Stanley Cup Final Game 2 takeaways: Panthers get even as Brad Marchand keeps building legacy

The 2025 Stanley Cup Final is off to an incredible start with back-to-back overtime games to open the series.

On Friday, it was the Florida Panthers getting the double overtime win, 5-4, to even the series, as if shifts back to Florida on Monday.

Here are some key takeaways from their win.

Hate Brad Marchand all you want, he is clutch Brad Marchand is the classic love-hate player in the NHL.

You love him if he is on your team.

You hate him if he is not.

No matter what your emotions are toward him, you do have to acknowledge that he has not only had a great career, but that he is also clutch.

He kept adding to his postseason legacy on Friday night with two goals, including the game-winning goal in double overtime to tie the series at one game apiece.

BRAD MARCHAND WINS GAME 2 IN @ENERGIZER DOUBLE OVERTIME #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/gJPpH215U4 With his two goals on Friday, he has now scored 10 career goals in the Stanley Cup Final, which is more than any other active player in the NHL.

His first goal of the night came in the second period and was of the shorthanded variety and gave the Panthers a 4-3 lead.

BRAD MARCHAND SHORTHANDED!! CATS ARE BACK ON TOP!! #StanleyCup : @NHL_On_TNT & @SportsonMax https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T : @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/u2ALtAtW11 It was also a case of deja for him There is something about June 6 for Marchand when it comes to scoring shorthanded goals in the Stanley Cup Final.

Because he also scored a shorthanded goal on June 6, 2011, of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final when he was a member of the Boston Bruins.

June 6, 2011: Brad Marchand scores a shorthanded goal in the Stanley Cup Final June 6, 2025: Brad Marchand scores a shorthanded goal in the Stanley Cup Final pic.twitter.com/x4LcmWWIxv Corey Perry's clutch moment goes to waste The only reason this game ended up in overtime is because Edmonton's Corey Perry scored a clutch goal of his own to tie the game late in the third period.

It was a noteworthy goal not only because it tied the game, but also because it was the latest game-tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history .

COREY PERRY!! WE'RE GOING TO OVERTIME!! #StanleyCup : @NHL_On_TNT & @SportsonMax https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T : @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/7KR1HXBdWp Florida's trade deadline moves pay off The Panthers already had one of the best teams in the league and went all-in again at the trade deadline, adding Marchand and defenseman Seth Jones.

Both players have made massive impacts since arriving in Florida, and that continued on Friday.

Along with Marchand's two goals, Jones also had a huge game by logging 34 minutes of ice-time, scoring a goal, adding an assist, blocking two shots and finishing the game as a plus-two.

Jones has had some ups and downs in his career, and his contract was a big liability for the Chicago Blackhawks, where he was miscast as a No.

1 defenseman.

But getting onto a Florida team that was already loaded and allowed him to play more of a complementary role has been excellent for him.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's brilliance also went to waste (for this game) Edmonton's superstar duo of McDavid and Draisaitl shone again on Friday, with Draisaitl scoring another goal and McDavid recording another three-point game.

Their highlight of the night was Draisaitl's goal, which came off a stunning pass from McDavid.

CONNOR MCDAVID IS NOT HUMAN #StanleyCup : @NHL_On_TNT & @SportsonMax https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T : @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/mfLZeTz7E2 Plays do not get much prettier than that.

It just was not enough for the Oilers in this game.

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh.

He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA.

Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark.

Catch him on Twitter @AGretz.

This article has been shared from the original article on yardbarker, here is the link to the original article.