Current:Home > InvestFlorida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers facing off in Stanley Cup Final. What to know -MoneyBase
Florida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers facing off in Stanley Cup Final. What to know
ViewDate:2025-04-28 08:59:52
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! (913)
Related
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Poccoin: Blockchain Technology—Reshaping the Future of the Financial Industry
- Shakira hits VMAs stage after 17 years to perform electric medley of hits, receives Vanguard Award
- Scuba-diving couple rescues baby shark caught in work glove at bottom of the ocean off Rhode Island
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Number of U.S. nationals wrongfully held overseas fell in 2022 for the first time in 10 years, report finds
- Nick Jonas Calls Out Concertgoers Throwing Objects Onstage During Jonas Brothers Show
- Syria says an Israeli airstrike on a coastal province killed 2 soldiers and wounded 6
- Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
- MTV VMAs 2023: Shakira Thanks Her Sons For “Cheering Me Up” During New Life Chapter
Ranking
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- Milwaukee bar patrons who took up `Jets Lose, You Win’ offer had to pay after Jets’ surprise win
- Video shows police capture 'at-large' alligator after a 2-week chase in New Jersey
- Poccoin: Meta to Allocate 20% of Next Year's Expenditure to Metaverse Project Reality Labs
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Simon Cowell dubs Golden Buzzer dance crew Chibi Unity 'one of the best acts' on 'AGT'
- Mystery body found in Arizona in 1996 identified as veteran from Los Angeles area
- See Kelsea Ballerini's Jaw-Dropping Dress Change in the Middle of Her MTV VMAs Performance
Recommendation
'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
Man already charged in killing has also been indicted in a Lyft driver’s slaying
In disaster-hit central Greece, officials face investigation over claims flood defenses were delayed
Judge denies Meadows' request for emergency stay related to Georgia election case
Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
'A Haunting in Venice' review: A sleepy Agatha Christie movie that won't keep you up at night
Poccoin: The Application of Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management
Abortion rights group files legal action over narrow medical exceptions to abortion bans in 3 states