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Watch: Nixed goal highlights Panthers' second-period struggles
Gustav Forsling. Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Disallowed goal highlights Panthers' second-period struggles in Game 6 vs. Oilers

The Florida Panthers aren't playing particularly well in Game 6, the team's third chance at hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup. They also aren't getting much luck, as a disallowed goal and several defensive breakdowns have left them entering the third period of the contest trailing the Edmonton Oilers, 3-0.

Already down by two goals following Adam Henrique's tally only 46 seconds into the second period, the Panthers appeared to gain momentum 10 ticks later when captain Aleksander Barkov scored, cutting the deficit in half. However, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch challenged that the play was offside and, after a review, officials agreed, disallowing the goal to preserve Edmonton's 2-0 advantage.

After being outplayed by the Oilers through much of the first period, the Panthers outshot Edmonton 7-2 in the second period. But unforced errors, a goal taken off the board early and goaltender Stuart Skinner's play took the wind out of Florida's sails. 

Skinner stayed perfect other than the disallowed goal, turning away an early period flurry to stifle the Panthers. Meanwhile, both Oilers' goals in the second period came off sloppy play on the Florida end.

Henrique's goal came after the Panthers' defense was late getting into position, turning what should've been an easy stop into a goal allowed. Then, late in the period, Edmonton's Ryan Nugent-Hopkins blocked a shot, flipping the puck up to Zach Hyman, who out-hustled two Florida defenders to score a back-breaking goal with 1:40 left. 

Through 40 minutes, the Panthers look like a beaten team — a far cry from the group that stormed out to a 3-0 series lead. They have 20 more minutes to right this ship, or they'll be headed back to Sunrise with the Cup again, facing the reality of being on the wrong side of NHL history.

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on Twitter at @mike__sb

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