**Florida Panthers Edge Edmonton Oilers in Double OT to Level Stanley Cup Final**

In a thrilling matchup that once again stretched beyond regulation, the Florida Panthers triumphed over the Edmonton Oilers with a 5-4 win in double overtime, evening the Stanley Cup Final at one game apiece. The game took place at Rogers Place on Friday, delivering another intense battle to the delight of hockey fans.

The decisive moment came just over eight minutes into the second overtime period when Panthers center Brad Marchand secured a breakaway opportunity and scored, slipping the puck past Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner. Marchand, at 37 years old, played a crucial role in Florida's hard-fought victory, but he wasn’t alone in making history that night.

The Oilers’ Corey Perry, who remarkably continues to deliver clutch performances at the age of 40, scored a dramatic tying goal with only 17.8 seconds left in the third period. Perry's timely goal is now the latest tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history, surpassing Tod Sloan's previous record set in 1951.

This series has already captured attention as, for the first time since 2014 and only the sixth time in NHL history, the opening two games both required overtime to determine a winner.

After the game, Marchand spoke emotionally about his mother's support throughout his career, noting that her enthusiasm and sacrifices, like those of many parents of NHL players, were instrumental to his success. He humorously mentioned his mother’s overly spirited nature at games, adding, "They've always been so supportive. Like all of our parents, I don't think there's a player in this league that can say that their parents are not the main reason why they are here.”

The game began with a rapid pace, as Panthers forward Sam Bennett opened the scoring just two minutes in, netting his 13th goal of the postseason and an NHL record 12th on the road. Edmonton quickly responded with goals from Evander Kane and Evan Bouchard, gaining an early 2-1 lead halfway through the opening period. Florida’s Seth Jones soon equalized, only for the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl to regain the lead on a power play, ending the frenetic first period at 3-2 in favor of Edmonton.

The second period saw the Panthers claw back with a goal from Dmitry Kulikov to tie the game once more, followed by Marchand's shorthanded tally that gave Florida a 4-3 lead. The game remained this way until Perry's dramatic last-second goal forced overtime.

Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was instrumental in the win, making 42 saves on 46 shots, showcasing his usual reliable form. With the series now tied, both teams will head to Sunrise, Florida for Game 3 on Monday, where the battle for the Stanley Cup continues.