EDMONTON, Alberta — When the Stanley Cup was introduced out onto the ice previous to Recreation 1 of the ultimate, simply because it was final yr, all the pieces the Edmonton Oilers expressed about this time being completely different got here into focus.
“Last year, I was kind of looking at it with googly eyes,” goaltender Stuart Skinner mentioned. “This year seeing it, it’s: ‘I was here last year, I saw it. It’s time to get back to work and do my thing.’ It definitely felt completely different.”
The Oilers made the beginning of the sequence utterly completely different, erasing a multigoal deficit to beat the defending Florida Panthers 4-3 on Wednesday night time on Leon Draisaitl’s energy play purpose in time beyond regulation.
A yr since falling behind three video games to none, Edmonton has a lead within the rematch and is one step nearer to flipping the script.
“It’s huge,” mentioned Skinner, who made some large stops amongst his 29 saves. “The way that we showed up right from the get go and the way that we continued to keep on going, even though we were down by two, that shows a lot of character by us.”
Draisaitl offered the heroics, scoring on the ability play with 31 seconds left within the OT interval after Tomas Nosek’s penalty for placing the puck over the glass.
The purpose was his third in time beyond regulation this yr within the playoffs, tying the report for a single postseason, after Draisaitl had six in the course of the common season.
“He’s invaluable,” mentioned Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who arrange the tying and profitable objectives. “He does so many good things: clutch, faceoffs. You name it, he does it.”
For some time, it appeared the Oilers would lose Recreation 1 this yr as nicely. Draisaitl’s purpose 1:06 in was adopted later within the first interval by Sam Bennett deflecting a shot previous Skinner after falling into him.
Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch unsuccessfully challenged for goaltender interference, with the NHL’s scenario room ruling that the Oilers’ Jake Walman tripped Bennett into Skinner.
The ensuing penalty paved the way in which for Florida’s Brad Marchand to attain the go-ahead purpose on an influence play.
Bennett scored his second of the night time early within the second interval to place the Panthers up 3-1.
They entered 31-0 over the previous three playoffs since coach Paul Maurice took over when main on the first or second intermission.
“I mean, they pushed,” Marchand mentioned. “They obviously are a very good team, and doesn’t take much for them to score. So, not surprising, the push they did. They’re a great team. We’ve just got to keep going.”
Fourth-liner Viktor Arvidsson introduced the group again to life early within the second, and fellow Swede Mattias Ekholm — taking part in in simply his second recreation again from an prolonged harm absence — tied it with 13:27 remaining in regulation off an ideal cross from McDavid.
Florida counterpart Sergei Bobrovsky’s made some unbelievable saves, together with one to rob Trent Frederic earlier in time beyond regulation.
In between, he was greeted with derisive chants of “Ser-gei! Ser-gei!” that adopted objectives he allowed.
On the different finish, Skinner made a handful of saves that have been important to maintaining the Panthers from extending their lead or going again forward late within the third, getting friendlier chants of “Stuuuu! Stuuuu!” each time he turned apart a tough shot.
“He was great again,” McDavid mentioned. “He gave us a chance.”
Recreation 2 is Friday night time in Edmonton earlier than the sequence shifts to Florida for Video games 3 and 4.
