Aksel Kryhlmand
The game itself was a heated affair
Game 3 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers delivered high-stakes hockey, and high drama, as tensions exploded late in the third period of a penalty-ridden contest. With Florida cruising toward a dominant win, frustrations boiled over, resulting in multiple ejections, including Oilers forward Kasperi Kapanen, who received more than just boos on his way off the ice.
A Cupful of Chaos
As Kapanen exited following a game misconduct, he was greeted with the expected hostility from Panthers fans. But amid the jeers and middle fingers, one supporter appeared to dump a beer, or attempt to, on the Oilers winger as he made his way down the tunnel. The moment, captured on video.
While spirited fan engagement is nothing new in playoff hockey, this incident clearly crossed a line. Tossing beverages at players is not only unsportsmanlike but also a potential safety risk, and it’s likely the NHL and Panthers security will take a closer look at the incident.
Penalty Mayhem and Bad Blood
The game itself was a heated affair, with Edmonton racking up 85 penalty minutes, a number more common in 1980s bench-clearing brawls than the modern era. Florida capitalized on the chaos, tightening their grip on the series with a confident and physical performance.
Much of the bad blood can be traced back to last year’s seven-game epic between these two clubs, a series that saw Edmonton fall just short of glory. Game 3 made it clear that the animosity remains, with both teams unwilling to back down even when the result was all but decided.
Finals are over
Florida seals second straight title with 5-1 rout over Oilers in Game 6. The Florida Panthers are once again on top of the hockey world.
With a historic four-goal performance from Sam Reinhart, the Panthers surged to a dominant 5-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday the 17th in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. The win secured Florida’s second consecutive championship and marked just the second title in franchise history.
Reinhart’s Four-Goal Masterclass Makes History
Reinhart wasted no time setting the tone, capitalizing on a defensive turnover just five minutes into the game with a slick, off-balance finish. He would go on to etch his name into NHL lore
- First hat trick in Panthers playoff history
- First four-goal game in a Stanley Cup Final since 1957
- Just the sixth player ever to score four in a Final game
Reinhart’s third came late in the second off Aleksander Barkov’s skate, and he buried two empty-net goals in the third period to seal the rout and his place in the record books.
Panthers Pounce Early and Often
Florida’s attack was relentless from the opening puck drop. After Reinhart opened the scoring, Matthew Tkachuk made it 2-0 before the first intermission, finding himself wide open and rifling one past the Oilers’ netminder.
By the end of the second period, tensions flared, but Florida had firm control. They took a 3-0 lead into the third, and with Edmonton chasing shadows, Reinhart struck again, twice, to blow the game wide open.
Canada’s Title Drought Continues
For Edmonton, this marks a crushing end to their playoff run and extends Canada’s Stanley Cup drought to 32 years. The last Canadian team to win it all remains the 1993 Montreal Canadiens.
The Oilers, who last won the Cup in 1990, fell to the Panthers in the Final for the second straight year. Despite high hopes and strong stretches, they once again leave empty-handed.
Sam Bennett Takes Conn Smythe
While Reinhart delivered the game of a lifetime, it was Sam Bennett who claimed the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. The power forward notched 15 goals across the postseason, five of which came in the Final. His relentless forechecking and clutch scoring were crucial throughout the Panthers’ run.