Stanley Cup Finals: Oilers Can’t Beat Sergei Bobrovsky, Panthers Win Game 1

The Edmonton Oilers did everything they could to beat Sergei Bobrovsky in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, but the Florida Panthers goalie put on a show in front of a sold-out Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday night in a 3-0 victory.

Bobrovsky stopped all 32 shots he faced, frustrating an Oilers team that averaged 3.5 goals per game en route to the Cup final.

Despite Edmonton’s best efforts, including 32 scoring chances and three power play opportunities, it wasn’t just pucks that ended up behind Bobrovsky. Meanwhile, the Panthers took advantage of their chances and capitalized on them while exposing the Oilers’ defensive shortcomings.

Edmonton’s defensive woes didn’t take long to come. Carter Verhaeghe opened the scoring 3:59 into the game after finishing a perfectly executed Panthers transition from outside their own end. A lack of communication left Oilers defenseman Cody Ceci out of center to defend Aleksander Barkov, leaving Verhaeghe exposed in the zone with Mattias Ekholm slow to backcheck.

One of the Panthers’ strengths is their forecheck, which allowed Florida to create opportunities against the Oilers’ blue line.

This was on display during the Panthers’ second goal, as Sam Bennett put the puck in the corner, beat Ceci to it and passed it to a speedy Evan Rodrigues to make it 2-0 early in the second period.

Eetu Luostarinen scored the ’empty net insurance’ to decide the game for the Panthers.

Defensive duo Ceci and Darnell Nurse struggled in Game 1. The Oilers have been outscored 12-5 when they’re on the ice together this postseason, including both Panthers goals.

The Panthers played with fire a bit, giving three chances to the Oilers’ power play, which had been successful 37.3 percent of the time before Game 1. But Bobrovsky remained a brick wall and the Florida penalty kill helped Edmonton stay in the game.

Oilers have no answers for Bobrovsky

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch has adjustments to make ahead of Game 2 on Monday, but the biggest one is finding Bobrovsky’s weak spots after a night in which he made 32 saves.

The Oilers found holes to create their 18 dangerous scoring chances. Adam Henrique and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins both had first-period breaks, but couldn’t beat Bobrovsky.

Offensively, it wasn’t a bad game for the Oilers. They dominated possession and scoring opportunities at 5-on-5 for two periods. In the third period, while they pressed to create everything they could to get on the scoreboard, they struggled, managing just seven shots in the final 20 minutes.

Bobrovsky was simply too good in the first game and a win in the opening game of the Stanley Cup Final is usually a good omen for the winning team.

According to the NHL, teams that win the first game of the best-of-seven Cup Finals have an all-time record of 64-20 (.762) and 51-10 (.836) when they win the first game at home.

The Panthers now head into Monday’s second game at Amerant Bank Arena with a 1-0 lead.

2024 Stanley Cup Finals Schedule (Panthers Lead Series 1-0)

Game 1: Panthers 3, Oilers 0
Game 2: Oilers at Panthers | Monday, June 10, 8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)
Game 3: Panthers at Oilers | Thursday, June 13, 8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)
Game 4: Panthers at Oilers | Saturday, June 15, 8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)
*Game 5: Oilers at Panthers | Tuesday, June 18, 8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)
*Game 6: Panthers at Oilers | Friday, June 21, 8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)
*Game 7: Oilers at Panthers | Monday, June 24, 8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)

(*If necessary)