WHAT'S NEXT
The Oilers begin a three-game road trip in Detroit on Tuesday. The game can be seen on Sportsnet 360 & One and heard on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED. Puck drop is 5:37 p.m. MT.
POST-GAME UPDATES
Inside The Oilers Blog
"It's a big hole to climb out of," Connor McDavid, who had an assist, said post-game. "We just weren't good enough all over all night."
A predator only needs a moment to strike, and the Panthers pounced thrice in quick succession in the opening three minutes of the second period.
Aaron Ekblad converted Alexander Barkov's drop pass 31 seconds into the middle frame before Brian Boyle tacked on his first as a Panther by outwaiting a sprawled out Mike Smith 1:27 later.
"It's a lot easier when you get the first goal," defenceman Oscar Klefbom said. "We didn't give ourselves the chance today. They were better and play the right way; the way we wanted to play this game."
Noel Acciari then added an unassisted marker that spelt the end of the afternoon for Smith, who made three saves on 13 shots before Mikko Koskinen allowed two goals on 15 shots in relief.
Forward Leon Draisaitl tallied a goal and assist on his 24th birthday, but the trio of goals in the middle frame from the Panthers on a rare off-night for the Oilers goaltending this season ended Edmonton's unbeaten home win streak at five games.
"Today the start wasn't good," Draisaitl said. "The first seven minutes of the first period we got our legs under us, and then the start of the second wasn't good enough. We have to fix it."
After being outshot 7-0 by the Panthers in the opening 10 minutes, the Oilers clawed their way into the game with a couple of close encounters in front of goal for Jujhar Khaira for a third line hungry for their taste of offence this campaign.
The unit played another pivotal role in keeping the first period scoreless during a lengthy minute-and-a-half spell in their own zone, stopping the threat in Florida's first opportunity with the man advantage.
