Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final was supposed to be a chance for the Edmonton Oilers to take control, or at least respond to the Florida Panthers’ early series lead. Instead, it turned into a disaster on the ice and a mess in the penalty box.
The Panthers didn’t just beat the Oilers; they embarrassed them, skating to a dominant 6–1 win on home ice at the Amerant Bank Arena. It was a one-sided affair from the beginning, and by the time the final buzzer sounded, the Oilers had lost both the game and their composure.
Leon Draisaitl Speaks Out After Game 3 Meltdown
What stood out wasn’t just the score, but the chaos that erupted in the third period. With about 11 minutes left and the Panthers firmly ahead, emotions boiled over. Gloves flew, players fought, and a full line brawl broke out.
Multiple players were ejected. The game saw a staggering 140 penalty minutes, 85 of which were charged to the Oilers.
Leon Draisaitl, one of the Oilers’ alternate captains, wasn’t involved in the brawl. He didn’t score or register a point and left the game with a minus-2 rating over his 20-minute-long appearance. But the next day, during practice, Draisaitl’s brutally honest reaction got everyone’s attention.
“With 11 minutes left, [right like] whatever it is, and then you know all hell breaks loose, it’s a UFC fight,” Draisaitl said, summing up the wild chaos that ensued in the third period. He wasn’t wrong. What should’ve been a hockey game turned into an embarrassing display of frustration and lack of control.
The Panthers capitalized on the Oilers’ poor discipline all night. The Oilers gave up 11 power plays, and the Panthers made them pay by scoring three times with the man advantage. That lack of control was a major factor in the loss, and Draisaitl knows it.
Still, Draisaitl stayed calm. “I’m not going crazy. I don’t know if anybody’s going crazy,” he said. “It’s an emotional time. It’s two teams that want to win, [um], two teams of doing it their own way.”
More: ‘This Is a Low Point’ — Connor McDavid Gets Extremely Blunt on ‘Disappointing’ Game 3 Beating
Despite Game 3’s disaster, the series isn’t over. But time is running out. Game 4 is set for Thursday night, and if the Oilers want to keep their championship hopes alive, they’ll need a total reset, not just on the scoreboard but in their mindset.
With the Panthers playing with confidence, control, and intensity, the Oilers have to respond. For Draisaitl and his teammates, Game 4 isn’t just another game; it’s a chance to save their season and reclaim their pride.
