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Paul Maurice Announces Crucial Lineup Change as Panthers Brace for Pivotal Game 3 vs. Oilers

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jun 9, 2025 12:41 PM ET

The Florida Panthers have a chance to go up 2-1 in the Stanley Cup Finals on home ice, and ahead of Game 3, they've made a surprising lineup change.

The Stanley Cup Finals have been thrilling thus far, with the series tied at 1-1 heading back to Florida on the back of two thrilling overtime battles, with Brad Marchand picking up the key winner for the Panthers in Game 2.

Now, Game's 3 and 4 will be on Florida's home ice, as the team look to take advantage and push the series to 3-1 at home, but against a red-hot, loaded Oilers team, it's safe to say that things aren't going to be easy.

Now, with Game 3 just a matter of hours away, the Panthers have made a change to their lineup, as AJ Greer, who has been injured for the past few Florida games is set to slide back into the lineup and get his first taste of Stanley Cup Finals action for this team.

In his first ever post-season appearance in the NHL, Greer has appeared in 12 games for the Panthers thus far, tallying 2 goals and 3 points with a +0 differential, and while he's not the biggest name for this Panthers squad, he's led what has been a very effective fourth line for them in the post-season thus far.

If the Panthers are to take down these Oilers however, it's going to be their superstars up front that will need to get the job done, but if Greer and the fourth line of Tomas Nosek and Jonah Gadjovich can be effective, it gives this team a much better chance.

With Game 3 at home, the Panthers are in a prime position to put themselves in a commanding lead in this series, and with Greer back, look for this one to be just as thrilling as the first two games of this series have been.

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

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