Brad Marchand delivered the dagger on Friday night, breaking loose for a double-overtime breakaway goal that powered the Florida Panthers to a dramatic 5-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. With that clutch finish, the reigning champs have tied the series and made one thing clear—they’re not ready to hand over their crown just yet.
It was a rollercoaster night filled with wild momentum swings and highlight-reel moments. Marchand’s game-winner came 8:04 into the second overtime, a picture-perfect finish that gave Florida a hard-fought split on the road. The Panthers had seen their lead vanish in the dying seconds of regulation when Corey Perry knotted the score with just 17.8 seconds left, capitalizing as Stuart Skinner left the net for an extra attacker.
This series is already historic—both of the first two games have gone to overtime, something that hasn’t happened in a Cup Final since 2014, and only the sixth time ever in NHL history.
In net, Sergei Bobrovsky proved once again why he’s one of the best when the pressure mounts. He came up with a series of jaw-dropping stops, turning aside 42 of 46 shots and keeping his team in the fight during some brutal stretches. With him anchoring the crease, the Panthers had the breathing room to mount their comeback.
On the scoresheet, Sam Bennett continued his postseason tear, notching his 13th playoff goal—including a record-setting 12th on the road, the most ever in a single postseason. Seth Jones added a beautiful tap-in after a crisp passing play, and Dmitry Kulikov tied things up earlier with a laser through heavy traffic that caught Skinner completely off guard.
That goal capped a dominant second period for Florida, during which they pinned the Oilers deep in their own end and piled up a commanding 34-13 advantage in shot attempts. The sustained pressure overwhelmed Edmonton’s defense, setting the stage for Florida’s late push.
And then there’s Brad Marchand—a player built for moments like these. His winner was his 10th career goal in the Stanley Cup Final, giving him the top spot among all active NHL players in that category. When it comes to clutch performances, Marchand keeps writing his own legacy.
With the series knotted at 1-1, the action now shifts across the continent to Sunrise, Florida, where Game 3 is set for Monday night. And with the split in Edmonton, the Panthers have stolen back home-ice advantage—a major statement after dropping Game 1 in overtime.
But this isn’t going to be easy. The Oilers, led by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, are determined to chase down their first championship in decades. The duo connected for a power-play strike, and McDavid had fans on their feet with a dazzling solo rush through multiple defenders, setting up a crucial scoring chance. They also teamed up for a gorgeous assist on Evan Bouchard’s goal, with head coach Krish Knoblauch pairing them at the right time.
Friday’s matchup was chaotic at times, with 14 total penalties called, including three within the first four minutes. That translated to 10 power plays overall, and while both benches were frustrated with some of the calls, the officiating evened out as the game wore on.
So far, this rematch has lived up to the hype—and then some. The Panthers are proving they’re not fading quietly, while the Oilers are hungry to seize a championship that’s eluded them for far too long. With the series heading to Florida and the stakes rising by the minute, the Stanley Cup battle is just heating up.
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"Brad Marchand scored in double overtime to give the Florida Panthers a thrilling 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, tying the series and shifting momentum."