News Emanating From Oilers Says Coach Kris Knoblauch Is Gone Should He Not…
The Florida Panthers played host to Game 2 of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Finals in Sunrise, Florida on Monday evening. After a stellar performance in Game 1, Sergei Bobrovsky was able to deny the Oilers once again to allow Florida to take a 2-0 Stranglehold on the series.
Evan Rodrigues’ two goals launched the Panthers to within two wins of lifting Lord Stanley’s Cup.
The Florida Panthers currently have the odds in their favor. Only 9% of teams that have ever taken a 2-0 series advantage in the Stanley Cup Finals have failed to take home Lord Stanley’s prize after the series.
The Edmonton Oilers were the only team that managed to score in the first period of Game 2 at the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Finals.
Defenseman Mattias Ekholm slipped a puck through the arm of Bobrovsky for the lead in the series for the Oilers midway through the first period on their first shot of the game. That would be the only goaltending mistake the Russian netminder made on the evening for Florida.
Florida battled back but were unable to solve Stuart Skinner allowing Edmonton to enter the first intermission with a 1-0 lead.
The Panthers were unable to capitalize on early man-advantage opportunities in the second period, however, the Cats dominated most of the play. Florida’s biggest issue was shooting themselves in their own skates by taking penalties while on the powerplay. Typically not a recipe for success, my dear friends.
Defenseman Niko Mikkola scored a little before the midway point of the second period off a fantastic drop pass from fellow Finnish native Anton Lundell to tie the score at 1-1. The massive goal sending Amarent Bank Arena into a frenzy is only the second postseason tally of Mikkola’s career.
Florida ended the period with a 22-7 shot advantage, however, the scoreboard was still tied at 1 after 40 minutes of regulation play.
With this development should the oilers lose out in this play off,indications are that coach Kris will have to be relieved of his position as Edmonton piers are not settled for Mediocrity.