Lead up to Stanley Cup Final Game Three 8 June

June 8, 2025

Eight first-period goals, six tying tallies, four lead changes, back-to-back overtime contests and comeback wins have made for a fast-paced, high-scoring, edge-of-your-seat start to the championship rematch between the Oilers and Panthers. Within a goal of each other for all but 77 seconds so far, the clubs have produced the most first-period goals through two games of a Final since 1936 and the second instance in Final history of teams combining for six tying goals by the end of Game 2. #NHLStats digs into more of the trends in the lead up to Game 3 (Monday at 8 p.m. ET on TNT, Sportsnet, TVA Sports).

* The 2025 NHL Scouting Combine presented by Fanatics concluded with fitness testing in Buffalo on Saturday with participants including top-ranked North American skaters Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa and James Hagens as well as international skaters Anton Frondell and Victor Eklund. For the second straight year a new record was set in the horizontal jump, this time by University of Michigan forward William Horcoff.

* In the latest NHL Awards surprise delivery, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery believed he was sitting down for an end-of-season interview when members of his family – including his wife and children – surprised him with the Jack Adams Award.

THE 2025 STANLEY CUP FINAL SO FAR

The 11th Stanley Cup Final rematch in NHL history has delivered in spades through the first two games. A snapshot of some of the excitement the Panthers and Oilers have created across the first nine periods and 167:34 of playing time in this series:

* The eight first period goals are the most through two games of a Final since 1936 and tied for the second most ever (with 1918, the first Final in NHL history). The most first-period goals through Game 3 of a Final is 11 in 1997, 1981 and 1918.

* The 16 goals overall are tied with 2023 for the most through two games of a Final over the past 42 seasons. Only four of the past 37 championship series (from 1987 to 2024) have had at least 20 goals through Game 3 (21 in 2023, 22 in 2022, 20 in 2019 & 21 in 2010). The most through Game 3 of a Final is 30 in 1981.

* There have been four lead changes through two games, just the second time in the past 42 seasons for which that has been the case and fifth time in NHL history (also 5 in 2018, 5 in 1982, 4 in 1980 & 4 in 1946). The most lead changes through Game 3 of a Final is five (2018, 2015, 2010 & 1982).

* There have been six tying goals through two games, just the second time in Final history that has happened (also 1982: 8 from Game 1-2 between NYI-VAN). The most tying goals through Game 3 of a Final is eight (2010 & 1982).

* The four tying goals in Game 2 matched a Stanley Cup Final record (also Game 4 in 1992 & Game 5 in 1973), and also were the most in any playoff game in more than a decade.

* Both games have included a tying goal in the third period, a first to start the Final since 2015 (Games 1-3) and just the seventh championship series ever to include a tying goal in the final regulation frame in Games 1 and 2. The other instances: Games 1-3 in 2015 and 1964, along with Games 1-2 in 1999, 1982, 1974 and 1946.

* Back-to-back overtime games to start the Final for just the sixth time in League history and first in more than a decade. Only once has the Final started with three straight overtime games: the entire five-game 1951 Final, with the Maple Leafs emerging as champions against the Canadiens.

* The Final has started with back-to-back comeback wins for the first time since 2019. Only four championship series have begun with three straight rallies by the victors: 2015, 1999, 1986 and 1971.

* The Panthers and Oilers have been tied or separated by a one-goal margin for 99.2% of playing time through two contests (166:17 of 167:34) with the lone exception being a 77-second span during the second period of Game 1 when Florida led 3-1.

AGE IS BUT A NUMBER FOR MARCHAND, PERRY

Brad Marchand and Corey Perry both were focal points of media attention entering the Final and have risen to the occasion in their respective fourth and sixth career trips to the championship round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* Timely goals by both players made for the fourth Stanley Cup Final game in League history in which two players age 37 or older each scored, following Games 3 and 4 in 2002 (Brett Hull & Igor Larionov), as well as Game 2 in 2014 (Martin St. Louis & Willie Mitchell).

* Marchand now has 10 career goals in the Stanley Cup Final (breaking a tie with Perry for the most among active players) and in Game 2 became the fourth in-season acquisition in the League’s modern era (since 1943-44) to score an overtime goal in the Stanley Cup Final. He joined Jeff Carter, Steve Thomas and Petr Klima.

* As the series shifts back to Marchand’s new home arena – where he was present for Florida’s first Stanley Cup banner-raising ceremony just eight months ago as captain of the Bruins – he will set his sights on becoming the oldest player to score in each of the first three games of the Final. The current mark is held by Frank Mahovlich who did so at age 35 in 1973 (3 GP w/ MTL).

* NHL.com’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika profiled Marchand after his double-overtime clincher in Game 2.

* After celebrating his 40th birthday between the Second Round and Conference Finals, Perry now ranks second on the team and tied for fourth in the NHL with eight goals this postseason – the most by a player at age 39 or older in one playoff year, ahead of the six scored by Teemu Selanne (2011), Mark Recchi (2010), Ron Francis (2002) and Jean Beliveau (1971). In Game 2, he became the fifth 40-year-old ever to score a goal in the Final – doing so in dramatic fashion with the latest tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history – and could follow Recchi (3 in 2011) and Larionov (3 in 2002) as the only 40-year-olds with multiple goals in the Final.

* Perry is set to surpass Scott Stevens (233) and tie Claude Lemieux (234) for fourth place among skaters in career playoff games, a count that includes 30 in the Final and 54 that required overtime (both tops among active players). He has played more playoff games in his career than a dozen active NHL franchises have in their history.

* NHL.com’s Gerry Moddejonge profiled Perry after his clutch tying goal in Game 2.

2025 NHL SCOUTING COMBINE CONCLUDES WITH HORCOFF RECORD

The 2025 NHL Scouting Combine presented by Fanatics, which included 90 draft-eligible players from North America and Europe, concluded Saturday with fitness testing in Buffalo. Click here for the top 25 results from each test.

* William Horcoff of the University of Michigan set a new record for the horizontal jump (124.8 inches), the second consecutive year a new benchmark was set in that test after Rangers’ first-round pick EJ Emery did so in 2024 (123.0). Horcoff also topped all players in the Force Plate: No Arm Jump (22.84 inches).

* Horcoff’s father, Shawn, was a fourth-round pick by the Oilers in the 1998 NHL Draft (99th overall). He skated in 1,008 regular-season games with Edmonton, Dallas and Anaheim from 2000-01 to 2015-16 and 46 career playoff contests, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Final with the Oilers in 2006 where he recorded two goals in the seven-game series against the Hurricanes.

* The 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft will descend on L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater starting with the opening round on June 27 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN+, Sportsnet, TVA Sports), followed by rounds two through seven on June 28 at 12 p.m. ET (NHL Network, ESPN+, Sportsnet, SN1).

QUICK CLICKS FROM NHL SCOUTING COMBINE

* 2025 NHL Draft Diary: James Hagens
* 2025 NHL Draft Diary: Porter Martone
* 2025 NHL Draft prospects talk comparable players in League

CAPITALS’ SPENCER CARBERY WINS JACK ADAMS AWARD

Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery is the 2024-25 recipient of the Jack Adams Award as “the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success,” as selected by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association. In the latest NHL Awards surprise delivery, Carbery believed he was sitting down for an end-of-season interview when members of his family – including his wife and children – surprised him with the trophy.

* Carbery is the fourth Washington head coach to win the Jack Adams Award, following Bryan Murray (1983-84), Bruce Boudreau (2007-08) and Barry Trotz (2015-16). He also becomes the first individual to capture coach of the year honors at the ECHL, AHL and NHL levels, after winning the ECHL’s John Brophy Award in 2013-14 (South Carolina Stingrays) and the AHL’s Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award in 2020-21 (Hershey Bears). Click here to read more.