“We know how they like to play in their building,” said the Oilers’ Evan Bouchard ahead of Game 3 against the Florida Panthers. True. Edmonton indeed has had enough experience in the Amerant Bank Arena to prepare for whatever the Cats throw at them in the Stanley Cup Finals. But they might have missed one critical piece of the puzzle: Brad Marchand.

This is the first time that the Oilers are facing the Miami team with Brad Marchand in the Panthers’ roster. Ever since transferring to the Panthers from the Bruins in March, the 37-year-old Canadian winger has been a major force behind his new team’s postseason campaign. And he made his presence felt once again on Monday.

Not even a whole minute had passed since puck drop on Game 3 between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers before Brad Marchand whipped out yet another sensational bunny from his seemingly bottomless hat. Picking up the puck from a scramble, the Panthers’ winger sent the puck flying into the back of Stuart Skinner’s net, giving the hosts the lead in today’s match. And with that, Marchand also stormed into the history books, as a post by NHL News on X from June 9 highlighted.

“Brad Marchand is now the oldest player to score in the first 3 games of a Stanley Cup Final,” the social media update notes how the Florida star snatched away the unique title from Frank Mahovlich, who recorded the feat way back in 1973 as a 35-year-old. With his latest goal, Marchand now has eight goals in the playoffs for the Panthers, with four of those coming in the Finals.

Even NHL.com‘s Editor-in-Chief Bill Price couldn’t help but be in awe of how potent Brad Marchand has been with his new team. “It’s incredible how he’s not only fit in with this Panthers team, but how he has excelled,” he said. And thanks to his potency on the ice, Marchand had also become a moving target for the Oilers.

Evander Kane was flagged for high-sticking Brad Marchand at 7:54, recording his second penalty in the Panthers’ offensive zone and giving the defending champions yet another power-play advantage. Far from a wise move. But then again, the frustration is understandable.

Brad Marchand keeps coming up with one belter after another

Not only was Game 2 a sonorous victory for Florida to get the team back on level terms with Edmonton, it was also a landmark one for Brad Marchand, personally. A shorthand goal in the second period, and then a goal in the second OT, the Canadian was at his finest on Friday. And with that, the winger rewrote NHL history.

“Panthers Brad Marchand is the only player in history to score a shorthanded goal, followed by an Overtime goal in a #StanleyCup Final game,” Sportsnet hopped onto X to share Marchand’s incredible feat. With unrestricted free agency on the horizon, it looks like the Panthers’ star is doing everything he can to show his potential future clubs that he still has plenty to offer. Or maybe it’s his way of showing the Boston Bruins what they lost by trading him to Florida? Who knows?

But one thing’s for sure: The Florida Panthers’ postseason campaign couldn’t have asked for a better signee ahead of the playoffs. Thankfully, though, Marchand is in good company in Miami, for now. In Game 3, an incredible six Panthers players got their names on the scoresheet, decimating the visitors 6-1 and picking up a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. What is that we see on the horizon? The glimmer of hope promising the Cup for Brad Marchand on his debut run with the Cats? Could it be? What do you think? Tell us in a comment!