The Florida Panthers are on the verge of making history, but it is not the kind of historic accomplishment they were hoping to achieve.
After taking a 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final, Florida has lost three consecutive games, setting up a decisive Game 7 in Sunrise after it lost 5-1 to Edmonton at Rogers Place on Friday.
“They came out hungrier than us,” Florida forward Carter Verhaeghe said. “They wanted it, and that was kind of it. … They took it to us. I think it’s for us to look at it, get better, and I think we need some better starts.”
The Panthers are now at risk of becoming only the second team to lose the Stanley Cup Final after taking a 3-0 lead in the series. The 1942 Detroit Red Wings are the only NHL team to lose a Final after taking a 3-0 lead. The Toronto Maple Leafs, who won that series, are one of two teams to even a Final at three games each after losing the first three games.
The 1942 Maple Leafs are the only team to win a championship series after falling behind three games to none in the three major American sports leagues that play playoff series.
The Oilers got on the board first with a goal by Warren Foegele coming off a Panthers turnover, giving Edmonton a lead 7:27 into the first period. It was the third game in a row where the Oilers scored first. Edmonton outshot Florida 8-1 early in the game and ended the first period with an 11-2 shot advantage.
“They were quick, and they were on us,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said.
The barrage continued into the second period, as Adam Henrique gave Edmonton a 2-0 lead with a wide-open shot just 46 seconds into the second frame.
Florida captain Aleksander Barkov appeared to respond immediately, scoring the Panthers’ first goal on a rebound 10 seconds after Edmonton extended its lead. But the Oilers challenged the goal for offsides and won, setting the score back at 2-0.
“I was upset after the call, based on what I see at my feet, what my video person looks at,” Maurice said. “There was no way I would have challenged that if it was reversed. There was no way I thought you could conclusively say that was offside. I don’t know what the Oilers get. I don’t know what the league gets. I just know that when I would have had to have challenged that based on what I saw, I would not have challenged. I’m not saying it’s not offside.”
Zach Hyman, the Oilers’ leading goal-scorer in the regular season, effectively put the game away with a late second-period goal.
Barkov did get a goal 1:28 into the third period, but it did not spark a comeback for the Panthers. Henrique and Ryan McLeod each scored empty-net goals to wrap up the contest.
Game 7 will take place in Sunrise at 8 p.m. on Monday.
“Right now, if you walked in the room, there won’t be a lot of happy people,” Maurice said. “And I’m not worried about what (the mood) is tonight. It doesn’t have to be right tonight. You suffered a defeat. You feel it. It hurts. You lick your wounds, and then we start building that back tomorrow. But who you are tonight means nothing to who you’re going to be two days from now.”
Florida Panthers Game 6 watch party at Amerant Bank Arena | PHOTOS
