Serious Issue Emerging for the Edmonton Oilers After Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals
Photo credit: Sportsnet
A major issue is arising for the Edmonton Oilers against the Florida Panthers in the rematch of last year's Stanley Cup Final, which is now tied at 1-1.
The Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 in 2OT, tying the Stanley Cup Final up at 1-1 thanks to a 2-goal performance from Brad Marchand.
Marchand scored the GWG midway through the 2nd overtime session, giving Florida a split on the road as the series now moves to Florida.
Panthers forward Sam Bennett, who has 3 goals in the opening pair of games in the Final, drew more controversy after he landed on top of Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, briefly shaking up the netminder before he decided to stay in the game.
He was whistled for goaltender interference, and the Oilers scored on the subsequent power-play chance.
Bennett, along with Florida's play in general close to the opposition crease, is becoming a serious issue for the Oilers.
Defenseman Mattias Ekholm, who scored in the Game 1 OT win, doesn't want to see Bennett make contact with his goaltender again.
You can accidentally drop into him, but, at one point, enough's got to be enough.
It's a fine line. We don't want to take punishment from anybody. I'm not saying that. But you've got to read the situation and be cognizant of, 'Has there been a penalty called? Has there not? What can help our team the most?'
Marchand scored a PPG in Game 1 after a failed Oilers challenge for goaltender interference on a Bennett goal just moments prior, something defenseman Evan Bouchard admitted that it's a tough job for the NHL to determine during the video replay.
Everybody has their own opinion of it. You really don't know. It's a hard job for the league to determine, too.
One thing is for certain - Bennett and the Panthers have established how they want to play, and they're not going to change any time soon.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 8 | 474 ANSWERS Serious Issue Emerging for the Edmonton Oilers After Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals Do the Panthers play too close to the edge physically? | ||
| Yes | 327 | 69 % |
| No | 147 | 31 % |
| List of polls | ||
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