Current:Home > FinanceFlorida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers facing off in Stanley Cup Final. What to know -Pinnacle Profit Strategies
Florida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers facing off in Stanley Cup Final. What to know
TradeEdge Exchange View
Date:2025-04-10 05:06:17
The Stanley Cup Final will have a real 1993 vibe to it.
That's the year that the Florida Panthers played their first season in the NHL and they are still seeking their first championship. That's also the last time that a Canadian team (Montreal Canadiens) won a Stanley Cup title.
Regardless of whether the Panthers or Edmonton Oilers win the best-of-seven series that opens Saturday in Sunrise, Florida, a long drought will end.
Both teams overcame 2-1 series deficits in the conference final to advance.
"We always believed in ourselves and each other and knew that putting ourselves in this position was always a possibility and it feel goods to have done that," Oilers star Connor McDavid said.
Here is a breakdown of the Stanley Cup Final:
Florida Panthers (Atlantic 1) vs. Edmonton Oilers (Pacific 2)
Regular-season records: Panthers - 52-24-6, 110 points. Oilers - 49-27-6, 104
How Panthers got here: Beat Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1, beat Boston Bruins 4-2, beat New York Rangers 4-2.
How Oilers got here: Beat Los Angeles Kings 4-1, beat Vancouver Canucks 4-3, beat Dallas Stars 4-2.
Season series: 2-0 Panthers, with Florida outscoring Edmonton 10-4
Expected goaltending matchup: Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky (12-5, 2.20, .908) vs. Oilers' Stuart Skinner (11-5, 2.50, .897)
About the Florida Panthers
The Panthers and coach Paul Maurice are making their second consecutive trip to the Final. They lost last season to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. But the Panthers are deeper and healthier than last season. They added three defensemen, including Oliver Ekman-Larsson, in the offseason to help them cope while Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad recovered from surgery. They also signed forward Evan Rodrigues and added former Stanley Cup winner Vladimir Tarasenko and Kyle Okposo at the deadline.
The Panthers come at you in waves. Their forechecking make it difficult for opponents to go up the ice. Captain Aleksander Barkov won a second career Selke Trophy as top defensive forward. Sam Reinhart, a 57-goal scorer, finished fourth in Selke voting. Sam Bennett is a hard hitter who scores clutch goals. Feisty leading scorer Matthew Tkachuk is familiar to the Oilers from his days with the Calgary Flames.
Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) candidates: Barkov, Bobrovsky
About the Edmonton Oilers
This is McDavid's first trip to the Final and the Oilers' first trip since 2006, when they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes. They won championships in 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with Wayne Gretzky and in 1990 after he was traded.
This team is known for its offense. The Oilers hold four of the league's top five places on the NHL playoff scoring before Tkachuk comes in at No. 6. McDavid, who recorded a rare 100 assists in the regular season, leads the way with 31 points. Leon Draisaitl has 28 points and Evan Bouchard is the top defenseman with 27. Zach Hyman has a league-best 14 goals.
This season started poorly and Jay Woodcroft was fired with a 3-9-1 record. Kris Knoblauch, the Rangers' American Hockey League coach, came in and improved the team's all-around play. They had a 16-game winning streak this season. The penalty kill is perfect in the last 10 games. Knoblauch is willing to make tough decisions. He benched Skinner for two games and his play improved after his return.
Conn Smythe candidates: McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, Hyman
Panthers vs. Oilers statistical breakdown
Goals per game: Oilers - 3.50 vs. 3.24
Goals against per game: Panthers - 2.29 vs 2.61
Five-on-five play: Panthers - 1.29 vs. 1.03
Power play: Oilers - 37.3% vs. 23.3%
Penalty kill: Oilers - 93.9% vs. 88.2%
Hits: Panthers - 739 vs. 563
Blocked shots: Oilers - 305 vs. 267
veryGood! (55)
Related
- Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
- Wildfire prevention and helping Maui recover from flames top the agenda for Hawaii lawmakers
- How Lions' last NFL playoff win and ultra-rare triumph shaped one USA TODAY reporter
- Nick Saban will be in Kalen DeBoer's ear at Alabama. And that's OK | Opinion
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes has helmet shattered during playoff game vs. Miami
- The Latest Cafecore Trend Brings Major Coffeeshop Vibes Into Your Home
- Demonstrations against the far right held in Germany following a report on a deportation meeting
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Queen Margrethe II of Denmark Abdicates the Throne, Breaking Nearly 900-Year Tradition
Ranking
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott denies he's advocating shooting migrants crossing Texas-Mexico border
- Nico Collins' quiet rise with Texans reflects standout receiver's soft-spoken style
- Margaritaville license plates, Jimmy Buffett highway proposed to honor late Florida singer
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- Top Western envoys review Ukraine peace formula to end Russia’s war as Zelenskyy plans Davos visit
- Crypto's Nazi problem: With few rules to stop them, white supremacists fundraise for hate
- Horoscopes Today, January 12, 2024
Recommendation
Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Bills-Steelers playoff game moved to Monday amid forecast for dangerous winter weather
Dozens killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza overnight amid fears of widening conflict
Get ready for transparent TV: Tech giants show off 'glass-like' television screens at CES
Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
How 'The Book of Clarence' gives a brutal scene from the Bible new resonance (spoilers)
Steve Sarkisian gets four-year contract extension to keep him coaching Texas through 2030
Virginia woman cancels hair appointment when she wins $2 million playing Powerball