Florida Panthers Best Oilers Again in Stanley Cup Final Rematch

SUNRISE — The Edmonton Oilers were back at Amerant Bank Arena Thursday for the first time since they lost to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final back on June 24.

There was nothing, really, on the line Thursday — but the game was almost as tight.

In the end, Carter Verhaeghe’s goal in the third lead Florida to a 4-3 win.

Florida went 2-0 against Edmonton this season.

The Panthers have won two straight and seven of their past nine; Edmonton has lost five straight.

The two teams traded leads — with Florida going up 1-0 on a goal from Uvis Balinskis and 2-1 on one from Anton Lundell.

The Oilers were able to tie it both times, with Brett Kulak getting one in the first, and Leon Draisaitl making it 2-2 in the second.

Nate Schmidt gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead at 13:51 of the third.

NOTES: OILERS @ PANTHERS

• Lundell ended with three points (goal, two assists) for his first multi-point game since having a pair of assists in Edmonton on Dec. 16.
• In 18 regular-season games against the Panthers, Draisail has 19 points (eight goals) and has a point in 15 of those 18 games. Draisaitl has at least a point in all nine (regular-season) games in Sunrise with four goals and six assists.
• Draisaitl’s seven-game goal streak ties a career high and is tied with two players (Filip Forsberg and Jake Guentzel) for longest this season.
• Connor McDavid has at least a point in each of his previous six games played against the Panthers for a total of 12 (three goals).

HOW THEY SCORED

• Panthers 1, Oilers 0 (12:28 1st): Uvis Balinskis flies a shot from the top of the left circle that appears to clip an Edmonton defender on its way past Stuart Skinner.
• Oilers 1, Panthers 1 (14:41 1st): Brett Kulak beats Sergei Bobrovsky 5-hole with a shot from the left circle.
• Panthers 2, Oilers 1 (15:30 2nd): Aaron Ekblad lets one fly from the top of the right circle — and his shot hits the right skate of Anton Lundell and through.
• Oilers 2, Panthers 2 (17:30 2nd): Leon Draisaitl gets his league-leading 44th goal, picking up a puck in the neutral zone, holds off Gus Forsling and squeezes one in shortside.
• Panthers 3, Oilers 2 (11:08 3rd): Nate Schmidt fires one up from 10 feet out and goes above Skinner’s glove for Florida’s third lead of the game.
• Panthers 4, Oilers 2 (13:51 3rd): Carter Verhaeghe has his initial shot blocked but sticks with the play and scores on the doorstep to give his Panthers some breathing room.
• Panthers 4, Oilers 3 (16:35 3rd): With Skinner on the bench, Edmonton pulled within a goal after Zach Hyman knocked in a shot from Connor McDavid.

FHN’S 3 STARS OF THE GAME

• 1. Anton Lundell, Florida
• 2. Carter Verhaeghe, Florida
• 3. Nate Schmidt, Florida

ON DECK: GAME No. 61

CALGARY FLAMES at FLORIDA PANTHERS

• When: Saturday, 3 p.m.
• Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
• Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FtL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SWFla)
• Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
• Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• Last Season: Even 1-1 
• This Season (Flames Lead 1-0) — At Calgary: Flames 3, Panthers 0 (Dec. 14). At Florida: Saturday.
• All-Time Regular Season Series: Calgary leads 26-12-3, 3 ties
• Up Next for the Panthers: Monday vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.