Panthers dominate Oilers in game 3 to take series lead

The Florida Panthers took the lead in the opening minute of game three and never relinquished it, cruising to a lopsided 6-1 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final.

The early goal by Brad Marchand and a late powerplay marker by Carter Verhaeghe gave Florida a 2-0 advantage through 20 minutes.

CARTER VERHAEGHE ON THE POWER PLAY 🔋

SUNRISE IS BUZZING 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/IiQZAsE89u

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 10, 2025

It was an opening frame defined by powerplays, with eight minor penalties called between the two teams that produced seven first period man advantages.

The eighth penalty was called at the horn on Florida’s Anton Lundell, giving Edmonton an important powerplay to start the second that Corey Perry capitalized on.

SCOREY PERRY ‼️

THE OILERS ARE ON THE BOARD 🫡 pic.twitter.com/eiPFklAye5

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 10, 2025

That’s as close as the Oilers would come, however, as Sam Reinhart restored the home team’s two-goal lead just 80 seconds later and Sam Bennett made it a 4-1 game not long after that.

Although there was only one penalty called in the second period, the referees earned their paycheque in a heated final frame.

MAYHEM IN SUNRISE 🌀

Game 3 of the #StanleyCup Final had 140 combined penalty minutes handed out 👊 pic.twitter.com/psCJ88DQGe

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 10, 2025

The two teams combined for 122 penalty minutes in the third period for a total of 140 over 60 minutes, the most in a Stanley Cup Final game since 1986.

That included five minutes each to Jonah Gadjovich and Darnell Nurse after a lengthy heavyweight tilt and 10-minute misconducts to eight different players.

IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME 👊 pic.twitter.com/TTXWBUgMGN

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 10, 2025

Amid the chaos, the Panthers scored another two goals and eventually skated off the ice with a 6-1 victory and a 2-1 series lead.

“I don’t think our best has shown up all series long, but it’s coming,” Oilers captain Connor McDavid said post-game.

"I don't think our best has shown up all series long, but it's coming."

Connor McDavid speaks after the Oilers' Game 3 loss. pic.twitter.com/zzdjCi3taV

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 10, 2025

A pivotal game four is scheduled for Thursday at 5 pm PT at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

The Panthers will be looking to extend their series lead to 3-1 heading back to Edmonton this weekend, while the Oilers will be looking to snatch back home ice advantage and make it a best-of-three series.

_{Thumbnail photo courtesy of the Florida Panthers on X.}