Evan Rodrigues scores twice, Panthers rally in Game 2

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✌️ Evan Rodrigues scores twice, Panthers rally to beat the Oilers 4-1 in game 2. The 30-year-old Toronto native broke the 1-1 tie just over three minutes into the third period, initially having his centering pass blocked before corralling the loose puck, reloading, and snapping one high shortside through a maze of bodies for goals in back-to-back Stanley Cup Final games.

Not satisfied with a 2-1 lead, Rodrigues redirected an Anton Lundell centering pass below the glove of Stuart Skinner nine minutes later to break the Oilers’ streak of 34 successful penalty kills and give the Panthers a 3-1 lead with less than eight minutes to play in regulation. The goal was Rodrigues’ 6th of the postseason.

Lundell also set up the Panthers’ first goal of the game, leading the rush and cutting wide upon entering the offensive zone before dropping a pass to Niko Mikkola who unleashed a wicked snapshot to tie the game at 1-1 for his 2nd of the playoffs midway through the second period.

Aaron Ekblad extended the Panthers lead to 4-1 at 17:32 of the third with an empty-netter, his first goal in 19 playoff games this season.

Mattias Ekholm opened scoring midway through the first, wristing one through Sergei Bobrovsky’s five-hole on the Oilers’ first shot of the game.

Bobrovsky finished with 18 saves and has stopped 50 of 51 shots in the series for the Panthers.

Despite returning to Edmonton for games 3 and 4 down 2-0 in the series, Oilers’ captain Connor McDavid remains positive and steadfast on raising Lord Stanley:

But historical odds aren’t in his favor as teams that lead a best of-of-7 Stanley Cup Playoff series 2-0 have a .863 win percentage with an all-time series record of 352-56. Read more →

ICYMI 😶

Charles Barkley provides a candid in-game interview last night.

POLL 🗳️

QUICK HITS ⚡️

• Locking down games and dominating late has become a hallmark for the Florida Panthers (AP News)

• Oilers simply not good enough so far in Cup Final: 'We've got to be better' (Sportsnet)

• Barkov departs Game 2 after high hit by Draisaitl (theScore)

• Pending UFA Duchene wants to stay with Stars: 'Money is definitely not the No. 1' (TSN)

• Stars' Nill wins 2nd straight GM of the Year Award (theScore)

• 2024 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini’s Top 128 Final Rankings (The Hockey Writers)

• PWHL New York drafts Princeton star Sarah Fillier with No. 1 pick (ESPN)

COACHES CORNER 🏒

• Learn the ‘soft drag’ skating technique (Train 2.0 Hockey Development)

• 4 advanced plyometric exercises for hockey players (Mack Little)

TRIVIA 🧠