Oilers vs. Panthers score, highlights: Florida takes Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final with shutout of Edmonton

The Panthers scored a goal in each period while Sergei Bobrovsky continued his incredible run in net

The Florida Panthers have struck first in the Stanley Cup Final. With Sergei Bobrovsky's spectacular goaltending on full display, the Panthers gritted out a 3-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers to take a 1-0 series lead.

Bobrovsky notched his second shutout of the playoffs, and it was a masterpiece. The Florida netminder made 33 saves against one of the most dangerous forward groups in the NHL, and many of those saves came on high-danger scoring chances.

In the first period, Bobrovsky turned away Adam Henrique and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on a breakaway. In the second, Bobrovsky put on a penalty-killing clinic by making one show-stopping save after the next.

Because of Bobrovsky's excellence, the Panthers didn't need to generate much offense, but they did capitalize on the few chances they got. In the first period, Aleksander Barkov caught the Oilers a step behind in transition, and he found Carter Verhaeghe for a goal off the rush. That tally was Verhaeghe's 10th of the postseason, which leads the team.

In the second period, Sam Bennett conducted a forechecking masterclass by outmuscling Oilers defenseman Cody Ceci below the goal line. As soon as he got possession of the puck, Bennett slipped a slick pass to Evan Rodrigues, who fired a quick shot past Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner to double the lead.

That was more run support than Bobrovsky needed, and the Panthers went into lockdown mode in the third period. The Oilers weren't able to create many quality chances in the final 20 minutes, and Florida held on for the win as Eetu Luostarinen buried an empty-net goal with four seconds left to really ice it away

The Oilers will aim to tie the series in Game 2 on Monday night, and they'll have to hope that Bobrovsky looks somewhat mortal in that one.

[Jun 8, 2024 at 11:00 pm ET · Austin Nivison]

Final: Panthers 3, Oilers 0

Sergei Bobrovsky was the story of this one. His 33-save shutout allowed the Panthers to overcome an otherwise underwhelming performance. Florida only managed to get 18 shots on goal, but they were very opportunistic. Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues had the five-on-five tallies for the Panthers, and Eetu Luostarinen capped the night off with an empty-net goal.

[Jun 8, 2024 at 9:21 pm ET · Austin Nivison]

The second period has begin in Sunrise, and the Oilers still have 1:52 of power play time. We'll see if the best power play in the NHL can even this thing up.

[Jun 8, 2024 at 9:19 pm ET · Austin Nivison]

In the first period, the Oilers generated 1.27 expected goals, according to Natural Stat Trick. The Panthers created just 0.34 expected goals. That isn't a winning formula for Florida, and Edmonton just needs to stick with its game plan. Connor McDavid was all over the place, and Oilers getting clean looks at Bobrovsky left and right.

[Jun 8, 2024 at 9:23 pm ET · Austin Nivison]

End of 1st Period: Panthers 1, Oilers 0

Carter Verhaeghe gave the Panthers an early lead in this game, but the Oilers were the better team for most of that first period. Edmonton generating high-danger chances off the forecheck and in transition, including a pair of breakaways, but Bobrovsky was excellent between the pipes for Florida. The Oilers will begin the second period on the power play after a late high-sticking infraction by Verhaeghe.

[Jun 8, 2024 at 8:55 pm ET · Austin Nivison]

Now Ryan Nugent-Hopkins gets a breakaway, and once again, Bobrovsky kicks out his left pad to make the save. Bobrosvky has been excellent in the early going, but I can't say I love the Panthers' strategy of giving the Oilers one breakaway after another.

[Jun 8, 2024 at 8:51 pm ET · Austin Nivison]

Adam Henrique gets sprung for a clean breakaway, but Bobrovsky flashes out the pad to make the save. It was a perfect pass from Mattias Janmark to send Henrique in all alone. Shortly after that missed opportunity, Gustav Forsling trips Connor McDavid, and the Oilers will get their first man advantage of the night.

[Jun 8, 2024 at 8:44 pm ET · Austin Nivison]

The Oilers just killed their 29th straight penalty, and they did so thanks to a big save by Stuart Skinner on Carter Verhaeghe, who was looking for his second goal of the period.

[Jun 8, 2024 at 8:38 pm ET · Austin Nivison]

The Panthers will get the first power play of the series. Mattias Ekholm is called for tripping, and he doesn't like it. In spite of Ekholm's protest, Florida will get the chance to double its lead on the man advantage.

[Jun 8, 2024 at 8:35 pm ET · Austin Nivison]

Connor McDavid just nearly tied the game with an excellent solo effort. McDavid flies by Aaron Ekblad and powers his way to the net, but Sergei Bobrovsky closed the five hole just in time.

[Jun 8, 2024 at 8:32 pm ET · Austin Nivison]

1st Period: Panthers 1, Oilers 0

The Panthers get an odd-man rush, and Aleksander Barkov places a perfect pass on the stick of Carter Verhaeghe, the team's leading playoff goal-scorer. Verhaeghe doesn't miss, and he sneaks a shot under the arm of Stuart Skinner to give Florida an early lead.

[Jun 8, 2024 at 8:27 pm ET · Austin Nivison]

Just 20 seconds into the game, Sergei Bobrovsky flubs a clearing attempt right to the Oilers, and he has to make an early save to bail himself out. Close call early for Florida — and perhaps some jitters from Bobrovsky.