"Skinner and Bouchard why you'll never win a cup": Fans blame defensive mishaps in Edmonton Oilers' 6-5 loss to Florida Panthers

Fans blamed defensive mistakes for the Edmonton Oilers' 6-5 loss to the Florida Panthers on Monday. This was their first meeting since the Stanley Cup Finals Game 7.

The Edmonton Oilers led 4-2 in the second period but gave it up due to defensive breakdowns. Turnovers and poor coverage left goalie Stuart Skinner exposed, and Florida took advantage, scoring four times in the final 22 minutes.

The Edmonton Oilers struggled to maintain their lead, with sloppy defense in the third period allowing Florida to take control. Defensive improvements are needed to prevent such collapses in key games. Following the game, the Oilers posted on X (formerly Twitter):

"Final from . The #Oilers win streak ends, but we get a chance to start a new one Thursday vs. Boston."

Many fans were quick to criticize Skinner and the defense on X.

"Oilers will never win a Stanley Cup with Skinner in the net," one fan said.

"Skinner and Bouchard are why you'll never win a cup," another commented.

"Skinner should make his luggage combo 786… at least he’d get something right," one X user said.

Defensive play was a common target.

"We have to blame over-self for this defeat !! How the hell on the planet from 4-2 to loosing a match !! It is ridiculous," one fan said.

Fans also criticized Mattias Ekholm and Bouchard. Here are a few more reactions from fans on X.

"Bouchard needs to be scratched for a few games he sucks. Him on the ice makes it 6-on-4 the entire time, such a liability if he's not gonna do anything offensively. Stu a few bad bounces, shake it off. Also don't do this fancy O-Zone shit at 5-5 doesn't often lead to good things," another fan commented.

"Ekholm and Bouchard were awful. Bouchard gave Florida 2 goals. Ekholm gave them 1 and then fell down on the reinhart bad angle goal. Nurse was undisciplined. Bad slot coverage from all the C’s. Florida got a bounce off Emberson and Tkachuk kicked one in but still not a good game," a fan tweeted.

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How the Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers

Jesper Boqvist scored first for Florida on a short-handed breakaway at 2:42 of the first period. Zach Hyman equalized at 15:13 with a wrist shot off Connor McDavid’s pass. Matthew Tkachuk made it 2-1 for Florida, deflecting Carter Verhaeghe’s shot on a power play.

In the second, Hyman tied it 2-2 at 6:20 on a breakaway. Connor Brown scored 41 seconds later to give Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 lead. Leon Draisaitl added another goal for Edmonton to make it 4-2 before Gustav Forsling reduced arrears late in the period.

Nikko Mikkola made it 4-4 in the third for the Panthers before Sam Reinhart put them into the lead. Kasperi Kapanen tied the game for the Oilers, but Verhaeghe’s goal at 13:05 secured Florida’s win. Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves for the Panthers.