The Edmonton Oilers continued their downward spiral on Thursday (Feb. 27), as they were beaten 4-3 by the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise.
It was the fifth consecutive regulation defeat overall for the Oilers, their longest losing streak in over three years. Edmonton is 0-4-0 on the road coming out of the NHL’s schedule break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Related: Panthers Use Strong Third Period to Defeat Oilers 4-3 in Stanley Cup Final Rematch
Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Brett Kulak scored for the Oilers, while Florida got goals from Uvis Balinskis, Anton Lundell, Nate Schmidt and Carter Verghaeghe. Edmonton netminder Stuart Skinner made 32 saves, but allowed one more goal than Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who stopped 24 of 27 shots.
The Panthers and Oilers were deadlocked at one goal apiece after the first period, and headed into the second intermission tied 2-2.
Oilers Still Seeking Revenge
This was Edmonton’s first trip back to Amerant Bank Arena since losing Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final by a score of 2-1 last June.
Nothing will be able to make up for the heartbreak that the Oilers suffered that summer night, but a win against the Panthers would certainly help.
Unfortunately for the Oilers and their fans, Edmonton wound up losing both its games against Florida this season, each by one goal. The Panthers beat the Oilers 6-5 at Rogers Place on Dec. 16, in a game that saw Edmonton blow a two-goal lead.
Unless these teams meet in a Stanley Cup Final rematch, which seems highly unlikely based on current events, the Oilers won’t see the Panthers again until next season.
Career Night for Kulak
Despite Edmonton suffering another loss, Kulak had a tremendous performance and the best statistical game of his 10-year NHL career. The defenceman’s goal was his seventh of 2024-25, a new career high, and gave him 20 points this season, tying a career high.
Kulak also blocked a career-best eight shots and fired five shots on goal, equalling his most as a member of the Oilers. That made him the first NHL player with at least one goal, five shots and eight blocks in a single game since Calgary Flames blueliner Mark Giordano did it against the Oilers on New Year’s Day in 2011.
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