If Recreation 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Closing was any indication, Panthers-Oilers II goes to be unimaginable.
Both method, Edmonton carries a 1-0 collection lead into Recreation 2 on Friday night time (8 p.m. ET, TNT/Max). Will the Oilers notch one other W earlier than the collection heads cross-continent to South Florida? Or will the “Comeback Cats” strike again to sq. issues up?
Listed here are notes on the matchup from ESPN Analysis, in addition to betting intel from ESPN BET:
Extra from Recreation 1: Recap | Grades
Matchup notes
Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers
Recreation 2 | 8 p.m. ET | TNT/Max
Following their win in Recreation 1, the Oilers are actually -225 to win the Stanley Cup, with the Panthers adjusted to +185, per ESPN BET. The highest of the Conn Smythe Trophy leaderboard (for MVP of the playoffs) has Edmonton’s Connor McDavid at -175, adopted by Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky (+375), Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl (+450) and Florida’s Aleksander Barkov (+1000).
The winner of Recreation 1 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Closing has gained 76% of these collection (65-20), together with the previous 4 and 10 of the previous 13.
The Oilers registered 46 photographs on aim in Recreation 1, their most in a Stanley Cup Closing recreation; the earlier excessive was 43 in Recreation 7 in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1987.
Florida has scored 51 street objectives this postseason, which units a brand new Stanley Cup playoffs document, besting the 1993 Los Angeles Kings’ mark of 49. They’re additionally the primary crew in NHL historical past to attain three or extra objectives in 9 straight street video games in a single postseason.
Draisaitl — who did not rating in any respect within the 2024 Cup Closing — scored his third extra time aim this postseason, tying the one postseason document held by Mel Hill in 1939, Maurice Richard in 1951, Corey Perry in 2017 and Matthew Tkachuk in 2023.
Defenseman Mattias Ekholm is the twentieth totally different Oilers participant with a aim this postseason, tied for third most in a single postseason in Stanley Cup playoff historical past, and one shy of the mark set by the 2019 Boston Bruins and 1987 Flyers.
Stuart Skinner earned his twenty sixth profession playoff win, which breaks a tie with Invoice Ranford for second in Oilers historical past, trailing solely Corridor of Famer Grant Fuhr, with 74.
Florida’s Sam Bennett scored his eleventh and twelfth objectives this postseason, which breaks the Panthers’ single postseason document held by Matthew Tkachuk in 2023 and Carter Verhaeghe in 2024. Eleven of his objectives have been on the street this postseason, which ties Mark Scheifele in 2018 for probably the most street objectives in a single postseason all time.
Brad Marchand scored a power-play aim in Recreation 1. He is the one participant with at the very least one power-play aim in every of the previous eight postseasons.
Bobrovsky made 42 saves in a dropping effort, the second-most saves by a Panthers goalie in a Stanley Cup Closing recreation behind John Vanbiesbrouck, who had 55 saves in 1996 Recreation 4 vs. the Colorado Avalanche (which went to triple extra time).
Scoring leaders
GP: 17 | G: 6 | A: 22
GP: 18 | G: 12 | A: 6
Greatest bets for Recreation 2
Sergei Bobrovsky over 24.5 complete saves (-110): After stopping 33 of 36 photographs in regulation, the Panthers’ beginning netminder went on to disclaim one other 9 of 10 within the further body of an exceptionally vigorous Recreation 1. Solely two of Edmonton’s 18 skaters didn’t register at the very least one shot on internet, with six defenders accounting for a complete of 21. Projecting the Oilers to return out firing as soon as extra in entrance of the house crowd at Rogers Place, Bobrovsky needs to be in for an additional busy night. He simply must cease 25 of them.
Eetu Luostarinen over 3.5 complete hits (-134): By way of the 16 full video games he is performed this postseason, the bodily ahead is averaging 4.6 hits per contest. Solely teammate Sam Bennett is throwing his physique round extra. After logging greater than 21 minutes in Recreation 1, there’s much less concern that the beforehand banged up Luostarinen is match sufficient to wreak such havoc. Plus, little question he’ll discover Oilers ahead Evander Kane registered 9 hits within the opener. That little further aggressive incentive by no means hurts, particularly following a loss.
Corey Perry over 0.5 complete factors (Even): Perhaps the purpose streak ends at three video games. Or maybe the just-turned 40-year-old will proceed to reap the advantages of changing an injured Zach Hyman on a prime line and energy play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. — Victoria Matiash
