Ryan Whitney slams Oilers' "pathetic hockey" in 1st period of Game 5 Stanley Cup Final

Former NHL player turned analyst Ryan Whitney did not mince words when criticizing the Edmonton Oilers' performance in the first period of Game 5 of the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers.

After the Panthers took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission, Whitney slammed the Oilers' effort, saying:

"What is going on here. Pathetic hockey. Ekholm with a soft play on the board. Janmark watching the puck with Bennett right behind him. Ugly"

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The Panthers opened the scoring at 9:12 into the game when Brad Marchand scored on a breakaway after a pass from Anton Lundell. Whitney was critical of defenseman Mattias Ekholm's soft play leading to the goal.

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The Panthers struck again late in the period when Sam Bennett snuck behind Oilers forward Mattias Janmark to score.

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Through 20 minutes, Florida outshot Edmonton 8-3.

Oilers power play: Seth Jones was called for interference at 15:44, marking the game’s first penalty. The Panthers successfully killed it off.

Panthers power play: Vasily Podkolzin was penalized for tripping Dmitry Kulikov. Florida will have 17 seconds of power play time carry over into the second period.

About the author

Arjun is a journalist covering the NHL at Sportskeeda. With a deep understanding of the game and a knack for storytelling, he tries to bring the sport to life for readers. Whether he's analyzing a game, profiling a player, or discussing the latest trades and signings, he strives to deliver insightful and engaging content for hockey fans. Arjun excels in fact-checking, aiding research, and providing a fresh perspective on fellow writers' articles.

Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins hold a special place in his heart.

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Edited by Brad Taningco