Starting tomorrow night, the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers will face off in the Stanley Cup Final—one of the greatest events in sports. This matchup promises to deliver a thrilling series filled with two standout squads. Here’s an efficient look at what to expect from both teams.

 

Florida Panthers

 

The Panthers are simply a team that has worn everyone down all year, with dominance late in games. Their energy and tenacity are even more impressive considering they had an extended postseason in 2023, getting to this point before losing to the Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final. Florida is a highly determined bunch. Head coach Paul Maurice has the fourth-most wins in NHL history and is looking to capture his first Stanley Cup with this year’s group.

 

Playoff Journey

 

• First Round: Five games over the Tampa Bay Lightning
• Second Round: Six games over the Boston Bruins
• Conference Final: Six games over the New York Rangers

 

Strengths

 

• Balanced Scoring: The Panthers have depth across all four lines, making them a threat from any part of the roster.
• Special Teams: Their penalty kill has been particularly effective, often shifting momentum in critical moments.

 

Edmonton Oilers

 

The Oilers have showcased resilience and tactical brilliance, with a midseason coaching change to Kris Knoblauch revitalizing a team that started the year 2-9-1. They are looking to become the sixth team since 2000 to win the Stanley Cup after hiring their coach during the season.

 

Playoff Journey

 

• First Round: Five games over the Los Angeles Kings
• Second Round: Seven games over the Vancouver Canucks
• Conference Final: Six games over the Dallas Stars

 

Strengths

 

• Power Play: The Oilers boast the most potent power play in the league, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl orchestrating masterful plays.
• Defensive Improvements: The February acquisition of veteran Mattias Ekholm has stabilized their defense, and goalie Stuart Skinner has been playing very well in net.

 

Stanley Cup Final Schedule

 

All games are on ABC at 8:00 PM ET. Games 5-7 if necessary.

 

• Game 1: Saturday, June 8 | Oilers vs. Panthers
• Game 2: Monday, June 10 | Oilers vs. Panthers
• Game 3: Thursday, June 13 | Panthers vs. Oilers
• Game 4: Saturday, June 15 | Panthers vs. Oilers
• Game 5: Tuesday, June 18 | Oilers vs. Panthers
• Game 6: Friday, June 21 | Panthers vs. Oilers
• Game 7: Monday, June 24 | Oilers vs. Panthers

 

Prediction

 

This series might come down to which of Connor McDavid and Sergei Bobrovsky plays the most lights out. When a guy like McDavid can do stuff like this, there’s sometimes not much a goaltender can do. The star power for Edmonton is scary, so Bobrovsky might need to stand on his head often. However, the depth and end-of-game play for the Panthers has stood out all year, including into the playoffs.

 

Stunningly, a Canadian team has not won it all in over 30 years (1993)! So, many up north will be pulling for the Oilers. But I’m giving the edge to a Florida team that has consistently come through late.

 

Panthers in seven