SUNRISE, FL – In a wild, penalty-ridden Game 3 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers brought the thunder and the scoreboard with a commanding 6–1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena, taking a 2–1 series lead in the best-of-seven championship.
And folks—this one wasn’t just a game. It was a gloves-off, jawing-from-the-benches, sticks-flying grudge match that looked more like a backyard brawl than playoff hockey at times.
From puck drop, the Panthers dictated the tone: physical, unrelenting, and razor-edged. Florida took control early with two first-period goals, capitalizing on Edmonton’s parade to the penalty box. The Oilers, by comparison, looked unglued—racking up 85 penalty minutes to the Panthers’ 55, and showing cracks in their composure that cost them dearly.
🏒 Momentum Swing in the Second
The Panthers extended their lead to 4–1 in the second period, and it was Sam Bennett leading the charge. First, he rattled bones with two big hits. Then, like poetry in motion, he buried a breakaway beauty at 7:26, electrifying the home crowd.
The tension boiled over late in the frame when Panthers forward A.J. Greer chucked Oilers defenseman Jake Walman’s glove into the bench like a beer-league prank. Walman responded with a water-bottle squirt to the face (and the video screen), later brushing it off as “gamesmanship.” But by then, the bad blood was already thick in the water.
💥 Third Period? More Like WWE on Ice
The third turned chaotic. Aaron Ekblad struck on the power play just 3:27 in, giving Florida a 5–1 lead and all but slamming the door.
Then the real fireworks started.
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Mattias Janmark swatted Greer in the back of the head.
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Trent Frederic snapped his stick across Bennett’s back.
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Darnell Nurse and Jonah Gadjovich dropped the mitts in a full-on tilt.
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Evan Bouchard slashed Carter Verhaeghe in the leg, while Evander Kane followed up with a slash to the face.
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Jake Walman tried to jump Matthew Tkachuk while John Klingberg restrained him—only for Ekblad to enter the fray.
And let’s not forget Kasperi Kapanen’s cross-check on Eetu Luostarinen, just to round out the chaos.
🎙️ Sound Bites from the Slugfest
“We’re ready to take a punch, a cross-check—whatever it takes,” said Panthers fire-starter Matthew Tkachuk. “We played smart, we played hard, and we stuck together.”
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch admitted things spiraled: “It was an unraveling. Guys were frustrated… maybe trying to send a message for Game 4.”
Evander Kane, clearly fed up, blasted the officials: “Feels like they get away with more than we do.”
🧊 Bottom Line
The Panthers are in the driver’s seat, owning both the scoreboard and the psychological edge. With Game 4 looming large, the question becomes: Can the Oilers regroup, or has Florida broken their spirit?
One thing’s for sure—this Final has officially gone off-script.
📍 Game 4 returns to Amerant Bank Arena. Buckle up, Thunder Bay—this series is far from over.
