SUNRISE – Connor McDavid may in fact be the best player in the world.
But the Florida Panthers are the best team in hockey.
It’s hard to envision a scenario in which Florida does not celebrate a Stanley Cup championship in the near future, based on what we’ve seen in Games 1 and 2.
The Panthers beat the Oilers, 4-1, in a game on Monday night at Amerant Bank Arena that was much more lopsided than even the final score indicated.
Florida thoroughly outplayed Edmonton and they’ll get on that 2,541 mile flight to Western Canada with a two-games-to-none series lead.
Florida is the much better defensive team.
The Oilers had seven – seven! – shots in periods 1 and 2 on Monday night.
Florida is talented. And physical. And well-conditioned.
They are so structurally sound. They wear down their opponent. They frustrate their opponent.
These Panthers are not just a good team, they are a great team.
Stanley Cup Final: Florida Panthers control Edmonton Oilers
They are an unbelievably good defensive team.
They are winners of five straight in the postseason now. And it’s entirely possible they win this thing in, say, five games, potentially wrapping up South Florida’s first sports championship in more than a decade on home ice.
On Monday, it was veteran Evan Rodrigues with two goals, both in the third period, as Florida pulled away after the game was tied at 1.
“I signed here for a reason,” Rodrigues said on ESPN after the game.
Florida does not make many defensive mistakes. And when they do, they have future Hall of Famer goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to clean things up.
Edmonton does not have such luxury.
Rodrigues’ first goal was a wrister over Stuart Skinner’s blocker after a giveway by an Edmonton defenseman.
Frustrated Edmonton Oilers resort to dirty play
Rodrigues’ second goal came at the end of a power play. The frustrated Oilers have resorted to cheap shots. Star Leon Draisaitl was in the box after elbowing star Alexsander Barkov in the jaw.
Early in the game, Edmonton’s Warren Foegele was tossed for a dirty leg-to-leg approach appeared to injure Eetu Luostarinen, who did return.
Edmonton’s eye-opening offense skill has been smothered.
“We play hard,” Rodrigues said. “Defense first.”
These Panthers, brilliantly built by general manager Bill Zito and brilliantly managed by Paul Maurice, seem unstoppable at this point.
They seem destined for this.
The Florida Panthers are the most exciting show in South Florida at the moment.
Is it any surprise pop star Ariana Grande has been in attendance for both victories?
The Panthers have an all-world goaltender.
The Panthers have the best all-around player in the game, in Barkov.
The Panthers have the absolute best defensive unit in the NHL.
And it’s becoming clear now where this Stanley Cup Final is headed.
Edmonton is talented. But they are out-classed.
The Florida Panthers are deserving of their 2-0 series lead.
“We want the Cup!” fans chanted. “We want the Cup!”
After Monday night, Florida is now heavy, heavy favorites to lift their first Stanley Cup.
Joe Schad is a sports journalist at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Help support our work by subscribing today.