<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-florida-panthers-hammer-edmonton-oilers-to-take-lead-stanley-cup-final">Game 3</a> of the Stanley Cup Final was a candidate for the worst game of the season by the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-florida-panthers-game-3-preview">Edmonton Oilers</a>.

Aside from the opening couple of shifts, the team failed to show up, and the result was as it should have been. Florida was perhaps even unfortunate not to post a shutout. Frustration may lead you to point fingers at certain players — likely Stuart Skinner — but last night was a disappointing team performance that one man can’t be blamed for.
The Oilers lost their structure, discipline and direction.
The actions in the third period are irrelevant to the overall issue of discipline. If you’re going down, take a few enemies with you. But the problems began in the first period. Edmonton took three penalties in the offensive zone and received a too-many-men call. What is going on? A team this deep into a playoff run, for the second consecutive season, has to understand the consequences.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
PANTHERS-OILERS BRAWL 😳
FISTS WERE FLYING 😬 <a href="https://t.co/MlBezSkK8Y">pic.twitter.com/MlBezSkK8Y</a>
&mdash; Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1932269343007735997?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2 data-start="1064" data-end="1497">READ MORE ABOUT GAME 3&#8230;</h2>
<ul>
<li data-start="1064" data-end="1497"><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-florida-panthers-game-3-tactical-review">Oilers vs. Panthers – Game 3: A Tactical Review</a></li>
<li data-start="1064" data-end="1497"><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-outplayed-outhustled-outworked-florida-panthers-6-1-game-3-loss">Oilers were outplayed, outhustled, and outworked in 6-1 loss</a></li>
<li data-start="1064" data-end="1497"><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-lose-composure-game-3-loss-florida-panthers">Oilers lose their composure in Game 3 loss to Panthers</a></li>
<li data-start="1064" data-end="1497"><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/i-just-wish-they-had-been-calling-it-in-game-2edmonton-oilers-kris-knoblauch-upset-stanley-cup-final-officiating">Head coach Kris Knoblauch takes aim at Stanley Cup Final officiating</a></li>
</ul>
There&#8217;s always the understanding from fans that penalties happen during battles, but eventually, you’ve got to recognize the situation and settle down. The Viktor Arvidsson penalty was the final blow — a clear flop from Sergei Bobrovsky — but Arvidsson has to avoid that. The power-play goal that followed ended up as the game-winner. If you go into the intermission only down 1–0, after an awful period, you’re shaping up all right.
Once you&#8217;re in a hole against the Panthers, it&#8217;s hard to dig your way out. Corey Perry got the early goal in the second period, which would typically ignite a team. However, it had almost the opposite effect on the Oilers. Bad turnovers, a lack of saves and no offence generated — that’s how the rest of the game went for the road team. When you combine those three things, nothing good comes of it.
Luckily for the Oilers, you can lose a game 10–0 or 1–0, and it only counts as one loss in a seven-game series. Connor McDavid said it last night: “We haven’t shown our best yet.” Many of us would highly recommend they stop waiting until Game 4 to show their best, but nevertheless, at least they have a win heading into that game this time around.
A heavy loss like last night’s isn’t uncommon in the Stanley Cup Final. In the past seven Stanley Cup finals, the eventual champion has lost heavily in either Game 3 or Game 4 on four occasions. The most recent example was Edmonton destroying the Panthers 8–1 in Game 4 last year, then losing the series in seven games. Other examples include the Tampa Bay Lightning beating Colorado 6–2 in Game 3 of 2022, Boston beating St. Louis 7–2 in Game 3 before losing in seven games, and Nashville beating the Penguins 5–1 in 2017 but losing the series in six.
Terrible losses are going to happen from time to time, but it’s about how you respond. Game 4 takes place Thursday in Sunrise, and Edmonton is likely to make a few changes. Don’t be surprised to see Troy Stecher replace Mattias Ekholm, and perhaps even Jeff Skinner slot into the lineup. It might also be worth considering a spot for Vasily Podkolzin on the second line alongside Leon Draisaitl.
Game 3 was a disaster — but don’t panic. The Stanley Cup Final isn’t a best-of-three.
<hr />
<h2>Article Presented by The Alberta Teachers&#8217; Association</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176305" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/ATA-2025-SUMMER-Nation-727x404_v1.jpg" alt="" width="727" height="404" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/ATA-2025-SUMMER-Nation-727x404_v1.jpg 727w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/ATA-2025-SUMMER-Nation-727x404_v1-300x167.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px" />
Alberta spends the least per student on public education in Canada, leaving schools underfunded and in crisis. Overcrowded classrooms, unmet student needs, and dwindling supports are driving record numbers of teachers to leave the profession. As Albertans, we cannot ignore this neglect. Our children deserve better. It’s time to act—advocate for increased funding and demand answers from your MLA. Why does Alberta invest the least in its students? The excuses must stop. Stand up for our schools, support our educators, and help ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed. The future of education in Alberta depends on it. Visit <a href="http://www.stoptheexcuses.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.stoptheexcuses.ca/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749136640784000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1gmi3aqIXnAHKknK0OC3Fr">www.stoptheexcuses.ca</a>

<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-florida-panthers-hammer-edmonton-oilers-to-take-lead-stanley-cup-final">Game 3</a> of the Stanley Cup Final was a candidate for the worst game of the season by the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-florida-panthers-game-3-preview">Edmonton Oilers</a>.

Aside from the opening couple of shifts, the team failed to show up, and the result was as it should have been. Florida was perhaps even unfortunate not to post a shutout. Frustration may lead you to point fingers at certain players — likely Stuart Skinner — but last night was a disappointing team performance that one man can’t be blamed for.
The Oilers lost their structure, discipline and direction.
The actions in the third period are irrelevant to the overall issue of discipline. If you’re going down, take a few enemies with you. But the problems began in the first period. Edmonton took three penalties in the offensive zone and received a too-many-men call. What is going on? A team this deep into a playoff run, for the second consecutive season, has to understand the consequences.
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1932269343007735997
<h2 data-start="1064" data-end="1497">READ MORE ABOUT GAME 3...</h2>
<ul>
 	<li data-start="1064" data-end="1497"><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-florida-panthers-game-3-tactical-review">Oilers vs. Panthers – Game 3: A Tactical Review</a></li>
 	<li data-start="1064" data-end="1497"><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-outplayed-outhustled-outworked-florida-panthers-6-1-game-3-loss">Oilers were outplayed, outhustled, and outworked in 6-1 loss</a></li>
 	<li data-start="1064" data-end="1497"><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-lose-composure-game-3-loss-florida-panthers">Oilers lose their composure in Game 3 loss to Panthers</a></li>
 	<li data-start="1064" data-end="1497"><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/i-just-wish-they-had-been-calling-it-in-game-2edmonton-oilers-kris-knoblauch-upset-stanley-cup-final-officiating">Head coach Kris Knoblauch takes aim at Stanley Cup Final officiating</a></li>
</ul>
There's always the understanding from fans that penalties happen during battles, but eventually, you’ve got to recognize the situation and settle down. The Viktor Arvidsson penalty was the final blow — a clear flop from Sergei Bobrovsky — but Arvidsson has to avoid that. The power-play goal that followed ended up as the game-winner. If you go into the intermission only down 1–0, after an awful period, you’re shaping up all right.
Once you're in a hole against the Panthers, it's hard to dig your way out. Corey Perry got the early goal in the second period, which would typically ignite a team. However, it had almost the opposite effect on the Oilers. Bad turnovers, a lack of saves and no offence generated — that’s how the rest of the game went for the road team. When you combine those three things, nothing good comes of it.
Luckily for the Oilers, you can lose a game 10–0 or 1–0, and it only counts as one loss in a seven-game series. Connor McDavid said it last night: “We haven’t shown our best yet.” Many of us would highly recommend they stop waiting until Game 4 to show their best, but nevertheless, at least they have a win heading into that game this time around.
A heavy loss like last night’s isn’t uncommon in the Stanley Cup Final. In the past seven Stanley Cup finals, the eventual champion has lost heavily in either Game 3 or Game 4 on four occasions. The most recent example was Edmonton destroying the Panthers 8–1 in Game 4 last year, then losing the series in seven games. Other examples include the Tampa Bay Lightning beating Colorado 6–2 in Game 3 of 2022, Boston beating St. Louis 7–2 in Game 3 before losing in seven games, and Nashville beating the Penguins 5–1 in 2017 but losing the series in six.
Terrible losses are going to happen from time to time, but it’s about how you respond. Game 4 takes place Thursday in Sunrise, and Edmonton is likely to make a few changes. Don’t be surprised to see Troy Stecher replace Mattias Ekholm, and perhaps even Jeff Skinner slot into the lineup. It might also be worth considering a spot for Vasily Podkolzin on the second line alongside Leon Draisaitl.
Game 3 was a disaster — but don’t panic. The Stanley Cup Final isn’t a best-of-three.


<hr />

<h2>Article Presented by The Alberta Teachers' Association</h2>
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176305" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/ATA-2025-SUMMER-Nation-727x404_v1.jpg" alt="" width="727" height="404" />

Alberta spends the least per student on public education in Canada, leaving schools underfunded and in crisis. Overcrowded classrooms, unmet student needs, and dwindling supports are driving record numbers of teachers to leave the profession. As Albertans, we cannot ignore this neglect. Our children deserve better. It’s time to act—advocate for increased funding and demand answers from your MLA. Why does Alberta invest the least in its students? The excuses must stop. Stand up for our schools, support our educators, and help ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed. The future of education in Alberta depends on it. Visit <a href="http://www.stoptheexcuses.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.stoptheexcuses.ca/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749136640784000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1gmi3aqIXnAHKknK0OC3Fr">www.stoptheexcuses.ca</a>

Despite awful showing in Game 3, it isn’t time to panic about the Oilers

Oilers hoping lineup changes can give them ‘a boost’ in Game 4 against Panthers

Oilers vs. Panthers: Game 4 Information, Line Combinations, Starting Goaltenders, and More

Jeff Skinner and Troy Stecher to come in for Arvidsson and Klingberg in Game 4 shakeup

NHL Betting Preview (June 12): Panthers vs. Oilers Game 4 Predictions

New York Rangers Anaheim Ducks Chris Kreider

Recent articles from Liam Horrobin

Breaking News