Both Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues and defender Niko Mikkola have scored more goals in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final than the combined total of Edmonton Oilers players Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Zach Hyman.
Thanks to two quiet members of their bench, the Panthers defeated the Oilers 4-1 on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Rodrigues ended up with three goals in the Final after scoring twice. Mikkola scored his sole career postseason goal in the second period, tying the game with a crucial goal.
It’s unique. You make an effort to accept it and be present. Two significant victories for our squad. Furthermore, Rodrigues said, “I believe we’ve already turned the page and are getting ready for Game 3.”
Coach Paul Maurice of Florida witnessed yet another outstanding defensive performance from his team as they gave up nothing against the highly anticipated Edmonton power play, did not allow a single high-danger shot attempt during a 5-on-5, prevented any goals from Edmonton’s stars, and relied on goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (18 saves) as their last line of defence.
But Rodrigues and Mikkola gave Maurice the goals he needed.
“Our games are close. We’ve always had close, challenging games. We don’t always get points quickly. That has nothing to do with talent or skill,” the coach said.
The thirty-year-old Rodrigues, a nine-year NHL veteran, inked a four-year, $12 million contract with the Panthers last summer as a free agency. Throughout his career, he was a darling of analytics for the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Colorado Avalanche. This season, in 80 games, he recorded 12 goals and 27 assists for the Panthers.
With a ball from centre Sam Bennett behind the net, he scored a one-timer past goalie Stuart Skinner to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead in the first game.
Just four shifts into the game, Rodrigues got Game 2 underway by forechecking Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse, who instantly grasped his side in distress. He had just three shifts left for the remainder of the night, but Nurse would return in the second period.
At 3:11 of the third quarter, Rodrigues scored his first goal of the game to break the 1-1 deadlock, and it’s possible that this goal was influenced by Nurse’s injury.
Due to Nurse’s injury, Edmonton defenceman Evan Bouchard had 30:40 of action in Game 2. But the normally reliable defender made an obvious error as he tried to move the puck out of the Edmonton zone and it ended up right on Rodrigues’ stick blade.
“I made a forecheck purchase. attempted to write a play. put myself into a bit of a bind trying to find a play instead of moving my feet,” Rodrigues said. “After that, the puck returned to me, and I resolved not to make the same error again. I shot it kind of on net, and it passed through a few of legs. Naturally, I’m thrilled to see it accepted.”
On a power play at 12:26 of the third, he scored his second goal. Once again, Bouchard was the victim of a goal that was crucial insurance, this time from an Anton Lundell pass to Rodrigues, who flicked the ball past Skinner.
That put an end to the Oilers’ run of 34 consecutive victories on penalty kills, which was tied for the third-longest run in Stanley Cup playoff history with the 2001 St. Louis Blues.
In the Stanley Cup Final, Rodrigues became the first player in Panthers history to score two goals. His three goals in the championship match matched his tally from the season’s first three rounds.
Rodrigues’ play earned him a spot on the Panthers’ top line with Sam Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov. Carter Verhaeghe, the team’s winger, “kind of needs to change your address every once in a while,” according to Maurice.
Rodrigues was commended by his teammates as well.
“I’m extremely glad for him. It’s great. pleased with him. He is an expert game reader. Winger Matthew Tkachuk stated, “He’s a really smart player, and I’m really happy to see him get rewarded right now.”
Moving forward Kyle Okposo shared his perspective.
He described Rodrigues as “a bit of a chameleon”. “I think if you look at the teams that he’s played on and who he’s played with, it’s not an easy thing to go play with some of the top players in the world.”
Mikkola’s goal that tied the score was quite an experience.
With Edmonton’s Evander Kane pressing him, the 6-foot-4 defender had the ball in his own zone. Spinning around, Mikkola threw the puck—but right at Bobrovsky, his own goalie, who quickly removed it. Mikkola acknowledged the error with a shake of his head and continued skating up the rink.
“I attempted to pass from defender to defenseman. “It was fortunate for us that Bobby was awake,” Mikkola said after the game. “And the rest was nice.”
Shortly after, Mikkola, who was behind, received a feed from Lundell as he stickhandled in the Oilers’ zone and scored a one-time goal past Skinner to knot the game at one.
“Even if we were down one goal, everybody was calm and trusting the process,” Mikkola said. “I got fortunate a little bit. Completed the task at hand.”
The 28-year-old Mikkola signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract, giving general manager Bill Zito another coup in free agency. He plays a significant role in the Panthers’ 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final, almost a year later.
Game 3 will take place in Edmonton on Thursday.
Only five teams have won the Stanley Cup after losing the first two games since the tournament’s original seven-game format in 1939.
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Florida Panthers dominate the Stanley Cup Final, leading 2-0.
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