As Sam Bennett’s playoff lore continues to grow with each playoff goal scored, his pending free agency only grows more fascinating. On the one hand, you have a soon-to-be 29-year-old second-line center — a decent one that plays with an edge and has scored at a 53-point pace since joining the Florida Panthers.

Bennett had the kind of shift in Game 3’s victory on Monday that tells the larger Panthers’ story. It’s as much the moment of this series as Panthers forward Brad Marchand’s breakaway goal to win Game 2, defenseman Aaron Ekblad’s hit that sent Connor McDavid spinning to the ice or McDavid’s brilliant “walk-on-water toe tap,’’ as Ekblad called it.

Panthers forward Sam Bennett continued his incredible postseason, scoring his 15th goal to increase Florida's first period lead to 2-0.

Panthers forward Sam Bennett spoke on his team's success in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Oilers.

Once Atlantic Division rivals, the pair of forwards are making NHL history with fantastic play through the first three games of the final.

Now the Oilers sit in a familiar spot — facing elimination in the Stanley Cup final. Brad Marchand scored twice to give him a series-leading six goals and Sam Bennett buried his NHL playoff-leading 15th as Florida defeated Edmonton 5-2 to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven matchup.