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

READ MORE ABOUT GAME 3…

• Oilers vs. Panthers – Game 3: A Tactical Review
• Oilers were outplayed, outhustled, and outworked in 6-1 loss
• Oilers lose their composure in Game 3 loss to Panthers
• Head coach Kris Knoblauch takes aim at Stanley Cup Final officiating

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.