Current:Home > FinanceFlorida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers facing off in Stanley Cup Final. What to know -TradeWisdom
Florida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers facing off in Stanley Cup Final. What to know
View
Date:2025-04-28 00:59:40
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! (8)
Related
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- Stop hackers cold: Tech tips to secure your phone's data and location
- A Massachusetts town spent $600k on shore protection. A winter storm washed it away days later
- Miami Seaquarium says it will fight the eviction, protestors may have to wait to celebrate
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Anticipating the Stanley cup Neon Collection drop: What to know if you want a Spring Fling cup
- A Florida man kept having migraines. Doctors then discovered tapeworm eggs in his brain.
- RNC lays off dozens after Trump-backed leaders take the helm
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- TikTok bill passes House in bipartisan vote, moving one step closer to possible ban
Ranking
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- US and Japanese forces to resume Osprey flights in Japan following fatal crash
- Get a Ninja Portable Blender for Only $45, $350 Worth of Beauty for $50: Olaplex, Tula & More Daily Deals
- Putin warns again that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if its sovereignty is threatened
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Sauce Gardner says former teammate Mecole Hardman 'ungrateful' in criticizing Jets
- RNC lays off dozens after Trump-backed leaders take the helm
- Ariana Madix Slams Vanderpump Rules Costars for Forgiving Ex Tom Sandoval After Affair Scandal
Recommendation
Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
Landslide destroys Los Angeles home and threatens at least two others
Anticipating the Stanley cup Neon Collection drop: What to know if you want a Spring Fling cup
Returns from Tommy John surgery may seem routine. Recovery can be full of grief, angst and isolation
Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
Riverdale’s Vanessa Morgan Breaks Silence on “Painful” Divorce From Michael Kopech
Voters choose county commissioner as new Georgia House member
Neil Young returns to Spotify after 2-year hiatus following Joe Rogan controversy