Oilers Penalized 85 Minutes Lose Game 3 to Panthers in Heated Stanley Cup Final

Game 3 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers was marked by a dominant 6-1 victory for the Panthers and an unusually high number of penalties, with a combined 140 penalty minutes, the fourth-most in Stanley Cup Final history. The Oilers struggled significantly with discipline, accumulating 85 penalty minutes, which disrupted their gameplay and contributed to their defeat. Defenseman Jake Walman was fined $10,000 for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct in incidents involving Matthew Tkachuk and the Panthers' bench, highlighting the physical and heated nature of the contest. Edmonton players, including Evander Kane and Connor McDavid, expressed frustration with the officiating, feeling the referees unfairly targeted their team, which compounded the team's difficulties. Both Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch and goalie Stuart Skinner acknowledged that the penalties and ensuing chaos prevented the team from finding their rhythm and playing effectively. The Panthers' aggressive style and the Oilers' penalty issues have left Edmonton facing a tough deficit in the series, with Florida two wins away from their second consecutive championship.