That’s back-to-back losses for the Edmonton Oilers to start their four-game road trip, as they lost by a score of 5-3 to the Florida Panthers on Monday. Below are the highlights from the game.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS PRESENTED BY BETWAY
The Oilers opened the scoring six minutes into the first period thanks to a one-timer snipe from Connor McDavid. This was a play we’ve seen McDavid and Leon Draisaitl execute in the past but the usual roles were reversed this time.
The Oilers extended their lead to 2-0 a few minutes later with Evander Kane’s eighth goal of the season. Kane snuck into Florida’s zone, got fed a pass by Derek Ryan, and quickly sniped a shot low glove side on Sergei Bobrovsky.
Not long after, Kane was called for roughing and the Panthers scored on the ensuing power play. Matthew Tkachuk causes a little bit of a distraction in front of the net and then Carter Verhaeghe just straight-up beats Calvin Pickard high blocker side.
The Panthers were able to tie the game at 2-2 before the end of the first frame. The Oilers weren’t able to clear the zone and defenceman Nikko Mikkola jumped into the play and got a shot through Pickard.
The Oilers restored their lead in the second period when Connor McDavid sniped a goal on a penalty shot.
That lead didn’t last long as the Panthers tied the game just over one minute later. Philip Broberg tripped over a stick while skating backwards and Nikko Mikkola was able to carry the puck deep into Edmonton’s zone. He tried to fire a pass into the slot but the puck bounced off of Pickard’s pad and into the net.
The Panthers grabbed their first lead of the game later in the second period. There was a complete defensive zone breakdown for the Oilers and Pickard got caught flopping around in the crease and Kevin Stenlund eventually buried the puck.
Things started to get chippy in the third period and, unsurprisingly, former Battle of Alberta combatants Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett were involved. The Oilers threw a lot of shots at Sergei Bobrovsky in the third but couldn’t get anything by him and Bennett iced the game at 5-3 with an empty-net goal.
