The Florida Panthers have a 1-0 lead within the Stanley Cup Remaining after a 3-0 shutout win over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night time. On the energy of an exceptional efficiency from Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida is simply three wins away from its first championship in franchise historical past.
Bobrovsky performed among the best video games of his 14-year profession in Recreation 1. He stopped all 32 pictures the Oilers threw his means, and lots of of these had been high quality scoring probabilities. Bobrovsky denied two breakaways within the first interval alone, and he actually stood on his head within the second interval, when Edmonton’s deadly energy play was throwing every thing at him.
The Panthers did not have their greatest offensive recreation on Saturday, however they had been in a position to manufacture sufficient offense to return away with the win. Carter Verhaeghe scored his team-leading tenth aim of the playoffs simply 3:59 into the sport, and Evan Rodrigues completed a stupendous play from Sam Bennett to make it a 2-0 recreation.
Eetu Luostarinen discovered the again of an empty internet with 4 seconds remaining to seal the deal for the Panthers.
The Oilers had their probabilities in Recreation 1. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl mixed for 10 pictures on aim, and that is often a recipe for achievement, however not when Bobrovsky is taking part in at a Conn Smythe degree. Edmonton must work out a approach to make life even harder on the Panthers’ netminder in Recreation 2.
Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Remaining schedule
All occasions Jap | *if crucial
- Recreation 1 — Panthers 3, Oilers 0 | Recap
- Recreation 2 — Oilers at Panthers: Monday, June 10, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
- Recreation 3 — Panthers at Oilers: Thursday, June 13, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
- Recreation 4 — Panthers at Oilers Saturday, June 15, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
- Recreation 5* — Oilers at Panthers: Tuesday, June 18, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
- Recreation 6* — Panthers at Oilers: Friday, June 21, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
- Recreation 7* — Oilers at Panthers: Monday, June 24, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
Panthers vs. Oilers odds
- Sequence winner: Panthers -135, Oilers +115
- Recreation 1: Panthers -139, Oilers +117
Sequence predictions, picks
Chris Bengel: The Panthers battled via fairly a little bit of adversity early on within the Jap Convention Remaining. In actual fact, the Rangers held a 2-1 collection lead following an time beyond regulation victory in Recreation 3. Nonetheless, Florida closed out the collection about as sturdy as a group may with three consecutive wins to take the collection.
As was the case all through the Panthers’ 2023 Stanley Cup run, star ahead Matthew Tkachuk has excelled all through the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tkachuk leads the group in factors (19) as he is tallied 5 targets and 14 assists to date. On high of Tkachuk, the Panthers possess an abundance of depth amongst their top-six forwards, together with Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe along with Tkachuk. Bennett actually confirmed up within the last three video games of the Rangers collection as he’s presently driving a three-game aim streak.
Whereas the offensive firepower can usually be the theme relating to the Panthers, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been taking part in out of his thoughts all through the postseason. Bobrovsky has tallied a 12-5-0 document to go together with a 2.20 goals-against-average and a .908 save share. The 35-year-old has additionally allowed two or fewer targets in 10 of his final 11 playoff video games, together with in all however one contest in the course of the Jap Convention Remaining. In line with Cash Puck, Bobrobsky owns a .960 save share when he is confronted unblocked pictures all through the postseason.
Bobrovsky is actually going to should be at his greatest for the Panthers to hoist the Stanley Cup. The Oilers have been arguably essentially the most deadly offensive group of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and that is to be anticipated when a group has the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on its roster.
Having to take care of one of many world’s high gamers in McDavid on a nightly foundation will not be a simple job, however I feel Bobrovsky will likely be as much as the problem. This may probably be a back-and-forth collection and will simply go seven video games. Finally, I belief the Panthers’ goaltending and star energy somewhat bit extra, and I consider they will win their first Stanley Cup in franchise historical past. Decide — Panthers beat Oilers, 4-3
Austin Nivison: The Oilers rely closely on a core of about six gamers with Connor McDavid main the best way as the perfect hockey participant on this rotating rock. Together with McDavid, Edmonton has 5 gamers with at the least 18 factors in these playoffs. Nobody else has greater than eight. When the Oilers’ high gamers are rolling, as they’ve been all postseason, they’re virtually invulnerable. The massive query is whether or not they can hold it going towards Florida’s protection.
Edmonton has held its personal defensively in these playoffs, however the overwhelming majority of that work has been finished by Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard. These two have mixed for a plus-9 aim differential at five-on-five, per Pure Stat Trick. With out these two within the recreation, that aim differential plummets to minus-12.
The Panthers use their phenomenal depth and suffocating group protection to squeeze the life out of groups. The Panthers have allowed simply 2.24 targets towards per recreation within the playoffs. That stinginess is due, at the least partly, to the efforts of Selke Trophy winner Aleksander Barkov and the highest defensive pair of Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad. Anticipate McDavid to get very aware of these three, and whereas he has dominated robust matchups via the primary three rounds, this will likely be one thing akin to a last boss problem for him.
In fact, the Panthers aren’t all protection on a regular basis. Matthew Tkachuk stays among the best energy forwards within the recreation immediately, and he leads Florida with 19 factors. Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe fill out the top-six with some good scoring pop too.
Particular groups received the day for the Oilers within the final spherical, and they’ll have an edge in that division once more. Their energy play has transformed on 37.3% of its alternatives, and the penalty kill has killed off 28 consecutive energy play probabilities for its opponents. The Panthers are not any slouches on particular groups, however they don’t seem to be fairly that good.
Florida ought to have the ability to make up for that particular groups deficit with a slight benefit in aim. Sergei Bobrovsky has been stable for the Panthers in these playoffs, posting a .908 save share, however he has proven the flexibility to play at an elite degree. On the opposite aspect, Stuart Skinner got here on sturdy within the convention last after struggling within the second spherical. Which model of Skinner reveals up on this collection will likely be an X-factor.
This Stanley Cup Remaining matchup is a toss-up that includes groups constructed in numerous methods. Finally, the Panthers’ depth and protection will win out towards a high-powered however top-heavy Oilers group. Decide — Panthers beat Oilers, 4-2
So who wins Oilers vs. Panthers, and which aspect of the cash line has all the worth? Go to SportsLine now to see which aspect of the cash line to leap on Saturday, all from the skilled who’s up over $1,400 in his final 72 NHL against-the-spread picks, and discover out.
