Panthers defeat Oilers in Recreation 2 of Cup Last, lengthen collection lead – NHL.com

Rodrigues scores twice in third interval, together with go-ahead purpose; Edmonton 0-for-4 on energy play
SCF, Gm2: Oilers @ Panthers Recap
SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers took command of Recreation 2 of the Stanley Cup Last and, within the course of, wrested management of the best-of-7 collection, not less than briefly.
Evan Rodrigues scored two of 4 consecutive objectives by the Panthers, serving to them to a 4-1 victory in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Financial institution Enviornment on Monday.
“It is particular. Attempting to embrace it,” mentioned Rodrigues, who additionally scored in Recreation 1, a 3-0 victory Saturday. “Attempting to remain within the second. It is two massive wins for our group, and I believe we have already turned the web page and we’re preparing for Recreation 3.”
That can be at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SN, ESPN+, ABC).
Groups that lead a greatest of-of-7 Stanley Cup Playoff collection 2-0 have a collection document of 352-56 (.863). Within the Last, solely 5 of 54 groups have overcome a 2-0 deficit to win the collection: the 2011 Boston Bruins, 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins, 1971 Montreal Canadiens, 1966 Canadiens and 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.
“We really feel we got here right here and we performed sufficient to get a break up,” Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch mentioned. “That doesn’t at all times occur. We simply should take it one recreation at time. 
“I don’t see any cause to panic or do something drastic. … We simply should win the following recreation.”
EDM@FLA SCF, Gm2: Rodrigues capitalizes on turnover for lead in third interval
Niko Mikkola and Aaron Ekblad scored, and Anton Lundell had two assists for the Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky made 18 saves and has stopped 50 of 51 pictures within the collection for the Japanese Convention champions.
Mattias Ekholm scored, and Stuart Skinner made 25 saves for the Oilers, the Western Convention champions.
The Oilers have one purpose by means of two video games. Their vaunted energy play, which went 0-for-4 on Monday, is 0-for-7 within the collection. That they had one high-danger probability throughout 5-on-5 play in Recreation 2.
Their elite gamers have been contained. Heart Connor McDavid, who leads the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 32 factors (5 objectives, 27 assists), has one help, as does defenseman Evan Bouchard, who has 28 factors (six objectives, 22 assists), tied for second with middle Leon Draisaitl (10 objectives, 18 assists), who has no factors.
“We have now to be higher and we might be higher for positive,” mentioned McDavid, the Edmonton captain. “I assumed they went up a stage and we didn’t match it in the present day.”
Rodrigues’ first purpose of the sport put the Panthers in entrance 2-1 at 3:11 of the third interval. A clearing try by Bouchard ended up proper on the stick of Rodrigues excessive within the left face-off circle, and he snapped a shot to the brief facet previous Skinner.
“So good, so completely satisfied for him, happy with him,” Florida ahead Matthew Tkachuk mentioned. “He was superior. Taking part in with him the previous few video games, he reads the sport so effectively. That is two video games in a row scoring some massive objectives for us.
“He is an excellent sensible participant and I am actually completely satisfied to see him get rewarded proper now. We work so laborious, and tonight it was him and it may’ve been quite a lot of guys, and he did an important job of discovering the web for us.”
Rodrigues then made it 3-1 at 12:26. He broke the Oilers’ streak of 34 profitable penalty kills when he redirected a move from Lundell within the low slot.
“I am not too frightened concerning the level totals or objectives,” Rodrigues mentioned. “On the finish of the day, we’re in search of wins right here. That is all I care about.”
EDM@FLA SCF, Gm2: Rodrigues nets his second tally of recreation with PPG
Ekblad pushed it to 4-1 at 17:32 by scoring into an empty web, his first purpose in 19 playoff video games this season.
Ekholm had given Edmonton a 1-0 lead on its first shot of the sport at 11:17 of the primary interval. Despatched in on a 2-on-1 break by a McDavid move, Ekholm stored the puck and snapped a shot by means of the five-hole from the left circle.
Mikkola tied it at 1-1 at 9:34 of the second interval, one-timing a drop move by Lundell.
The Oilers know they let issues slip away in Recreation 2, however they’re already wanting ahead to Recreation 3, holding on to the concept a group is just not in hassle till it loses at dwelling.
“It’s one other alternative for group to return collectively and dig our means out,” McDavid mentioned. “It’s speculated to be laborious, it’s speculated to be troublesome, and I’m excited to see what our group is manufactured from. I’m excited to see our group come collectively, I’m excited to see us struggle by means of adversity and I’m wanting ahead to folks doubting us once more with our backs in opposition to the wall.”
NOTES: Panthers middle Aleksander Barkov left the sport at 10:32 of the third interval after a excessive hit by Draisaitl, who was assessed a roughing penalty. There was no replace. … Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse (undisclosed) left the sport within the first interval after successful by Rodrigues, then returned and performed three complete shifts within the second and third. Knoblauch mentioned he expects him to play in Recreation 3. … Ekholm’s purpose was the Oilers’ first in 115:34, the longest streak of their playoff historical past, surpassing the mark of 109:18 set in 1998.
🔹 Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers

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