5 TAKEAWAYS: Oilers 4, Panthers 2

SUNRISE, Fla. --Suffering their first regulation loss of the season on home ice, the Florida Panthers put forth a strong effort in a 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at FLA Live Arena on Saturday.

Winners in three of their last five games, the Panthers now sit at 8-6-1.

"It's a frustrating loss because you're well prepared and played hard," head coach Paul Maurice said of the loss. "The game flattened after the first, but it's going to because they've got a good team and you're not going to put up 70 shots on them. You know they're going to push a little bit. You felt you were left wanting and you felt your effort maybe deserved a little bit more."

For a quick recap of the game, click HERE.

To read up on five key takeaways for the Cats, continue below.

1. A DOMINANT FIRST

The Panthers executed their game plan to perfection in the first period.

Leading 29-12 in shot attempts and 11-6 in scoring chances in the opening 20 minutes, they didn't surrender a single shot on goal until the Oilers finally got one on the power play at 9:53.

"We thought we dominated the first," forward Sam Bennett said.

Even though they weren't rewarded with a goal, the Panthers have been trending in the right direction in terms of their starts this season. Leading 15-9 in goals during the first period, they've also opened the scoring in 10 of their 15 games, including five of their last six.

"I think we started out real good and had a real good first," defenseman Gustav Forsling said.

2. BENNY AND THE NETS

It was only a matter of time until expected goals turned into actual goals for Bennett.

Finding the back of the net for the third straight game, the hard-nosed forward scored a pair of goals in the loss, including a highlight-reel score to trim the deficit to 3-2 late in the third period.

"I think Benny, probably the last four or five games he's played, even with different linemates, has been really, really strong," Maurice said. "He's been strong defensively. He's been physical. Now some pucks are starting to go in the net for him."

Sitting second on the Panthers with 7.94 expected goals, Bennett has scored four actual goals during his three-game streak to push his total on the season to five.

Leading the Panthers with 21 goals at home in 2021-22, three of his five goals this season have been scored in Sunrise.

"Finding my game a little bit more and feeling better than I did at the beginning of the season," Bennett said of his growing goal total. "It's always nice to start building that confidence."

3. THE EXTRA ATTACKER

The Panthers are starting to get into a rhythm on the power play.

With Bennett chasing down and burying a rebound early in the third period to make it a 1-1 game, the Panthers netted a power play goal for the seventh time in their last eight games.

In that stretch, Florida has converted on 25% of its chances with the extra attacker.

"I think our power play has definitely been trending in the right direction," Bennett said. "We're getting more chances. Sometimes they don't go in, but I think as we build our game our power play is going to keep getting better and better."

Per NaturalStatTrick.com, the Panthers lead the NHL with 17.43 expected goals on the power play.

"I think it's more frustrating when you're not getting chances," Bennett said. "We're playing good hockey. It's just a matter of sticking with it, and eventually the goals are going to start going in. We can't get frustrated even though it might be a little bit. We've just got to focus on playing our game."

4. STRONG ON THE KILL

Facing a tough test, the Panthers stood tall on the penalty kill.

Entering the matchup with the second-ranked power play in the NHL at 32.2%, the Oilers cashed in on just one of their five opportunities against the Panthers. Over those five power plays, the Panthers limited Edmonton to just eight shots on goal and five scoring chances.

"I've liked [the penalty kill] the last three games since we put [Eric] Staal and [Eetu] Luostarinen together," Maurice said. "I've liked it a lot. We hit the slot bar-down on one, and they hit the seam, so those two things evened out and our penalty kill was pretty darn good tonight."

Over their past five games, the Panthers have gone 15-for-18 (83.3%) on the penalty kill.

"They've got one of the best power plays in the league," Bennett said of the Oilers, who lead the NHL with 19 goals on the man advantage. "It's not an easy task, but for the most part we did a good job of limiting their chances and taking away the good scoring chances."

5. EKBLAD BACK IN ACTION

Aaron Ekblad looked no worse for wear in his return to the ice.

Playing his first game since suffering a lower-body injury on Oct. 17 in Boston, Ekblad, who was paired up with Marc Staal on the blue line, skated a team-high 23:42 against the Oilers. In that time, the star defenseman registered three shots on goal, two blocked shots and one takeaway.

When Ekblad was on the ice at 5-on-5, the Panthers led 21-11 in shot attempts.

"It's huge just having the presence in the locker room," Bennett said. "Obviously we know how good he is on the ice. He's one of the best defensemen in the league. His leadership qualities for our team are huge. It's nice to have him back in the lineup."

Finishing sixth in voting for the Norris Trophy, Ekblad recorded a career-high 57 points (15 goals, 42 assists) in 61 games in 2021-22.