving forward, but Barkov's status is absolutely something to monitor as the series moves locations to Western Canada.
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