Stanley Cup Final Preview: McDavid and Barkov lead Oilers, Panthers into Battle For Glory

The stage is ready for the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, because the Florida Panthers will look to win the Cup after falling brief final season, they usually’ll achieve this towards Connor McDavid and the high-flying Edmonton Oilers. 

The Panthers acquired by means of three rounds within the Eastern Conference, beating the New York Rangers within the convention closing, whereas the Oilers are the final workforce standing out of the Western Conference after a hard-fought sequence win over the Dallas Stars.

The Oilers haven’t been to the Stanley Cup Final since they misplaced in 2006, they usually’re seeking to develop into the first Canadian franchise to seize the Cup since 1993.

Florida was within the closing simply final season, however they’re searching for their first Cup win in franchise historical past after dropping to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023.

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Stanley Cup Final Preview: How do the Panthers and Oilers Stack Up?

The pre-series vibe to this matchup feels awfully just like the one from earlier than Edmonton’s sequence towards Dallas, though there are a few key variations between the Panthers and Stars.

We’ll begin with Edmonton then. Connor McDavid is enjoying at a degree the place if he brings it each night time and some issues go proper for the Oilers, he may roughly win this sequence by himself.

We know for certain he’ll get sturdy help from Leon Draisatil, winger Zach Hyman, and defenseman Evan Bouchard. Those 4 enjoying at their present degree makes the Oilers very tough to beat, and Edmonton has been deadly on particular groups within the postseason. 

On the damaging aspect, there is a chance that goaltender Stuart Skinner may return to his much less efficient methods at any level on this sequence. If we see something near the worst of Skinner, and we have already seen it on this postseason, Florida will win. 

Edmonton’s protection past Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm is an space of concern as nicely, with Darnell Nurse vacillating between efficient and ineffective and customarily having a tough go of it within the playoffs. 

Florida is extra stable between the pipes, though Sergei Bobrovsky has not performed fairly in addition to he’s able to. Florida and Dallas are each stable top-to-bottom groups, however Florida’s excellence comes from its protection, whereas Dallas brings it by rolling three strains’ value of very sturdy scoring threats.

Edmonton may outscore Dallas’ depth with its high-level expertise, however can Florida’s relentless strain and dominant protection stifle McDavid simply sufficient to win this sequence?

There’s motive to consider it may, and there is additionally motive to consider it may make it in order that McDavid mainly does must do every thing itself.

The Panthers’ prime pairing of Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad have completely dominated Nikita Kucherov, David Pastrnak, and Artemi Panarin within the first three rounds, practically fully taking them out of the sequence. None of these three are on McDavid’s degree, nevertheless it’s three respectable MVP candidates.

Florida brings a wholesale defensive effort that’s powerful to match, and we simply noticed a stable offensive workforce in New York completely floundering looking for targets towards them.

This is all to say nothing of the offensive excellence that Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sam Reinhart deliver to the workforce up entrance. 

While Edmonton may deal with the well-balanced nature of Dallas’ sport, I’m undecided Florida’s mix of it’s as favorable of a matchup for the Oilers.

The Prediction: Florida Panthers in 7 Games

When and How to Watch the Stanley Cup Final

Both groups will come into this sequence pretty rested, with the Panthers having earned per week off since beating the Rangers and the Oilers having six days of relaxation.

The Panthers may have dwelling ice benefit within the sequence, as they completed forward of the Oilers within the common season.

Here is the complete schedule for all seven video games of the Stanley Cup Final, which can run from June eighth to June twenty fourth if the complete seven video games are required.

Game 1: Oilers vs. Panthers, June 8 (8:00 PM, ABC)
Game 2: Oilers vs. Panthers, June 10 (8:00 PM, ABC)
Game 3: Panthers vs. Oilers, June 13 (8:00 PM, ABC)
Game 4: Panthers vs. Oilers, June 15 (8:00 PM, ABC)
Game 5*: Oilers vs. Panthers, June 18 (8:00 PM, ABC)
Game 6*: Panthers vs. Oilers, June 21 (8:00 PM, ABC)
Game 7*: Oilers vs. Panthers, June 24 (8:00 PM, ABC)

* if obligatory

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