Oilers won’t dwell on missed chances after close Game 2: ‘What’s it going to do?’

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EDMONTON – Should-haves, could-haves, an almost or two and some what-ifs.

The Edmonton Oilers were so close to winning their second consecutive game at home to start the Stanley Cup Final. That would have put them in control against the Florida Panthers as the series shifts to the other side of the continent.

Instead, Panthers winger Brad Marchand scored the decisive goal on a breakaway at 8:05 of double overtime of Game 2 to hand the Oilers a 5-4 loss on Friday night and even the matchup.

The goal came after Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm missed the net on a one-timer from the top of the circle to facilitate the clear-cut chance. It also came after Leon Draisaitl backchecked vigorously to obstruct Marchand’s stick, which, despite his best efforts, might have inadvertently contributed to the puck squeaking through goalie Stuart Skinner’s legs.

“It’s a tough one to swallow, but it’s not supposed to be easy,” veteran Oilers winger Corey Perry said. “They played hard tonight. They got their chances, and they capitalized on that one. That’s the difference.”

Shots favored Edmonton 46-42 in a game that lasted nearly four and a half periods. It was evenly played, with Natural Stat Trick tracking the high-danger chances at five-on-five at 16-15 in favor the Oilers.

Kasperi Kapanen had the Oilers’ best chance in extra time. The Oilers would have been in a much more jovial mood if his tip of a Viktor Arvidsson pass had beaten Sergei Bobrovsky in the second overtime, 55 seconds before Marchand’s winner.

“The chances missed, you can think about it, dwell on it. But what’s it going to do?” Perry said. “It’s not going to do anything for you now.”

Perry’s goal with 17.8 seconds left in the third period put the Oilers into next-goal-wins territory. He outmuscled the Panthers’ Eetu Luostarinen to get to a rebound and beat Bobrovsky to get the latest game-tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history.

He also gave the Oilers a chance at their eighth third-period comeback in the playoffs, which could have matched an NHL single-year record. An eighth comeback victory would have equaled the franchise playoff marks set in 1987 and 1991.

Instead, the Oilers lost their first overtime contest this spring after claiming the first four — on three goals from Draisaitl and another from Kapanen.

It was also the first time they’ve ever lost an extra-time game in the Cup Final. They’d previously won all four of their attempts, with Jari Kurri (1987), Petr Klima (1990), Fernando Pisani (2006) and Draisaitl (Game 1 this year) netting the pivotal goals.

“There’s going to be some disappointment,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “But we’ve had the mentality, no matter what happens — bad game, close game, overtime, heartbreaking, easy, whatever it is – we put it behind us and we get ready for the next one.

“You learn in the playoffs, things don’t always go your way. Sometimes it works in your favor, sometimes it doesn’t.”

Friday night provided a contrast to Game 1, when the Oilers overcame a two-goal deficit, tied the score in the third and got a goal from Draisaitl on a power play in the last minute of the first overtime period.

“Each game could’ve went either way,” Knoblauch said. “When you win the first one, you’re disappointed you don’t follow up and win the second one. But we’re going there with a split and that’s fine with us.”

They’re fine with it, but they’re not thrilled with it.

Aside from the missed chances, there were other factors the Oilers will want to address.

The power play was 1-for-6 and allowed a Panthers goal when Marchand, the overtime hero, scored on another breakaway, which gave the Panthers a 4-3 lead in the second period.

They’ll also have to improve when it comes to dealing with pesky Panthers forwards around their net.

In Game 1, Sam Bennett fell into Skinner after some contact from defenseman Brett Kulak, and a shot hit him and went in. The Oilers challenged for goaltender interference and were unsuccessful, and the Panthers scored on the subsequent power play.

In Game 2, Bennett was in Skinner’s kitchen again, toppling into him midway through the first period after a nudge from Ekholm. This time, Bennett was penalized as Skinner remained down and needed some attention from Oilers head athletic therapist T.D. Forss.

Then, in the second period, longtime nemesis Matthew Tkachuk was guided into Skinner as a point shot from former Oiler Dmitry Kulikov headed toward the net. The puck beat Skinner, and the Oilers opted not to challenge.

“We know they have players that want to drive the net,” Oilers defenseman John Klingberg said. “It comes to us trying to box out earlier. But we’re trying to drive the net, too.

“They’re a high-shooting volume team and, if you are that, they’re bringing people to the net as well.”

There are things to clean up. Things that could have been better. Factors that might have led to a better result.

“It’s very close out there. It’s not a lot of room and ice out there,” Klingberg said. “But we battled back, scoring that goal got some momentum, had some good chances in overtime as well as them. It’s a bounce here and there.”

The Oilers easily could have improved to 14-2 in their last 16 games and taken a stranglehold on this series. Instead, they’ll have to take solace in a split.

“At this time of year, you’ve got to move on,” Draisaitl said. “There’s no time (spent) thinking about it too long. It stings right now, but we have to move on.”

(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)

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