Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jake Walman was fined $10,000 for his role in the Game 3 brawl against the Florida Panthers during the Stanley Cup Final. The altercation, which began with Walman punching Matthew Tkachuk in the face and squirting water on the Panthers’ bench, led to a violent clash on the ice. Tkachuk, known for his no-nonsense approach to fights, was prepared to engage as the Panthers secured a commanding home victory over the Oilers. The game, already 5-1 in favor of Florida, saw a series of escalating incidents, including a fight between Edmonton’s Trent Frederic and Florida’s Sam Bennett, which sparked a full-blown brawl involving multiple players.
The incident resulted in six players being ejected from the game, including Walman, Bennett, Frederic, and others, as the penalties reached 140 minutes, the fourth-most in Stanley Cup Final history. Despite the chaos, the Panthers maintained their lead in the series, holding the Stanley Cup advantage after Game 3. The Oilers, however, managed to even the series by winning Game 1 in overtime and Game 2 in double overtime, with Brad Marchand scoring the decisive goal. The Final continues on Thursday, with Florida hosting Game 4 and the series remaining tightly contested. The intense play has drawn significant media attention and fan engagement, with reports highlighting the physicality and emotional stakes of the competition.