SUNRISE — Sergei Bobrovsky stole the show to kick off the Stanley Cup Final, making 32 saves to help the Florida Panthers defeat the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 Saturday night to take a 1-0 series lead.

Bobrovsky stopped 14 shots in the first period, helping the Panthers weather the storm from a potent Oilers offense.

“He’s just been unreal,” Matthew Tkachuk said. “His preparation is incredible. His work ethic, his character, he just has everything you want in a teammate and especially a goalie. He is everything.”

Carter Verhaeghe put them ahead 3:59 into the first period, potting home a cross-crease feed from Aleksander Barkov. Florida had to hold on tight from there as Bobrovsky made save after save in a period where Edmonton led 12-4 in scoring chances and 7-1 in high-danger chances.

Evan Rodrigues extended the lead to two goals 3:16 into the second period to give the Panthers a cushion.

Eetu Luostarinen sealed the deal late in the third period with an empty-net goal.

“I think we can definitely be better,” Verhaeghe said after a game where the Panthers were outshot 32-18. “There’s always things we can improve on, and I think after a week off, we will take a win anyway we can get it. But, yeah, obviously, they outshot us, had a lot more chances than us and we shut it down, played good defensively, but there’s always things we can improve on. We’re kind of getting into our opponent after the first game and feeling it out and it’s just nice to get the win.”

Here are three takeaways from Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final:

Bobrovsky shines when swamped

Throughout the playoffs, the Panthers allowed 24.5 shots-against per game — the least amount of all teams that advanced past the first round. That changed when they took on the high-powered Oilers.

By the end of the second period, Bobrovsky had already faced 26 shots. And he stopped every single one. And 13 of them were on high-danger opportunities.

His numbers through the first three rounds didn’t appear to be elite — a .908 save percentage and a 2.37 goals-against average — but when the action kicked up in the Cup Final, he delivered. Of course, he also knows this will not be easy.

"They have an elite offense," Bobrovsky said. "It's only game one ... it's a long series."

Panthers coach Paul Maurice praised his veteran goaltender afterward.

"I think that’s the game over time most goaltenders are used to,” Maurice said. “The higher-volume, more consistency. And it was certainly that through the first two periods. But that’s truly the advantage for us for having a guy that’s seen it all at this point of his career. He’s had some quiet times, he’s had very, very busy nights and he’s clearly capable of operating at a high level in both.”

Oilers star Connor McDavid called Bobrovsky's shutout payback.

"Maybe it was the hockey gods getting us back for that Game 6 (in the Western Conference finals) where we probably didn't deserve to win," McDavid said. "Tonight, maybe we deserved at least one goal, maybe two goals, and we don't find a way to get them. I know this group will stick with it and bounce back. That's what we take a lot of pride in doing."

Panthers shut down elite Oilers power play

One of the biggest storylines heading into the series was how the Panthers would be able to handle McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the elite Edmonton power play. They entered the series at a league-leading 37.3 percent clip.

Advantage went to the Panthers in Game 1. Their penalty kill shut Edmonton down, going 3-for-3, and allowing seven shots and five high-danger chances.

Florida’s aggressive penalty killing style frustrated Edmonton at times as the Panthers jumped on passing lanes and swarmed the Oilers whenever they entered the zone. But when they got those shots on net, Bobrovsky was brilliant. He stopped all seven of those shots, including four on high-danger chances.

“Those killers have been consistent with their game,” Maurice said. “There are nights where you will say that the driver of it was the players, but tonight, the driver of it was Sergei. But that’s all part of it, right? Rarely are you going to play a power play like that — the only one close to it was probably Tampa, right — those elite shooters that you are not going to get through that penalty kill without your goaltender at some point having to be the difference.”

Barkov brilliant on both ends of the ice

Aleksander Barkov stepped up and showed the world that he is one of hockey’s most exceptional talents on its biggest stage.

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He opened the game with a flashy assist, threading a cross-crease pass with limited space to Verhaeghe for the game’s opening goal. After that, he proved why he won the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward this year for the second time in his career.

Barkov was crucial for Florida’s penalty kill, as he was tenacious on all zone entries and he made big play after big play with his stick. He led by example and the rest of the group followed to give the Panthers their first series lead in the Stanley Cup Final in franchise history.

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“He is an elite, elite player,” Rodrigues said. “He is a 200-foot player, everything you want in a first-line center to build your team around. He does everything right. He’s got an elite stick, he plays physical, he picks his spots and he is elite offensively. I can’t say enough good things about him and I love being on his team.”

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Panthers blank Edmonton Oilers Game 1 Stanley Cup Final