Oilers Fall in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final

Panthers Take Early Lead in Series

Verhaeghe, Bennett Lead Florida to Victory

The Edmonton Oilers dropped Game 1 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, falling 5-3 in Sunrise, Florida. Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett each scored twice for the Panthers, while Sergei Bobrovsky made 38 saves to backstop the victory. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Panthers' early lead.

The Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Verhaeghe and Bennett. McDavid cut the lead to 2-1 with a power-play goal in the second period, but Verhaeghe answered back with his second of the game just over two minutes later. Bennett then made it 4-1 with a goal late in the second period.

Draisaitl scored a power-play goal in the third period to make it 4-2, but Aleksander Barkov restored the Panthers' three-goal lead with a goal of his own. McDavid scored again with just over two minutes remaining in the game, but it was too little, too late for the Oilers.

The Oilers will look to even the series when they host the Panthers in Game 2 on Thursday night.