(Edmonton) Frustration builds up in the Oilers camp, while victories keep coming for the Panthers.
Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart each had a goal and an assist, Sergei Bobrosvky made 32 saves and the Florida club moved within one victory of a first Stanley Cup with a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton team, Thursday evening at Rogers Place.
Barkov was in uniform after missing the final 10 minutes of the second game. He had been hit in the jaw by Leon Draisaitl.
The Panthers captain continued his good work against the Oilers stars. Connor McDavid has been limited to three assists so far, while Draisaitl has yet to score in the final.
The Panthers will have their first opportunity to lift the Stanley Cup on Saturday, during Game 4 of the final, played in Edmonton.
Sam Bennett and Vladimir Tarasenko also scored for the Panthers, who lost in the grand final to the Vegas Golden Knights last spring.
Warren Foegele, Philip Broberg and Ryan McLeod scored for the Oilers, who are in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006. Stuart Skinner stopped 19 shots.
The Oilers have yet to score on the power play in 10 chances since the start of the final.
Defenseman Cody Ceci was back on the blue line for the Oilers after giving way to Vincent Desharnais in Game 2.
Forwards Evander Kane (hernia) and Connor Carrick were left out in favour of Corey Perry and Derek Ryan.
Both goalies had to be vigilant early in the game. Bobrovsky made his mark in front of McDavid, while Skinner frustrated Carter Verhaeghe.
Connor Brown threatened while the Oilers were shorthanded. Bobrovsky stopped his shot during a partial breakaway. Brown then missed the target a few seconds later, when he received the puck in the heart of the slot.
The Oilers were also dangerous on the power play during the first period. Bobrovsky made some nice saves against McDavid and Draisaitl. Meanwhile, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins hit the crossbar trying to surprise Bobrovsky by aiming into the top of the net.
Bobrovsky frustrated McDavid again later in the first period, during another Oilers power play.
It was ultimately the Panthers who opened the scoring with 1:02 left in the first period, while the teams were playing four against four. Reinhart deflected a precise passing shot from Gustav Forsling into the back of the net.
Foegele tied the game 1:49 into the second period. He beat Bobrovsky on a breakaway with a sharp shot from the glove side.
Zach Hyman had a chance to give the Oilers the lead a little later. During his turn on the breakaway, however, Hyman saw Bobrovsky make the save with his glove.
The Panthers took the lead again moments later at 9:12. Skinner failed to control a rebound behind his net and Eetu Luostarinen connected with Tarasenko in front of the net. The Russian forward fired a shot into a gaping net.
The visitors took control of the game with two more goals in a span of 1:34 before the end of the second period.
Bennett scored at 13:57 on a feed from Matthew Tkachuk after a Darnell Nurse turnover. Barkov then made it 4-1 by beating Skinner on the shield side in a two-on-one attack.
Broberg gave Oilers fans hope 6:02 into the third period. His shot hit Panthers defender Niko Mikkola before landing in the goal.
McLeod then cut the deficit to one with 5:17 left, deflecting a shot from Brett Kulak past Bobrovsky.
The Panthers goalkeeper, however, stole a sure goal from McLeod a few moments later. He dropped his left pad against the ice in time to frustrate the Oilers forward.
The Oilers were never able to threaten Bobrovsky’s net again after that.
