For the second consecutive season, the Stanley Cup Finals will feature the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers.
This is the 12th Stanley Cup Finals rematch in NHL history. The last time we had a rematch in the finals was in the 2008-09 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings.
Last year’s final went seven games with the Panthers prevailing to win their first Stanley Cup. This will be the third consecutive Cup final for the Panthers. Florida lost to Vegas 4-2 in 2022-23, then beat Edmonton in last year’s final 4-3.
This year, the Panthers won the season series, going 2-0 against the Oilers. Florida won in Sunrise, 6-5, and beat the Oilers in Edmonton, 4-3.
This is the fourth Stanley Cup Final for the Panthers in franchise history and the 8th final for Edmonton.
It has been 32 years since a Canadian team has raised the Stanley Cup. The last Canadian team to do it was the Montreal Canadiens in 1992-93.
This series will feature the top four picks from the 2014 NHL draft: Aaron Ekblad, the overall No. 1 pick; Sam Reinhart, the overall No. 2 pick; Leon Draisaitl the No. 3 pick; and Sam Bennett, who went No. 4.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice has said that this is the best of the three cup final teams. The Panthers added future Hall of Famer Brad Marchand at the trade deadline and defenseman Seth Jones in a trade with Chicago. Marchand brought his scoring and physical play to the Panthers’ forward unit. However, what has been most impactful is the 36-year-old veteran’s leadership and presence in the locker room. Jones has improved the Panthers’ defense and provided scoring depth as well. Simply, the Panthers are better than they were a year ago.
The Oilers are favored to win in game one, but the overall series is a toss-up.
Paul Maurice talked to the media about what to expect in this year’s Stanley Cup Final. “I think both teams are pretty consistent with their identity and their style of play. They’re a year further into their program now, and so are we. They’ve had three great years. I think they’re better at what they do now, and we are as well.”
Carter Verhaeghe spoke for the players and said everyone is excited and looking forward to this year’s finals rematch. “It’s definitely going to be a good series. They’re going to be ready. We’re going to be ready. And it’s crazy that where you get back-to-back Stanley Cup Final matchups. So, it’s going to be a tough series. We know what to expect. Just a lot of excitement going into it.”
Here are three key areas to watch in this year’s Stanley Cup Final:
Goaltenders
Stuart Skinner will start for the Oilers. He has been outstanding for the Oilers, going 6-1 over his last seven games with a 1.41 GAA and a .944 save percentage. The Oilers’ playoff start was rough, as Skinner allowed 12 goals in the first two games against the Los Angeles Kings. Many thought the series was over with the Kings leading 2-0 but give the Oilers credit. They came back to win four straight and win the series.
Sergei Bobrovsky has been rock solid for the Panthers this postseason, going 12-4 with a 1.57 GAA, a .935 save percentage, and two shutouts. Bobrovsky is closing in on the all-time leader in playoff wins for active players. Bobrovsky has 57 wins, trailing Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who has 65 playoff wins.
I would have trouble trusting Skinner in a big spot. If I want to win a game seven, I would take Bobrovsky any day of the week.
Advantage Panthers.
Forwards
The Oilers are led by two of the best players of this generation, Conner McDavid and Leon Draisiatl.
Although the Panthers have no one on the team that can match the scoring prowess of those two, the depth scoring on the Panthers is better. 19 skaters on the Panthers playoff roster have scored at least one goal in the playoffs. The third line of Eetu Luostarinen, Anton Lundell, and Brad Marchand have been huge in the playoffs. This line has combined for 10 goals and allowed just two goals so far in the playoffs. Luostarinen alone has 13 points in 18 playoff games while collecting 24 points in 80 games during the regular season.
Oilers forward Zach Hyman had surgery for an upper-body injury and is out for the rest of the playoffs. This is a massive loss for Edmonton and will be felt throughout the Stanley Cup Final.
It was announced that Alexsander Barkov is the winner of the Selke Trophy, which is awarded to the best defensive forward. Barkov won the award for the second consecutive season and the third time in his career.
By a razor-thin margin, let’s give the edge to the Oilers, who have the star power advantage. However, the Panthers have better bottom-three forwards and better scoring depth.
Advantage Oilers.
Defense
The addition of Seth Jones at the trade deadline gave Florida’s defense the extra punch it needed to help bring a second Stanley Cup to South Florida. Jones has three goals and seven points in the playoffs. But his physical presence on the blue line and the added scoring depth he brings have been a huge difference maker for the Panthers. Nikko Mikkola has significantly improved over the last year, making the Florida defense even better.
Advantage Panthers.
Author’s Prediction
The Panthers and Oilers are evenly matched offensively, but the Panthers are much better and tighter on defense. They are also more physical than Edmonton and have the better goaltender.
Connor McDavid is again the early favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. McDavid has won five Art Ross trophies, four Ted Lindsay awards, three Hart Memorial trophies, and a Conn Smythe Trophy and has appeared in seven All-Star Games. However, one trophy has eluded the 28-year-old so far: the Stanley Cup.
It will be a great series, going seven games, with the Panthers once again winning the Stanley Cup.
Odds to win the Stanley Cup
Oilers -115
Panthers -105
Conn Smythe Favorite
Conner McDavid -110
Sergei Bobrovsky +250
Stanley Cup Schedule
Game 1: Panthers at Oilers, June 4, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: Panthers at Oilers, June 6, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: Oilers at Panthers, June 9, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: Oilers at Panthers, June 12, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5: Panthers at Oilers, June 14, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 6: Oilers at Panthers, June 17, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 7: Panthers at Oilers, June 20, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)