The Florida Panthers have drawn first blood in the NHL Stanley Cup Final.
Carter Verhaeghe scored the opening goal on the Panthers’ first shot of the game en route to a 3-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena.
Evan Rodrigues scored his fourth of the playoffs to make it a 2-0 game in the second period on a dump-and-chase play that fooled Oilers’ defencemen Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci. Rodrigues was left all alone in front to send the puck soaring over goaltender Stuart Skinner’s shoulder.
Forward Eetu Luostarinen scored an empty net goal late in the third period to make it a 3-0 final.
Game 2 of the seven-game series goes Monday in Sunrise, FL at 6pm.
