One bounce. That’s all it took to turn what could’ve been a commanding 2-0 series lead into a long, frustrating flight to Florida with the Stanley Cup Final tied.
After clawing back from a two-goal deficit and forcing overtime with a gritty last-minute goal by Corey Perry, the Oilers were ultimately undone in double OT by Florida’s Brad Marchand — again. Yes, him.
Marchand, never one to shy away from the spotlight (or any other opportunity to insert himself), scored his second breakaway goal of the night — the winner — after a missed Edmonton chance turned into transition chaos. It capped a five-hour tilt that left Rogers Place groaning in disbelief and the Panthers grinning all the way back to the locker room.
“You put that shot on net and maybe we’re talking about a 2-0 lead,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch of Mattias Ekholm’s point blast that triggered the fatal counterattack. “But we’ve been here before.”
Indeed, the Oilers have taken their lumps in long playoff runs. And if there’s a silver lining, it’s that this group knows how to adjust. They’ve done it all postseason — and they’ll have to do it again.
Game 2 wasn’t a blowout or a no-show. It was a war of attrition, and Edmonton gave just about everything they had. But in the end, Marchand gave just a little more — and you don’t have to like it to admit it.
The series resumes Monday in Florida. The Oilers won’t dwell, but they’ll remember.
