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Oilers Raise Concerns About Officiating and Panthers' Actions on Stuart Skinner

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jun 9, 2025 6:57 AM ET

As the Stanley Cup Final heads to Sunrise, FL, tied 1–1, frustration is growing in the Edmonton Oilers’ camp over repeated contact with goaltender Stuart Skinner.

After two incidents involving Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett in the crease, Edmonton’s defensemen are openly questioning how much physicality is too much and where the NHL will set the line.

Bennett was involved in separate collisions with Skinner in Games 1 and 2, and he comes with a track record this postseason after elbowing Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz.

Edmonton challenged the Game 1 goal unsuccessfully, and though Bennett received a goalie interference penalty in Game 2, the Oilers still feel the standards remain unclear.

"He's a very underrated physical player for not being maybe a huge defenceman. That's a big element of his game. He's got the skills... He's a really good two-way defenceman & he's fit right in with us."

Mattias Ekholm on Jake Walman.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOIlers pic.twitter.com/9NlBFX6kJG
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 8, 2025

"You can accidentally drop into (Skinner), but, at one point, enough’s got to be enough," Mattias Ekholm said. "I was very surprised the goal in Game 1 stood.

"But it was good on the refs that they called Bennett on that play [in Game 2]."

Skinner briefly required medical attention after the Game 2 collision, but he was able to finish the game, and the Oilers didn’t retaliate.

"Being a leader is understanding the situation," Ekholm said about the lack of a physical response by the Oilers. "Not doing that—we actually scored on that power play, which we probably wouldn’t have on a four-on-four situation.

"It’s a fine line. We don’t want to take punishment from anybody. I’m not saying that. But you’ve got to read the situation and be cognizant of, ‘Has there been a penalty called? Has there not? What can help our team the most?’"

Evan Bouchard also acknowledged the challenges of policing the crease while avoiding penalties themselves.

"There’s definitely a fine line," Bouchard said. "They definitely do like to teeter with it."

Bennett, meanwhile, didn’t believe the Game 2 penalty against him was the right call by the officials.

“I was pushed, and then I think the goalie kicked out my heel,” Bennett said. “So, I didn’t agree with that one, but I’ll move on from that.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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