After two tight video games to start out the 2025 Stanley Cup Last — every requiring time beyond regulation to find out a winner — Recreation 3 was a lopsided affair, with the Florida Panthers successful 6-1 over the Edmonton Oilers.
Can the Oilers even issues up previous to the collection heading again to Edmonton for Recreation 5? Or will the Panthers transfer one victory away from a Stanley Cup repeat?
Listed here are notes on the matchup from ESPN Analysis, in addition to betting intel from ESPN BET:
Extra from Recreation 3: Recap | Grades
Matchup notes
Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers
Recreation 4 | 8 p.m. ET | TNT/Max
Previous to Recreation 3, the Stanley Cup odds have been fairly shut, with the Panthers -115 and Oilers -105. After Florida’s clobbering of Edmonton in Recreation 3, the Panthers are actually -260 favorites, in comparison with +215 for the Oilers. Sam Bennett additionally jumped from +400 to +120 within the odds for the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP). Connor McDavid (+240), Brad Marchand (+550) and Sergei Bobrovsky (+650) spherical out the highest 4.
When a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Last has began 1-1, the winner of Recreation 3 holds an all-time collection document of 23-7. The Panthers have a 3-1 collection document when main 2-1 in a best-of-seven collection; their lone collection loss was within the 2012 convention quarterfinals in opposition to the New Jersey Devils.
The Oilers have gained their previous three collection when trailing 2-1: 2024 second spherical in opposition to the Vancouver Canucks, 2024 Western Convention finals in opposition to the Dallas Stars, and the 2025 first spherical in opposition to the Los Angeles Kings.
Florida is the sixth crew in Stanley Cup playoff historical past to attain 5 or extra objectives in a recreation 11 occasions in a single postseason, and the primary for the reason that 1992 Pittsburgh Penguins. 4 of the earlier 5 gained the Stanley Cup.
With a objective in Recreation 3, Marchand (37) grew to become the oldest participant to attain in every of the primary three video games of a Stanley Cup Last, breaking the document beforehand held by Frank Mahovlich (age 35 in 1973). Marchand’s 4 objectives on this collection are probably the most in a Stanley Cup Last by a participant age 37 or older.
Bennett and Marchand grew to become the second pair of teammates to each rating at the least one objective in every of the primary three video games of a Cup Last. The opposite duo is Steve Payne and Dino Ciccarelli for the 1981 Minnesota North Stars.
Paul Maurice now has 1,000 profession wins and is simply the third coach to achieve that milestone, becoming a member of Scotty Bowman (1,467) and Joel Quenneville (1,090).
Recreation 3 was the thirteenth time each McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been held with out a level in the identical playoff recreation; the previous two have each come in opposition to the Panthers in Florida (Recreation 7 of the 2024 Cup Last was the opposite).
Oilers winger Corey Perry scored his tenth profession Cup Last objective in Recreation 3, which is the second most amongst lively gamers (behind Marchand).
Edmonton has had 20 completely different objective scorers this postseason, which is tied for the third most in a single postseason in NHL historical past. If a brand new objective scorer tallies one in Recreation 4 or past, it is going to tie the all-time mark, at present held by the 1987 Philadelphia Flyers (in opposition to the Oilers) and the 2019 Boston Bruins (in opposition to the St. Louis Blues).
Scoring leaders
GP: 20 | G: 14 | A: 6
GP: 19 | G: 6 | A: 25
Greatest bets for Recreation 4
Evan Bouchard over 3.5 whole pictures on objective (+125): After registering seven and eight in Video games 1 and a pair of respectively, the Oilers’ most efficient defenseman fired 9 pictures on objective in Monday’s dropping effort. Solely Connor McDavid has put pictures on web extra typically for Edmonton this postseason altogether.
Sergei Bobrovsky over 26.5 whole saves (-135): Whereas Bobrovsky’s save benchmark was certain to rise ultimately, upwards of 26 stays palatable sufficient. After stopping 42 of 46 by each time beyond regulation battles in Edmonton, Florida’s No. 1 denied 32 of 33 — together with a superb variety of high-danger probabilities — in Recreation 3. Have in mind, that contest devolved right into a give attention to fisticuffs in lieu of scoring within the third interval. The Oilers are certain to return out firing typically in a recreation they basically have to win to take care of a shot at rising victorious on this collection.
Brad Marchand over 0.5 plus/minus (+145): Probably the most beloved new member of the Panthers is driving a four-game level streak comprising 4 objectives versus Edmonton, plus an help from Florida’s last contest with Carolina. All informed, he is plus-four by three video games this Stanley Cup Last.
