Rodrigues scores twice as Panthers beat Oilers for 2-0 series lead in Stanley Cup final

Connor McDavid and his Oilers have confronted adversity all season.

They began the schedule an unpleasant 2-9-1. They trailed the Vancouver Canucks 3 times within the second spherical of the playoffs. They fell behind the Dallas Stars earlier than claiming the Western Convention crown.

Florida, nonetheless, is a special animal — and Edmonton has a deep gap to climb out of after heading north.

Evan Rodrigues scored twice within the third interval because the Panthers downed the Oilers 4-1 on Monday to take a 2-0 lead within the Stanley Cup remaining.

“We gotta be higher,” mentioned McDavid, who assisted on Mattias Ekholm’s purpose that gave Edmonton a 1-0 lead. “They went up a degree and we did not match it.”

WATCH l Rodrigues leads Panthers previous Oilers in Recreation 2:

The Oilers, who’ve scored simply as soon as within the sequence after being blanked 3-0 in Recreation 1 when Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky grabbed the headlines, will want a large push in opposition to the stout, suffocating Panthers to change into simply the sixth group in NHL historical past to hoist hockey’s holy grail after taking place 0-2 in a best-of-seven remaining.

“It is one other alternative for our group to return collectively and dig our manner out,” McDavid mentioned. “It is imagined to be arduous, it is imagined to be troublesome.

“I am excited to see what our group’s product of.”

Niko Mikkola and Aaron Ekblad, into an empty internet, additionally scored for Florida. Bobrovsky made 18 saves after stopping 32 pictures within the opener. Anton Lundell had two assists.

“We simply attempt to play the identical sport,” Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk mentioned. “Simply play actually arduous, play in your face, maintain the gaps good, play easy, transfer your toes, get some hits.”

Stuart Skinner stopped 25 pictures for Edmonton, which hosts Recreation 3 on Thursday.

“It isn’t supreme,” Oilers ahead Zach Hyman mentioned. “We have to deal with enterprise at dwelling.”

Rodrigues snapped a 1-1 tie at 3:11 of the third when he ripped his fifth purpose of the playoffs — and second of the sequence — on a shot that nicked Ekholm in entrance after defence companion Evan Bouchard put the puck proper on the winger’s stick.

Edmonton centre Leon Draisaitl was whistled for roughing on Florida captain Aleksander Barkov, who didn’t return, halfway by way of the interval, and the Panthers’ struggling energy play lastly broke by way of on the Oilers after 34 straight kills going all the best way again to the Vancouver sequence.

Bouchard’s powerful night time continued when he acquired beat alongside the boards and Lundell fed a go into the slot that Rodrigues redirected at 12:26.

“It is particular,” Rodrigues mentioned. “Attempting to embrace it. Attempting to remain within the second.”

McDavid had a breakaway with Edmonton and Florida enjoying 4-on-4 with below six minutes to go in regulation, however Bobrovsky made the save.

Ekblad iced it together with his first of the post-season into the empty internet with 2:28 left in regulation earlier than followers at Amerant Financial institution Enviornment chanted “We Need the Cup!” because the clock wound down.

“They’re doing job defending,” Draisaitl mentioned. “However we will do a greater job of making offence and being tougher on pucks.”

Florida is now a pair of wins from its first championship after shedding out within the 1996 remaining and once more final spring.

“I assumed it was a continuation of our third interval from Recreation 1,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice mentioned of the defensive efficiency. “The trouble was excellent.”

WATCH l Bobrovsky posts third profession playoff shutout as Panthers prime Oilers in Recreation 1:

Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky shuts out Oilers in Recreation 1 of Stanley Cup remaining

Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves for his third profession shutout within the playoffs. Panthers lead the Oilers 1-0 within the Stanley Cup remaining.

Edmonton ahead Warren Foegele was assessed a significant penalty and a sport misconduct for kneeing Panthers centre Eetu Luostarinen at 9:21 of the opening interval. Florida defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson was then whistled for tripping.

With the groups enjoying 4-on-4, Ekholm took a go from McDavid and fired Edmonton’s first shot by way of Bobrovsky’s five-hole for the Oilers’ first purpose of the sequence at 11:17.

Panthers defenceman Brandon Montour hit the crossbar on the following shift.

The Oilers doused the remainder of Foegele’s main and a Bouchard penalty that stretched from the primary to second interval to make it 33 straight kills.

Nurse harm in 1st interval

The Oilers misplaced Darnell Nurse (undisclosed damage) halfway by way of the primary after he took successful from Rodrigues. The defenceman went out for a few shifts the remainder of the night time, however was largely unavailable.

Florida evened issues 1-1 at 9:34 of the second when Mikkola fired previous Skinner’s glove for his second.

Bouchard hit one off the submit on an influence play and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins rang a puck off the crossbar shortly after the infraction expired.

Bouchard took one other penalty towards the top of the interval, however Edmonton’s kill as soon as once more did its job — together with an enormous cease from Skinner on Sam Bennett — to tie the 2001 St. Louis Blues for the third-longest streak in a single playoff.

Rodrigues, nonetheless, would finish that run within the third together with his second of the night time to ship the Oilers dwelling from South Florida in desperation mode.

“I am excited to see our group come collectively,” McDavid mentioned. “I am excited to see us battle by way of adversity and searching ahead to individuals doubting us once more.

“We’re good with our backs in opposition to the wall.”

That is precisely the place Edmonton stands two video games into the ultimate.