Stanley Cup Final: Game 3 Analysis, Grades and Takeaways

Let`s count to 11. That`s the number of times the Florida Panthers have scored five or more goals in a single game during this postseason run. They achieved this feat twice against the Tampa Bay Lightning, three times versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, four times facing the Carolina Hurricanes, and now, after scoring five in Game 2 against the Edmonton Oilers, they repeated the performance with a dominant 6-1 victory in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.

High-scoring games are clearly a trend for the Panthers. However, allowing more than five goals in a playoff game is less common for the Oilers. Before Game 2, the last time Edmonton conceded that many in a single contest was in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

With the Panthers now holding a 2-1 series lead, they are just two wins away from potentially lifting the Stanley Cup. Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton analyze the key moments from Game 3, highlight players to watch in the upcoming game, and identify critical questions each team must address heading into Game 4.

Team Grades

Florida decisively outplayed Edmonton in every aspect of Game 3. They were more hardworking and simply superior to the Oilers at both even strength and on special teams. The Panthers` forecheck was relentless, they won more puck battles along the boards, and crucially, they successfully contained Edmonton`s star players and overall offense. This defensive success was significantly bolstered by an outstanding performance in net from Sergei Bobrovsky, who clearly outperformed Stuart Skinner at the opposite end.

The Panthers took control early, with Brad Marchand scoring just under a minute into the game. Their power play also found success when Carter Verhaeghe scored on their fourth opportunity of the first period. Sam Reinhart`s quick answer to Corey Perry`s goal early in the second period, followed by Sam Bennett`s breakaway goal, further demonstrated Florida`s sharp focus and execution.

Entering the third period with a comfortable 4-1 lead, and knowing their impressive 30-1 postseason record under Paul Maurice when leading after two periods, the Panthers had all the confidence needed not only to force Stuart Skinner out of the net but also to cruise to a resounding victory.

Once again, the Oilers endured a tough first period, allowing two goals, highlighting a persistent issue in this series: slow starts. They struggled to maintain puck possession and committed turnovers that directly led to goals. Aside from Corey Perry`s goal, set up by Evan Bouchard, Edmonton`s secondary players failed to make a significant impact, while the Panthers boasted six different goal scorers.

The Oilers also struggled with discipline, accumulating 85 penalty minutes, the most in a single Cup Final game since 1986.

After the first two games could have gone either way, Game 3 saw Edmonton falter in multiple areas. While mounting comebacks has been a hallmark of their postseason, facing a three-goal deficit entering the third period of Game 3 proved too difficult. Historically, the last time a team overcame a three-goal third-period deficit in a Cup Final game was in 1944 (Montreal Canadiens vs. Chicago Blackhawks). After allowing a power-play goal early in the third, Stuart Skinner was replaced by Calvin Pickard.

These collective challenges resulted in the Oilers` weakest performance of the Cup Final, possibly their poorest outing since the early stages of the first round against the Los Angeles Kings.

Players to Watch in Game 4

It`s time for the Panthers` captain to become a factor in the Cup Final scoring discussion. While teammates like Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand have each scored four goals in the series, Barkov has yet to register a single point and has only six shots on goal.

Certainly, Barkov has been playing heavy minutes, including over 30 in that Game 2 double-overtime victory, and has been assigned the difficult task of trying to contain the Oilers` top line. However, his lack of offensive production despite significant ice time is perplexing at this stage.

Barkov had been a consistent offensive contributor through the first three playoff series, tallying six goals and 11 points. For whatever reason, his game hasn`t fully translated to the Final, where he has appeared slightly off his usual pace.

This slump is unlikely to last. Barkov is too skilled not to become a key offensive player for Florida. If he finds his scoring touch, it spells trouble for the Oilers. Considering how effectively the Panthers` offense performed in Game 3 even without contributions from Barkov, seeing him heat up could be Edmonton`s worst-case scenario.

It seems we`re back to this conversation, aren`t we? Goaltenders are constantly under scrutiny, especially in the pressure cooker of the postseason. Their position is unique in that a red light, a loud horn, and thousands of spectators openly celebrate their errors. Monday marked the fourth time in these playoffs that Skinner has allowed more than five goals in a game.

The second time this occurred this postseason, it led to the Oilers replacing him with Calvin Pickard during the first round. Pickard again came in relief of Skinner in Game 3, stopping seven of eight shots in over 16 minutes of play. Interestingly, the most recent time *before* Game 3 that Skinner allowed more than five goals was followed by the Oilers winning four consecutive games to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

However, how much blame for Game 3 can be placed solely on Skinner? The Oilers committed 11 giveaways, gave up seven power-play opportunities, and once again fell victim to allowing two unanswered goals within a period. So, was Skinner the primary issue, or was he let down by the defensive performance and environment around him?

Big Questions for Game 4

Florida did an excellent job neutralizing McDavid and Draisaitl at both 5-on-5 and on the power play in Game 3. Even when coach Kris Knoblauch paired them together mid-second period hoping to spark the Oilers` offense, it didn`t yield results or significantly improve McDavid and Draisaitl`s individual play.

Draisaitl didn`t register a shot attempt until early in the third period, and McDavid had only two by that point. Although Sergei Bobrovsky appeared particularly difficult to beat, it was evident that Edmonton`s stars struggled to generate meaningful scoring chances against the Panthers` tight defense.

Whatever defensive strategy Florida employed to limit Edmonton`s top threats in Game 3 needs to be perfectly executed again in Game 4. In their home building, the Oilers were able to dictate matchups and make Aleksander Barkov uncomfortable. On Florida`s home ice, the Panthers successfully stifled Edmonton`s two elite scorers. If the Panthers can replicate that defensive performance on Thursday, there`s a strong possibility they could establish a commanding lead in the series before it returns to Edmonton for Game 5.

Breakaway goals have been a notable issue for the Oilers` defense. Brad Marchand`s breakaway goal tied Game 2, and his second breakaway won it in double overtime. It`s also worth remembering Sam Reinhart had a breakaway that could have ended Game 2 in the first overtime.

Allowing three goals by the halfway point of Game 3 would naturally raise questions about the Oilers` defensive scheme. However, Sam Bennett`s breakaway goal giving the Panthers a 4-1 lead in the second period presented another clear area of concern regarding defensive breakdowns.

There have been moments in this series where the Panthers have achieved a shot share of over 65%. Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, the Oilers have allowed two unanswered goals within a period six times through the first nine periods of the series. Establishing defensive consistency had been a defining characteristic for the Oilers earlier in this postseason. However, a lack of defensive structure and consistency in the Final has contributed significantly to them falling into a 2-1 series deficit.