The Edmonton Oilers won a game in regulation for the first time since October 28th. They did so by defeating the Florida Panthers, 6-3, in a rematch of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. Despite the Panthers having an advantage in hits (30-20) and in shots (38-31), the Oilers found a way to tame them.
Jack Roslovic (2), Mattias Ekholm, Vasily Podkolzin, Connor McDavid, and Matt Savoie all scored for the Oilers. The defense pairing of Ekholm and Evan Bouchard played up to the expectations fans had entering this season. Much better than their most recent play. Both finished with a plus-5 rating and three points.
To say that this was a much-needed win for the Oilers is an understatement. With the victory over the Panthers, Edmonton concluded its seven-game road trip with a 3-3-1 record. They collected seven of a possible 14 points. The road trip wasn’t easy, but they managed to find their old offensive touch in the final three games. An encouraging sign for the players, coaches, and fans alike. There were plenty of things to be positive about from this game.
Skinner Outperforms Bobrovsky
Stuart Skinner clearly outperformed Sergei Bobrovsky in this game. He stopped 35 of 38 shots for a .921 SV%. As for Bobrovsky, he allowed four goals on 17 shots for a .765 SV%. That was enough to have him pulled at 6:45 into the second period. Fans have to wonder why Bobrovsky couldn’t have played this badly during the Stanley Cup Final.
For once, Skinner was the better goaltender. Have not been able to say that much this season. He made some crucial saves to keep the Oilers in the lead. The Panthers plastered him with a ton of shots, but he was up to the task. Midway through the second period, when the Panthers scored two goals in three minutes, many thought, “Oh no, here we go again,” but Stuart settled himself down and shut the door. Stuart is a key reason why the Oilers won this game.
Oilers Had Some Fight
The Oilers wasted no time in getting the momentum on their side. After scoring their first goal 25 seconds into the game, they eventually took a 3-1 lead by outshooting Florida 13-8. Edmonton would score again to give themselves a 4-1 lead before the Panthers started to push back. Despite Florida getting two quick goals, the Oilers managed to settle things down and get the job done.
Edmonton finally played an aggressive style of hockey game. They played with energy and an urgency that we were not seeing earlier. From finishing their checks, winning puck battles, and not allowing the Panthers to push them around during post-whistle scrums. It was as if someone had flipped a switch. The contest even saw McDavid get into a tussle with Brad Marchand in the neutral zone. Hopefully, the Oilers will continue to play this way and turn their season around in the right direction. Edmonton will look to continue their winning ways against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.
