Just minutes after keeping his legs warm on the exercise bike, Brad Marchand was mobbed at center ice, the unlikely hero of a dramatic Game 2. With 8:05 gone in the second overtime, the veteran forward buried the game-winner to lift the Florida Panthers past the Edmonton Oilers, 5-4.
The win came after an emotional rollercoaster. Florida had taken the lead twice, only for Edmonton to claw back, including a stunning equalizer by Corey Perry with just 18 seconds left in regulation—the latest game-tying goal in Cup Final history.
“They’re very intense games,” Marchand said, according to NHL.com. “The energy in this building is pretty incredible. Just the intensity of the games, it’s exciting to be a part of.”
Marchand’s breakaway ends a thriller
The decisive play started with a missed point shot by Mattias Ekholm that ricocheted to the opposite side of the ice. Anton Lundell pounced, launching a perfect pass to Marchand, who slipped behind Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard for a clean breakaway. With a backhand finish between Stuart Skinner’s pads, he sealed the game and his fifth career playoff OT goal.
“He’s a gamer. He’s a competitor,” said Seth Jones. “He brings so much energy to our team on and off the ice, and you saw that tonight.”
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Series heads to Florida tied 1-1
The Panthers got contributions across the board: Marchand scored twice, Sam Bennett netted his 13th of the playoffs, and Sergei Bobrovsky turned away 42 shots. Edmonton had goals from Perry, Draisaitl, Bouchard and Evander Kane, but couldn’t close it out despite three assists from Connor McDavid. Game 3 is set for Monday night at Amerant Bank Arena, with the series now wide open and momentum up for grabs.
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