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Kris Knoblauch Fires Warning Shot at NHL and Panthers After Failed Challenge on Sam Bennett

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Jack Sutherland | Last updated Jun 5, 2025 8:41 AM ET

Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch fired a warning shot at the National Hockey League and the Panthers after their failed challenge as part of their 4-3 OT win in Game 1.

The Edmonton Oilers came out on top in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final , 4-3 in OT to take a 1-0 series lead, an advantage they did not have last year over the Florida Panthers.

There was a bit of controversy in the opening period after a deflection goal by Sam Bennett was allowed to stand despite his being firmly in the crease, though replays showed that he appeared to have been tripped by defensemen Brett Kulak when Carter Verhaeghe's shot deflected off him.

The Oilers lost the challenge and were issued a penalty for delay of the game, and Florida's Brad Marchand scored seconds later to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead.

After the 4-3 OT win, Knoblauch said that even though the challenge didn't go their way and cost them a PPG against, he'd still have done it.

I would challenge that any day. Actually, I challenged it, I was on the bench and I was even looking at it again. I was getting ready for the next lines, and I see the player fall in. I was told he was tripped.
If that play happened again, I would challenge it. What I've seen in the NHL this year on the challenges for goaltender interference, I had a lot of confidence and would challenge that again.

Skinner would later say he felt he had no opportunity to make the save.

My vantage point - in the moment, anyways - I had no chance to make a save. I always think I have some sort of chance to make a save, but in that scenario, there wasn't really anything I could have done. The guy was right on me. I couldn't do anything, so I just thought, 'Oh, it's an easy challenge, no goal.'
Then I talked to the ref, and he obviously said that he tripped over our guys' stick and that's kind of what happened.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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