EDMONTON – For one night at least, there were indeed rats in Alberta as Brad Marchand scored the double overtime-winner to tie the Stanley Cup final at 1-1.
Marchand played the hero for the Florida Panthers with his second goal of the game to cap off a 5-4 victory and another dramatic match against the Edmonton Oilers.
"He's been incredible for us this whole playoffs and scoring massive goals at massive times," Sam Bennett said post-game. "That one's definitely the biggest."
Game 2 got off to an explosive start, with special teams playing a big role.
Edmonton came out flying and very aggressive – but Evander Kane got a little too aggressive and ended up with a high-sticking penalty 40 seconds in. Florida cashed in on the power play when Nate Schmidt found Bennett for yet another road goal on a nice passing play. Bennett's 12th goal on the road set a record for the most by any NHL player in Stanley Cup playoff history.
"I don't think there's any difference between at home or on the road for me, but right now, they seem to be going in," Bennett said.
The teams traded more man advantages, and there were numerous scoring chances. Sergei Bobrovsky made a big stop on Trent Frederic, while Eetu Luostarinen backhanded one over Stuart Skinner after the Panthers winger was sent in alone by Marchand.
Kane made amends for his early penalty by sending a laser past Bobrovsky after a Florida turnover eight minutes into the frame, while Evan Bouchard gave Edmonton its first lead of the game when he followed up his own rebound and rifled in a wrister during 4-on-4 play. But a deadly passing sequence minutes later knotted things up again when Seth Jones was set up by Luostarinen.
The most controversial moment of the game came when Bennett, scourge of the Oilers, fell on Skinner's leg, causing the Edmonton goalie to remain down on the ice for an extended period.
Bennett received a goaltender interference penalty for the incident.
"I was pushed, and then the goalie kicked out my heel, which made me fall," Bennett said post-game. "I didn't agree with that one, but got to move on."
Matthew Tkachuk and Frederic took coincidental roughing penalties after the whistle as well. Tkachuk gave Bennett a pat on the chest as he stepped into the box, but the Oilers made Bennett pay.
Connor McDavid pulled off another dazzling display of offensive splendor, cutting through the Florida defense before dishing off to his favorite target, Leon Draisaitl, who made no mistake.
The second period was slightly less eventful, but not by much. Bobrovsky and Skinner made crucial saves early, but Florida tied up the game 3-3 when a Dmitry Kulikov point shot evaded a screened Skinner midway through the period. The Panthers continued the party on the penalty kill, with Marchand getting sprung for a shorthanded breakaway and sinking one for a 4-3 Florida lead.
Bobrovsky was still challenged in the third, particularly on a tricky Bouchard point shot, but the veteran netminder made the save. Disciplined and defensive hockey in front of him aided the Panthers as they protected the lead. Bobrovsky had to be sharp again with Adam Henrique blazing toward him with a backhand attempt, but he couldn't beat the Florida goalie.
The Oilers pulled Skinner for the extra attacker with around two-and-a-half minutes to play, though an offside forced him back into the net temporarily. Bobrovsky made a sprawling save on Draisaitl with a minute to go, but it was Corey Perry finding a loose puck on the doorstep that drew Edmonton even with 17 seconds to go.
In overtime, the Panthers had a close call when Verhaeghe slid one under Skinner, but it stuck to the outside of the post and was cleared away. Later, Sam Reinhart was sprung for a breakaway, but he shot wide.
At eight minutes into the second overtime, Marchand received a breakout pass and sprung through the middle of the ice. He didn't get a clean shot off on Skinner, but the puck squeaked through the five-hole to seal the deal with Marchand's parents in the stands.
"These are memories that you have for the rest of your life, not just for yourself but for your whole family, and we're all enjoying the journey right now," Marchand told Sportsnet's Gene Principe post-game.
"These are the opportunities you dream of as a kid and the moments you wish you could hold onto forever."
The teams now head to Sunrise, Fla., for Game 3 on Monday at 8 p.m. ET.
Get the
latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by
subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below
the article on THN.com.
