The Florida Panthers failed to close out a playoff contest when leading at an intermission for the first time under head coach Paul Maurice in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers were 31-0 when holding an advantage after the first or second period over the past three postseasons.
"We've been really good all year at not sitting back with the lead, and for whatever reason, we sat back tonight," Panthers forward Sam Bennett said, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.
Florida held a 3-2 lead after two frames. Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm tied the contest in the third to send it to overtime, as the Oilers outshot the Panthers 14-2 in the final period of regulation.
"They just pushed," Panthers forward Brad Marchand said. "A couple pucks we didn't really get deep. Gotta be a little bit better making plays under pressure, getting our legs going a little bit more. We got caught just kind of flipping pucks, and they'd regroup and come back at us."
Maurice isn't too concerned going forward.
"We were in pretty good shape up 3-1. I think we had some real good pressure," Maurice said. "They get it back, and then there were some plays we didn't complete. I'm not really particularly worried about those. Just the ebbs and flows of the game."
Oilers star Leon Draisaitl notched the game-winner in the final minute of the overtime period on the power play after Florida's Tomas Nosek took a delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass.
"That stuff happens in the game of hockey. You know, it's a bad break," Marchand said.
Marchand, who's in his fourth Final and looking for his second Stanley Cup, knows the group has to look forward.
"It's one game. You can't get stuck in the past here," Marchand said. "So, we'll regroup, refocus, and get ready for the next one."
