The Florida Panthers are back in the Stanley Cup Finals and hoping for a different result than last season’s Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers will face off in a seven-game series beginning Saturday night in Sunrise. The Oilers feature the best player in the world, Conner McDavid.
With Leon Draisaitl leading the team in postseason goals and Zach Hyman leading the Oilers in power-play goals, this team has a ton of offensive talent that can score anytime from anywhere on the ice.
The Panthers are 12-5 this Stanley Cup run, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Boston Bruins, and most recently, the New York Rangers.
Meanwhile, the Oilers are 12-7 in the postseason, defeating the Los Angeles Kings, the Vancouver Canucks, and the Dallas Stars.
The Oilers have gotten to their first Stanley Cup final in 18 years, making their last appearance since 2006. The Oilers last won the cup in 1990, defeating the Boston Bruins in five games.
The Oilers have put up 3.50 goals per game in their playoff run, while the Panthers are averaging 3.24 goals per game.
The Panthers and their smothering defense are giving up just 2.29 goals per game.
It Will Be A Challenge Defending McDavid And Draisaitl
Florida will have their hands full trying to defend Conner McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. When asked how he would defend those two right after the win against the Rangers, Paul Maurice said, “I don’t have an answer.”
McDavid has won the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP in 2017, 2021, and 2023. He is a finalist again this year, leading all scorers in the playoffs with 31 points.
Draisaitl is second in playoff scoring with 28 points.
In the game seven win against Dallas, the Stars outplayed the Oilers and outshot Edmonton 34-10, but they still lost to the Oilers 2-1.
“These two men, you can’t play a 1-on-1 game with them,” Paul Maurice said. “They’re just too fast, too strong, too skilled, so it’s just a five-man defensive game, and everything else that’s going to come out of my mouth would be cliché.”
Oilers Power Play Is The Best This Postseason
Led by the trio of Zach Hyman, McDavid, and Draisaitl, the Oiler’s power play is clicking at 37.4 percent, which leads the NHL in the playoffs.
Defensemen Gustav Forsling talked about the challenge of defending Edmonton’s big three. “It’s going to be a big, big challenge. “They’re obviously two unbelievable players. They’ve got speed and skill, so it’s going to be tough.”
One area where the Panthers have a clear advantage is in goal. Sergei Bobrovsky is one of the best goalies in the world, and he has the edge on Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner in every significant category.
Bobrovsky averaged 1.89 GAA in the Eastern Conference Final.
Skinner played the best hockey of his career in the seven-game series against the Stars, stopping 142/154 shots and posting a 1.91 GAA.
Skinner should be tested early and often against the Panthers. Florida has averaged 33.2 shots per game so far in the playoffs.
Anton Lundell has been impressed with Bobrovsky this season. “He’s been really good. Best goalie in the world, in my opinion. To have him on my team is unreal. We try to help him a lot and make the job as easy as possible for him. Overall, we’re all happy just following him and having him here.”
This is the first-ever playoff series between the Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. The two teams did meet twice this season, with the Panthers winning both games by scores of 5-3 and 5-1.
Three Keys To The Panthers Raising The Stanley Cup
The relentless forecheck must continue against a very talented Edmonton team.
The Panthers have used that forecheck to take the Rangers, Bruins, and Lightning out of their offensive game plan, and that must continue against the Oilers.
The Panthers duo of Alexsander Barkov, the defensive forward of the year, and Gustav Forsling must contain McDavid and Draisaitl.
Win the battle of special teams. The Panthers held the Rangers to 1/15 on the power play in the Eastern Conference.
The Rangers were the third-best team on the PP during the regular season, clicking at 26.4%, and was non-existent against the Panthers.
The Panthers have waited all year to return to the Stanley Cup Final. They are clicking on all cylinders right now and are as good offensively as this Oilers team is. This Panthers team is on a mission.
Author’s Prediction – The Florida Panthers will win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The third time will be the charm for the Panthers.
Florida defeats Edmonton 4-1 to raise Lord Stanley’s Cup on home ice and bring South Florida their first hockey championship.