After a pair of conference championship-clinching games over the weekend, the 2024 Stanley Cup Final is set. The Oilers will play the Panthers in Sunrise, Florida, for Game 1 on Saturday night.
The storyline for Florida is clear – avenge last season’s defeat. Unlike last year, when they upset their way to the Final to meet with the Golden Knights, the Panthers have home-ice advantage after a 110-point regular season and an Atlantic Division title.
They’ve brought a deeper roster back to the dance compared to last year’s squad, but perhaps more importantly, they’ve brought a healthier contingent (for now). Top-four stalwarts Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour played through shoulder injuries for most of last year’s playoffs (as well as a foot injury for Ekblad), but there’s no indication any key players are playing through major ailments this time around.
Florida also comes back with the knowledge of what not to do. Last year’s series against Vegas wasn’t particularly close – they were outscored 26-12 in a five-game loss and allowed five or more goals in all three road games. That’ll be an important learning experience as they try to overcome their existing 1-8 franchise record in Stanley Cup Final games, including a sweep at the hands of the Avalanche in 1996.
For the second year in a row, Matthew Tkachuk leads the Cats in playoff scoring. He hasn’t scored goals at the torrid pace he did in 2023, but his 14 assists and 19 points in 17 games are the most on the team. Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe are also producing at a point per game through 17 contests, and top pending unrestricted free agent Sam Reinhart is second on the team in goals behind Verhaeghe with eight.
And while he hasn’t been quite as dominant as last year’s Cinderella run, future Hall of Fame candidate Sergei Bobrovsky gives Florida an unquestionable advantage between the pipes. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner is again putting together an above-average postseason showing for the Cats, logging a .908 SV%, 2.20 GAA, and one shutout with a 12-5 record. He’s been the only goalie to take the ice for the Panthers through three rounds and has stopped 1.3 goals above average, continuing to undo the narrative created by his past postseason collapses with the Blue Jackets and Flyers.
Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner is coming off the best game of his life, stopping 34 of 35 shots last night in Edmonton to send his team to their first Final in 18 years, but is that enough to give him the benefit of the doubt? He’s certainly entering the championship series on a hot streak, putting up a .923 SV% in six games against the Stars, but his numbers on the whole this postseason (.897 SV%, -3.1 GSAA) are still inferior.
As they did against Dallas, the Oilers will need their generational stars to erase their major depth-scoring disadvantage. Their big three of Evan Bouchard, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are truly putting together the runs of legends, with Bouchard’s 27 points and +14 rating in 18 games from the blue line likely putting him in the Conn Smythe conversation.
Like in the regular season, McDavid isn’t scoring goals at a breakneck pace, but his raucous 26 assists in 18 games give him 31 points and the league lead in playoff scoring. That’s not to discount his ability to put the puck in the net, which he universally reminded everyone of with a highlight-reel goal to open the scoring in last night’s Game 6 win (video link).
So, with the matchups set and the entire week to file your official predictions away, who do you think will finish the season with the Stanley Cup lifted over their heads? Tell us in the poll below, and discuss in the comments.
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Featured images courtesy of USA Today Sports.
go canada
Panthers in seven – double OT winner by Tkachuk.
Im kinda thinking Florida in 5 or 6, both teams have the best PKs of the postseason and Florida is deeper in general, Skinner had a great conference final but has been @$$ in pretty much every other series in his postseason career, Im ok with either team winning but i do believe Florida has the edge here and is a faster team than Dallas while having better defense than them too
Panthers sweep. Close, but no cup….again CANADA!
Lol Bobrovsky. Panthers in five.
McDavid is gonna be sick of going against Barkov, who wins the Conn Smythe. Panthers win Cup!
The Canadian team not winning a Cup narrative is just pointless CBC nonsense. Melodramatic media noise. Makes no difference to me, at all, what city wins the Cup once my team is out (I’m a Nordiques fan – it’s been a while).
A few months back a bunch of the. local blowhard know-it-all’s were telling us that the Oilers wouldn’t even make the playoffs based on their record in October and November. Don’t hear much from those yappers any more.
Given the long break, I think the oilers will fare better than they would have if the finals started mid-week. I wouldn’t have expected Dallas or Edmonton to be able to take more than a game off the series without that time to adjust/reset. Still see the panthers taking it if they stay mostly healthy.
Cats in 6
This will prompt Drai to move to greener pastures in the East.
Oilers offense versus Panthers defense. Defense usually wins out in the end. When in doubt take the better Goalie and that’s Bob.
Panthers roll four lines that contribute, Barkov can limit McDavid, Bob is the better goalie, much better defense, I’ll take Panthers in 5.
Oilers will win for sure unless the refs favor the Panthers like they have for the first 3 rounds. The referees have helped the Panthers at critical points throughout the playoffs but don’t get me started on that crap. Also, the Panthers are a shady team.
Special teams will win this series & Oilers are better in both statistically. Also, anyone thinking Barkov can keep up with McDavid is downright laughable. Oilers potent offense is better than Panthers defense.
I will love seeing the arrogant Panthers & their obnoxious fans (one of the worst) lose back-to-back Stanley Cups would be hilarious & great at the same time. They need to be humbled significantly.
Oilers win in 6 games. I would love the Oilers to sweep them but I can’t be greedy.
When whining about the refs is the only thing in your toolbox, I guess you have to keep using it. However you get zero points for originality.
I’d rather take the Panthers fans over the Juvenile Oiler fans and their High School ” Let’s go Oilers” Chant and the Pathetic Indian Chief they trot out there every home game. The Blackhawks don’t even play the Indian Card because we’re not that ridiculous.
It’s very Trumpian to declare a conspiracy and an excuse for losing BEFORE a puck has even hit the ice Dog. This has to be a record for making excuses.
Who’s the rocket scientist that decided game 1 should be six days after the teams are decided? And on a Saturday? I understand the games are on ABC, the same as the NBA finals. Game 1 should be Wednesday with game 2 on Friday. 2 days to travel and game 3 on Monday.
Because they had to account for potential seventh games?
As Al Stewart sang, “The Year of the Cat”. :)
Panthers seem to be on a mission and don’t beat themselves like the Stars did.
Panthers in 5.