As the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers intensifies, a critical element of the game has come under scrutiny, prompting the Oilers to push the NHL for increased monitoring. This element revolves around the long line change in the second period and its impact on player fatigue and scoring opportunities.

The long line change occurs in the second period when the benches are located further away from a team's defensive zone. This increased distance can make it difficult for players to make quick line changes, leading to extended shifts and potential exhaustion. The Oilers have voiced concerns that the Panthers are exploiting this situation, leading to prolonged periods of offensive pressure and increased scoring chances.

In the first two games of the series, the Oilers struggled significantly in the second period, being outshot 31-17 and outscored 3-1. In Game 2, they carried a 3-2 lead into the second period but conceded the tying goal due to their inability to clear the puck and make timely line changes. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged that the team's "puck execution" wasn't sharp, and they "gave away a lot of pucks," which exacerbated the issue.

The Oilers' concern isn't simply about fatigue. It's about the strategic advantage the long line change provides the Panthers, who are effectively pinning the Oilers in their own zone. By maintaining relentless pressure, the Panthers prevent the Oilers from skating the extra distance needed to make a change, keeping tired players on the ice longer. This leads to turnovers, defensive breakdowns, and ultimately, goals.

Several Oilers players have commented on the challenges posed by the long line change. Leon Draisaitl noted that the team "lost our legs a little bit" and wasn't "as quick to recover pucks." John Klingberg emphasized that while a perfect 60-minute performance is unrealistic, the team needs to address its struggles in the second period.

The Oilers' push for increased monitoring suggests they want the NHL to pay closer attention to how the Panthers are managing their line changes and potentially look for any violations of the rules. While it's unlikely the NHL will make any drastic changes mid-series, the Oilers' concerns could lead to more stringent enforcement of existing rules related to line changes and potential adjustments to the bench configuration in future seasons.

The impact of the long line change isn't unique to this series. It's a factor in every NHL game, but the high stakes of the Stanley Cup Final magnify its importance. The Oilers' decision to raise the issue publicly underscores their belief that it's a significant factor influencing the outcome of the series. As the series shifts to Florida for Game 3, it remains to be seen whether the Oilers can adapt their strategy to mitigate the challenges posed by the long line change or if the NHL will take any action to address their concerns.