The Florida Panthers won the opening game for the Stanley Cup. © APA / JOEL AUERBACH

Fight for Stanley Cup: Panthers win opener

The Edmonton Oilers lost the first game of the NHL final series against the Florida Panthers.

June 09, 2024

From: cst/dpa

On Saturday (local time in the USA), the Oilers lost 0-3 (0-1, 0-1, 0-1) in their first appearance in the fight for the Stanley Cup. For the first time in these playoffs, the Canadian team remained scoreless.

The Oilers shot at the Panthers' goal 32 times, but the visitors were always denied by Florida goalkeeper Sergei Bobrowski. “There were a few things that made us positive: We created good chances to score, but we had no luck in front of their goal,” said Oilers star Connor McDavid, who tried the Panthers goal six times.

Connor McDavid and goalie Stuart Skinner (r.) had to admit defeat in Game 1. © APA / CODIE MCLACHLAN

For the hosts, Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues scored at the start of the first and second periods, and Eetu Luostarinen scored into an empty net with five seconds left in the game when the Oilers substituted a sixth field player for their goalkeeper. The second game of the best-of-seven series will take place again on Monday in Sunrise. The first team to win four wins the Stanley Cup.