The 2025 Stanley Cup Final has been nothing short of electrifying, with every shift on the ice magnifying the intensity between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers. Game 3 brought a new level of physicality and emotion, turning Rogers Place into a battleground where tempers flared and rivalries deepened. Amid the chaos and hard-fought battles, one player found himself in the spotlight for more than just his performance.

Jake Walman, a key piece of the Oilers’ blue line, became a focal point of controversy as the NHL’s Department of Player Safety responded swiftly to his actions during a fiercely contested game. The league’s decision to take disciplinary measures added yet another layer of drama to an already heated series, sparking debates among fans and analysts alike about consistency and fairness in playoff officiating.

As the Oilers regroup and set their sights on the next pivotal matchup, the fallout from Game 3’s incidents lingers in the background, fueling the narrative of a Stanley Cup Final that has been as unpredictable as it is intense. With both teams hungry for glory, the stage is set for even more fireworks as the series continues to unfold.

Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Jake Walman was all over the ice in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup FInals, but now, the young defenseman has been handed down not one, but two fines.

Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals was absolute chaos, and while the scoreline read 6-1 at the end of the night, it was a highly competitive contest that saw plenty of physicality and intensity.

On Tuesday, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety came down hard on some of the antics, specifically fining Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jake Walman not once, but twice for his actions in the game.

According to a social media release, the league has fined Walman $5,000 for two separate incidents totalling $10,000, with the first one being for roughing Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk.

The other was for unsportsmanlike conduct, with the league noting an ‘incident involving Florida’s bench’, as he stood at his own bench and sprayed the closest Panthers with his water bottle.

While it makes sense that the NHL would come down hard on unsportsmanlike conduct, given what other teams in the post-season have been getting away with, this one has certainly already drawn the criticism of fans.

Given the perceived bias towards the Florida Panthers, especially in recent years, fans were quick to call out the double fine on social media, but with no suspension handed down, the Oilers won’t be too worried about this situation.

To get back into the series however, the Oilers will need to start playing their own game, something that they clearly got away from in Game 3, and while a $10,000 fine for two incidents isn’t insignificant, you can bet the veterans in the Oilers locker room have this team solely focused on stealing a win in Game 4 to get back to Edmonton tied at 2-2.