Stanley Cup Finals Game 1: Florida Panthers 3, Edmonton Oilers 0

The Florida Panthers have taken an early lead in the Stanley Cup Finals, largely thanks to Sergei Bobrovsky. The star goaltender and Vezina Trophy finalist delivered a standout performance, stopping all 33 shots in a 3-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 on Saturday at Amerant Bank Arena. This marked Bobrovsky's second shutout of these Stanley Cup playoffs and the first Game 1 shutout in the Stanley Cup Finals since Roberto Luongo's performance in 2011.

Carter Verhaeghe, Evan Rodrigues, and Eetu Luostarinen scored for Florida, providing Bobrovsky with all the support he needed.

Game Highlights

Second Intermission: Panthers Lead 2-0 The Panthers are just 20 minutes away from securing Game 1. Despite Edmonton's aggressive play, Florida's defense and Bobrovsky have been outstanding.

Feisty Moments A scrum broke out after an Edmonton goal was disallowed, with referees ruling the whistle had blown before Connor Brown's attempt. This led to roughing penalties for Edmonton's Brown and Mattias Janmark and Florida's Kevin Stenlund and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Shortly after, Sam Bennett was penalized, giving Edmonton its third power play.

Rodrigues Doubles the Lead Evan Rodrigues extended the Panthers' lead to 2-0 early in the second period, following a successful penalty kill. Sam Bennett, Matthew Tkachuk, and Brandon Montour were instrumental in setting up Rodrigues.

First Intermission: Panthers Lead 1-0 Despite Edmonton outshooting Florida 14-4, the Panthers led 1-0, thanks to Bobrovsky's impressive saves, including stopping seven high-danger shots. Edmonton will start the second period with a power play.

Bobrovsky's Early Saves Bobrovsky made several key saves in the first 15 minutes, including stopping a Connor McDavid wrist shot, a Leon Draisaitl backhander, and an Adam Henrique breakaway.

Panthers Strike First Carter Verhaeghe scored 3:59 into the game, assisted by Aleksander Barkov, marking his 10th goal of the playoffs.

Lineups

Florida Panthers:

• Forward lines:

  • Carter Verhaeghe-Aleksander Barkov-Sam Reinhart

  • Matthew Tkachuk-Sam Bennett-Evan Rodrigues

  • Eetu Luostarinen-Anton Lundell-Vladimir Tarasenko

  • Steven Lorentz-Kevin Stenlund-Kyle Okposo

• Defense pairs:

  • Gustav Forsling-Aaron Ekblad

  • Niko Mikkola-Brandon Montour

  • Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Dmitry Kulikov

• Goaltenders:

  • Sergei Bobrovsky

  • Anthony Stolarz

Edmonton Oilers:

• Forward lines:

  • Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Connor McDavid-Zach Hyman

  • Evander Kane-Leon Draisaitl-Dylan Holloway

  • Warren Foegele-Ryan McLeod-Corey Perry

  • Mattias Janmark-Adam Henrique-Connor Brown

• Defense pairs:

  • Mattias Ekholm-Evan Bouchard

  • Darnell Nurse-Cody Ceci

  • Brett Kulak-Philip Broberg

• Goaltenders:

  • Stuart Skinner

  • Calvin Pickard

Series Schedule

• Game 1: Tonight

• Game 2: Monday, June 10, Sunrise’s Amerant Bank Arena, 8 p.m., ABC, ESPN+

• Game 3: Thursday, June 13, Edmonton’s Rogers Place, 8 p.m., ABC, ESPN+

• Game 4: Saturday, June 15, Edmonton’s Rogers Place, 8 p.m., ABC, ESPN+

• Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, June 18, Sunrise’s Amerant Bank Arena, 8 p.m., ABC, ESPN+

• Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, June 21, Edmonton’s Rogers Place, 8 p.m., ABC, ESPN+

• Game 7 (if necessary): Monday, June 24, Sunrise’s Amerant Bank Arena, 8 p.m., ABC, ESPN+

Pregame Reading

Catch up with the Miami Herald’s coverage over the past week:

• The Panthers “expected to be back here”

• Matthew Tkachuk’s improved all-around game

• Paul Maurice on the Stanley Cup: ‘I need to win one’

• Extended playoff runs benefiting the Panthers on and off the ice

• The challenge of containing Connor McDavid and Co.

• Top four picks from the 2014 NHL Draft playing in the Stanley Cup Finals