NHL Playoffs 2025: Panthers Take Game 5 Lead Over Oilers in Stanley Cup Final

The Florida Panthers are just one win away from hoisting the Stanley Cup after dominating the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in Game 5.

Brad Marchand put on a show that hockey fans won’t soon forget. The 37-year-old veteran scored two highlight-reel goals, bringing his playoff total to 10 – with six of those coming in the Finals alone.

Here’s something pretty amazing: Marchand just joined Mario Lemieux as the only players in modern NHL history to score five or more goals in two different Stanley Cup Finals.

The Panthers’ defense was absolutely suffocating. They made life miserable for Edmonton’s superstars, keeping Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl practically invisible for most of the night. McDavid managed to sneak one goal in, but that was about it.

Sergei Bobrovsky came up big when he needed to, though Florida’s defense didn’t give him too much work. The atmosphere at Rogers Place was electric, but the Panthers didn’t seem fazed at all.

The Oilers tried to mount a comeback in the third period with a couple of goals, but it never felt like they were really in it.

Now Edmonton’s got their backs against the wall. They pulled off one miracle already with their Game 4 comeback, but they’ll need another one on Tuesday when they head to Florida with their season on the line.

The Panthers smell blood in the water. They’re one home win away from their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, and you can bet they don’t want this series heading back to Edmonton for Game 7.

Stanley Cup Final Schedule

Game 6: Tuesday, June 17 at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
*Game 7: Friday, June 20 at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV (if necessary)

[Previous playoff results and schedule details follow…]