2024 Stanley Cup Final: Evan Rodrigues scores two goals as Panthers defeat Oilers in Game 2

Panthers take 2-0 series lead after beating Oilers, 4-1

The Florida Panthers have secured a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final. On Monday, veteran forward Evan Rodrigues tallied the go-ahead goal early in the third period to lead the Panthers to a 4-1 win against the visiting Edmonton Oilers in Game 2.

Just 3:11 into the third period, Rodrigues sent a scorching shot on net that got past the blocker of Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner. He had initially turned the puck over in the offensive zone, but Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard gave the puck right back to Rodrigues to make the goal possible.

Rodrigues ended up adding an insurance goal at the 12:26 mark of the third period. He was able to deflect a pass from forward Anton Lundell into the net to extend Florida's lead to 3-1.

Rodrigues has tallied goals in back-to-back games to start off the Stanley Cup Final. The 30-year old signed a four-year, $12 million contract with Florida in the offseason after spending the 2022-23 campaign with the Colorado Avalanche, and has proved to be a massive acquisition for the Panthers thus far.

Despite being severely outshot in the first period, the Oilers managed to get on the scoreboard first. 

In a four-on-four scenario, Edmonton star Connor McDavid got the odd-man rush started in his own zone and defenseman Mattias Ekholm found himself leading a three-on-one in the offensive zone. Ekholm elected to keep the puck himself, and ripped a shot that Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky couldn't stop from going through his five-hole.

For the second consecutive game, the game's first goal came on a team's first shot on goal.

Midway through the second period, the Panthers tied the game with a goal coming courtesy of their blue line. Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola was able to beat Skinner's glove hand off of a stellar drop pass from teammate Anton Lundell to tie the game at 1.

Entering Game 2, Mikkola had registered just a goal and two assists during the postseason, and hadn't scored since Game 5 of the Florida's opening-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

As has been a theme throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Bobrovsky proved to be strong in the crease yet again. The Panthers goalie stopped 18 of the 19 shots that he faced, and has surrendered only one goal in the first two games of the series.

[Jun 10, 2024 at 9:04 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

End of 1st Period: Oilers 1, Panthers 0

The Panthers looked like they could be taking an early lead following a Warren Foegele match penalty for kneeing Eetu Luostarinen. However, Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson committed a tripping penalty, and the Oilers ended up taking advantage in a four-on-four scenario. The Oilers found the back of the net on an odd-man rush when defenseman Mattias Ekholm sent a shot that just got through the five-hole of Sergei Bobrovsky. The Oilers got outshot 9-4 in the opening period, but take a 1-0 lead into the locker room after scoring on their first shot-on-goal.

[Jun 10, 2024 at 8:55 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

The Oilers end up killing off the five-minute power-play from the Warren Foegele major. Oliver Ekman-Larsson obviously took some of that time off due to his tripping infraction. 

[Jun 10, 2024 at 8:52 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

The Panthers will have 1:22 of power-play time after the Oliver Ekman-Larsson penalty expires. The Oilers are being outshot 8-1, but somehow have the 1-0 lead in the early stages of Game 2.

[Jun 10, 2024 at 8:49 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

The Oilers find the back of the net for the first time in the series. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm began the three-on-one and elected to keep the puck himself. Ekholm rips a shot that Sergei Bobrovsky gets a piece of, but it trickles over the goal line. Oilers score on their first shot-on-goal.

[Jun 10, 2024 at 8:48 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

Oliver Ekman-Larsson gets whistled for tripping, so we'll have some 4-on-4 action for the next two minutes.

[Jun 10, 2024 at 8:43 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

Warren Foegele has been awarded a five-minute major for kneeing. It'll be a match penalty and the Oilers are now going to be shorthanded. Quite the development in the opening period. Luostarinen suffered a broken leg last seasson and ended up missing the Stanley Cup Final.

[Jun 10, 2024 at 8:41 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

We have a powder keg on our hands at Amerant Bank Arena after Eetu Luostarinen was hit by Warren Foegele. Foegele is getting a minor at the very least for the hit. Foegele appeared to extend his leg out and didn't really get any of Luostarinen's body.

[Jun 10, 2024 at 8:38 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

The Oilers failed to register a shot-on-goal on that power-play after going 0-for-3 on the man advantage in Game 1. Meanwhile, the Panthers have killed off 36 of their last 38 penalties. Just a suffocating display on the penalty kill.

[Jun 10, 2024 at 8:33 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

The Oilers will get the first power-play opportunity of Game 2. Sam Bennett gets the gate for tripping, and Edmonton will head to the man advantage.

[Jun 10, 2024 at 8:32 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

The Panthers have looked like the better team out of the gate. Florida has been relentless on the forecheck and are making life extremely difficult for Edmonton. The Oilers have yet to register a shot-on-goal and haven't had many rushes into the offensive zone either.

[Jun 10, 2024 at 8:29 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

While it didn't end in a scoring chance, Connor McDavid just stick-handled his way through the Panthers defense. McDavid slid a pass across the slot to Zach Hyman, but it's a tad wide. Still downright impressive.

[Jun 10, 2024 at 8:28 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

The Panthers have controlled the possession in the opening three minutes, and have only attempted five shots. Still, the Oilers didn't surrender a goal on the Panthers' first shot, so it's a win. I'm expecting a much more competitive contest in Game 2.

[Jun 10, 2024 at 8:22 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

Game 2 is officially underway in South Florida. The Panthers are looking to grab a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final, while the Oilers are attempting to even the series. Florida is 4-0 all-time when holding a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A ton of pressure will be on Edmonton tonight.