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Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Goalie change sparks Oilers epic 5-4 OT win in Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final vs. Panthers: takeaways
Leon Draisaitl capped a historic comeback by the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers on Thursday, when he scored a fortuitous goal at 11:18 of overtime to lift the visitors to a thrilling 5-4 victory The Oilers evened the best-of-7 series 2-2 after rallying from an early 3-0 deficit, the first time in Stanley Cup Final history that a team won when trailing by three goals in the first period. Speaking of history, Draisaitl became the first player ever to score four overtime goals in one postseason. It was also his second OT winner of this series, after he also scored in overtime in the Game 1 victory. Advertisement Draisaitl led the NHL with 52 goals this season and now has 11 in the playoffs. He likely didn't score many like this, when he chipped a shot/pass into the low slot off the rush, only to have it hit Florida defenseman Niko Mikkola, who was on the seat of his pants sliding on the ice. The puck deflected off Mikkola and between Sergei Bobrovsky's pads to cap the Oilers epic comeback. Draisaitl (one goal, two assists) finished with three points, as did Florida's Matthew Tkachuk (two goals, one assist) and Sam Reinhart (one goal, two assists). Calvin Pickard came off the Oilers bench to start the second period and stopped 22 of 23 shots in relief of starter Stuart Skinner to backstop the win. Advertisement It was Reinhart's goal with 19.5 seconds remaining in regulation and Bobrovsky on the bench for the sixth attacker that temporarily saved Florida and forced overtime after it had blown a 3-0 lead and allowed Edmonton to score four straight. The fourth of those Edmonton goals came at 13:36 of the third period when defenseman Jake Walman hammered a slap shot inside the right post The teams took turns dominating the first two periods. It was all Panthers in the opening 20 minutes, with the Oilers flipping the script the next 20. The third period was played on more even terms. Florida jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on a pair of power-play goals by Tkachuk at 11:40 and 16:56, his first two scores of any kind in the series. Then Anton Lundell skated right down the middle of the ice to bury a Carter Verhaeghe pass at 19:18 to make it 3-0 and put an exclamation point on a near perfect first period for the Panthers. Advertisement They out-shot the Oilers 17-7, out-attempted them 34-15 and had a 22-5 advantage in scoring chances in all situations, including a whopping 13-2 of the high-danger variety. At 5v5, the Panthers had an expected goals share of 77.78 percent, per Natural Stat Trick. Simply, the Panthers picked up where they left off from their 6-1 win in Game 3 and thoroughly dominated the Oilers in the opening period Thursday. Skinner, who made a series of outstanding saves when the Oilers were out-shot 10-1 in the opening 7:38, was pulled for the second straight game, this time after allowing three goals on 17 shots over 20 minutes. Perhaps, inserting Pickard changed their mojo because the Oilers were a different team in the second period. They out-scored their hosts 3-0, out-shot the Panthers 17-10, and had a 16-5 advantage in scoring chances (13-3 in high-danger opportunities). Edmonton's expected goal share in the second period was 72.73 percent. Advertisement Ryan Nugent-Hopkins wired a power-play goal past Bobrovsky at 3:33 to start the Oilers comeback. It was his first goal in the past seven postseason games, and Darnell Nurse followed it up when he beat Bobrovsky over the shoulder short side with a snipe from the bottom of the left circle. Bobrovsky made two huge in the next couple of minutes to keep the score 3-2. He exploded across his crease to deny Draisaitl at 13:57, then robbed Connor McDavid with a sprawling right-pad save after the Oilers captain split the Florida defense and broke in at 14:36. The Oilers tied the game shortly thereafter. Vasily Podkolzin flipped a backhand shot from the slot past a screened Bobrovsky at 15:05 to make it 3-3. Advertisement Edmonton took its first lead thanks to a Florida turnover in its own end late in the third period. Nugent-Hopkins helped force the giveaway, and Kasperi Kapanen fed a wide-open Walman on right wing for the go-ahead goal. But in the final seconds, Verhaeghe won a puck battle along the wall to start the scoring play that tied the game again. The sequence ended with Tkachuk and Reinhart playing pitch and catch before Reinhart was able to score from a bad left-wing angle, with Pickard pulled out of position. Related: NHL Games Today: 2025 Stanley Cup Final Schedule, Dates, Times, and Results 3 takeaways after Oilers rally for 5-4 OT win over Panthers in Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final 1. Turning point easy to 'Pick' It wasn't a coincidence that Game 4 took a decided sharp turn in the other direction after Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch inserted Pickard to start the second period after his team was pretty much run out of Amerant Bank Arena in the opening 20 minutes. It's not even so much that Skinner was bad, as previously pointed out, the Oilers starter made a string of Grade A stops to keep the game scoreless in the opening minutes. But the Oilers needed a fresh start in the second period and putting Pickard in goal did just that. It was the clear turning point in the game. The 33-year-old, who was 6-0 earlier in these playoffs before he was injured, offered the Oilers a calming presence in net, and his teammates certainly played a helluva lot better, too. It was a winning combination again for the Oilers. They scored five of the last six goals in this game, with Pickard beaten only off that last-second scramble in regulation. Advertisement Pickard saved his best for last. He got his glove on Sam Bennett's blast 6:51 into overtime, and deflected the puck off the crossbar. A minute later, Pickard denied Eetu Luostarinen's rising snap shot for another clutch save. A little more than three minutes later, Pickard was being mobbed by his teammates, with Skinner giving him the longest hug. 2. Comeback kings Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Oilers are the comeback kings of these playoffs. They are an incredible 5-5 in 10 games when trailing after two periods, and have eight comeback victories total. They trailed 3-2 in the third period of Game 1 against the Panthers before tying it and then winning in OT. Edmonton is now 5-1 in six overtime games this postseason, the only loss coming in Game 2, a double-OT heartbreaker. Advertisement None of their comebacks match this one, though, considering the Oilers are just the seventh NHL team ever to rally from three goals down at any point and win a Stanley Cup Final game. They're also the first road team to do so since 1919. Also Read:: NHL rumors: Insider sheds light on Sam Bennett's future with Florida Panthers ahead of NHL free agency 3. Deja pew This loss was eerily similar — though worse — than the Panthers' Game 1 defeat, when they blew a 3-1 second-period lead. Uncharacteristic turnovers, like on the Walman goal, and defensive breakdowns pockmarked each of their two losses in this series. The Panthers are 12-2 when leading after two periods in these playoffs; but they're only 2-2 in such a situation against the Oilers in the Final. Advertisement We've seen how the Panthers are able to dust themselves off and get right back to work before — evidenced recently by their wins in Games 2 and 3 after that tough-to-swallow loss in the opener. Let's see how they fare in Game 5, though, when the Panthers will be back in hostile Edmonton on Saturday after flying 2,500 miles on the lone day off between games and having played three overtime games already in the series. Related Headlines
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Goalie change sparks Oilers epic 5-4 OT win in Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final vs. Panthers: takeaways
Leon Draisaitl capped a historic comeback by the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers on Thursday, when he scored a fortuitous goal at 11:18 of overtime to lift the visitors to a thrilling 5-4 victory The Oilers evened the best-of-7 series 2-2 after rallying from an early 3-0 deficit, the first time in Stanley Cup Final history that a team won when trailing by three goals in the first period. Speaking of history, Draisaitl became the first player ever to score four overtime goals in one postseason. It was also his second OT winner of this series, after he also scored in overtime in the Game 1 victory. Advertisement Draisaitl led the NHL with 52 goals this season and now has 11 in the playoffs. He likely didn't score many like this, when he chipped a shot/pass into the low slot off the rush, only to have it hit Florida defenseman Niko Mikkola, who was on the seat of his pants sliding on the ice. The puck deflected off Mikkola and between Sergei Bobrovsky's pads to cap the Oilers epic comeback. Draisaitl (one goal, two assists) finished with three points, as did Florida's Matthew Tkachuk (two goals, one assist) and Sam Reinhart (one goal, two assists). Calvin Pickard came off the Oilers bench to start the second period and stopped 22 of 23 shots in relief of starter Stuart Skinner to backstop the win. Advertisement It was Reinhart's goal with 19.5 seconds remaining in regulation and Bobrovsky on the bench for the sixth attacker that temporarily saved Florida and forced overtime after it had blown a 3-0 lead and allowed Edmonton to score four straight. The fourth of those Edmonton goals came at 13:36 of the third period when defenseman Jake Walman hammered a slap shot inside the right post The teams took turns dominating the first two periods. It was all Panthers in the opening 20 minutes, with the Oilers flipping the script the next 20. The third period was played on more even terms. Florida jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on a pair of power-play goals by Tkachuk at 11:40 and 16:56, his first two scores of any kind in the series. Then Anton Lundell skated right down the middle of the ice to bury a Carter Verhaeghe pass at 19:18 to make it 3-0 and put an exclamation point on a near perfect first period for the Panthers. Advertisement They out-shot the Oilers 17-7, out-attempted them 34-15 and had a 22-5 advantage in scoring chances in all situations, including a whopping 13-2 of the high-danger variety. At 5v5, the Panthers had an expected goals share of 77.78 percent, per Natural Stat Trick. Simply, the Panthers picked up where they left off from their 6-1 win in Game 3 and thoroughly dominated the Oilers in the opening period Thursday. Skinner, who made a series of outstanding saves when the Oilers were out-shot 10-1 in the opening 7:38, was pulled for the second straight game, this time after allowing three goals on 17 shots over 20 minutes. Perhaps, inserting Pickard changed their mojo because the Oilers were a different team in the second period. They out-scored their hosts 3-0, out-shot the Panthers 17-10, and had a 16-5 advantage in scoring chances (13-3 in high-danger opportunities). Edmonton's expected goal share in the second period was 72.73 percent. Advertisement Ryan Nugent-Hopkins wired a power-play goal past Bobrovsky at 3:33 to start the Oilers comeback. It was his first goal in the past seven postseason games, and Darnell Nurse followed it up when he beat Bobrovsky over the shoulder short side with a snipe from the bottom of the left circle. Bobrovsky made two huge in the next couple of minutes to keep the score 3-2. He exploded across his crease to deny Draisaitl at 13:57, then robbed Connor McDavid with a sprawling right-pad save after the Oilers captain split the Florida defense and broke in at 14:36. The Oilers tied the game shortly thereafter. Vasily Podkolzin flipped a backhand shot from the slot past a screened Bobrovsky at 15:05 to make it 3-3. Advertisement Edmonton took its first lead thanks to a Florida turnover in its own end late in the third period. Nugent-Hopkins helped force the giveaway, and Kasperi Kapanen fed a wide-open Walman on right wing for the go-ahead goal. But in the final seconds, Verhaeghe won a puck battle along the wall to start the scoring play that tied the game again. The sequence ended with Tkachuk and Reinhart playing pitch and catch before Reinhart was able to score from a bad left-wing angle, with Pickard pulled out of position. Related: NHL Games Today: 2025 Stanley Cup Final Schedule, Dates, Times, and Results 3 takeaways after Oilers rally for 5-4 OT win over Panthers in Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final 1. Turning point easy to 'Pick' It wasn't a coincidence that Game 4 took a decided sharp turn in the other direction after Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch inserted Pickard to start the second period after his team was pretty much run out of Amerant Bank Arena in the opening 20 minutes. It's not even so much that Skinner was bad, as previously pointed out, the Oilers starter made a string of Grade A stops to keep the game scoreless in the opening minutes. But the Oilers needed a fresh start in the second period and putting Pickard in goal did just that. It was the clear turning point in the game. The 33-year-old, who was 6-0 earlier in these playoffs before he was injured, offered the Oilers a calming presence in net, and his teammates certainly played a helluva lot better, too. It was a winning combination again for the Oilers. They scored five of the last six goals in this game, with Pickard beaten only off that last-second scramble in regulation. Advertisement Pickard saved his best for last. He got his glove on Sam Bennett's blast 6:51 into overtime, and deflected the puck off the crossbar. A minute later, Pickard denied Eetu Luostarinen's rising snap shot for another clutch save. A little more than three minutes later, Pickard was being mobbed by his teammates, with Skinner giving him the longest hug. 2. Comeback kings Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Oilers are the comeback kings of these playoffs. They are an incredible 5-5 in 10 games when trailing after two periods, and have eight comeback victories total. They trailed 3-2 in the third period of Game 1 against the Panthers before tying it and then winning in OT. Edmonton is now 5-1 in six overtime games this postseason, the only loss coming in Game 2, a double-OT heartbreaker. Advertisement None of their comebacks match this one, though, considering the Oilers are just the seventh NHL team ever to rally from three goals down at any point and win a Stanley Cup Final game. They're also the first road team to do so since 1919. Also Read:: NHL rumors: Insider sheds light on Sam Bennett's future with Florida Panthers ahead of NHL free agency 3. Deja pew This loss was eerily similar — though worse — than the Panthers' Game 1 defeat, when they blew a 3-1 second-period lead. Uncharacteristic turnovers, like on the Walman goal, and defensive breakdowns pockmarked each of their two losses in this series. The Panthers are 12-2 when leading after two periods in these playoffs; but they're only 2-2 in such a situation against the Oilers in the Final. Advertisement We've seen how the Panthers are able to dust themselves off and get right back to work before — evidenced recently by their wins in Games 2 and 3 after that tough-to-swallow loss in the opener. Let's see how they fare in Game 5, though, when the Panthers will be back in hostile Edmonton on Saturday after flying 2,500 miles on the lone day off between games and having played three overtime games already in the series. Related Headlines
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Key takeaways from Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final after Oilers lose cool in 6-1 loss to Panthers
Back on home ice after splitting the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final on the road, the Florida Panthers put forth a dominant performance in Game 3 on Monday, hammering the Edmonton Oilers 6-1. The Panthers scored 56 seconds into this one and never looked back, notching two goals in each period as the Oilers became completely unglued. Edmonton was assessed 21 penalties totaling 85 minutes, the third most by one team in a Cup Final game. Florida was 3-for-11 on the power play; no team had more than nine power plays in an NHL game this season. Advertisement Game 2 hero Brad Marchand, who scored the double-overtime winner Saturday in Edmonton, opened the scoring with his eighth goal of the postseason. It was the start to a bad night for Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, who drifted way out of position, allowing Marchand an open net to shoot the puck into less than a minute into Game 3. Skinner allowed five goals on 23 shots before he was pulled in favor of Calvin Pickard after Aaron Ekblad's power-play goal 3:27 into the third period. The Oilers goalie was badly outplayed by the sharp Sergei Bobrovsky, who stopped all but one of the 33 shots he faced for the Panthers. Sam Bennett turned in a tour-de-force game at both ends of the rink again for the Panthers. He scored his League-leading 14th postseason goal on a second-period breakaway that made it 4-1, had six hits, and took part in a scrap with Edmonton forward Trent Frederic midway through the third period. Carter Verhaeghe had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, as did Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues. Eetu Luostarinen had two assists, and 12 skaters had at least one point for the Panthers. Advertisement Corey Perry scored a power-play goal early in the second period for the Oilers, who received nothing from superstar forwards Connor McDavid (no points; two shots on goal; minus-1) and Leon Draisaitl (no points; no shots; minus-2). Theses two teams will have two days off now before the Panthers host Game 4 at Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday. Related: Panthers coach fires witty free-agency salvo after epic Sam Bennett shift in Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final 3 takeaways after Panthers rout Oilers 6-1 in Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images 1. Turning point Game 3 had a clear turning point. After Florida owned the puck (except for one excellent Edmonton power play) and took a 2-0 lead in the first period, backed by a convincing 68.69 percent expected goals share 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick, the Oilers got right back into the game on Perry's power-play putback just 1:40 into the second. Advertisement Just 80 seconds later, Reinhart snapped a shot between a defenseman's legs and beat Skinner to restore Florida's two-goal lead. It was demoralizing for the visitors and immediately brought the raucous home crowd back to life. A bit more than four minutes later, Bennett almost single-handedly finished the Oilers off. Bennett delivered two big hits in his defensive zone, then sped up ice to take a head-man pass from Verhaeghe after an Oilers turnover at the blue line. On a clear breakaway, Bennett didn't miss, beating Skinner up high with a forehand finish to make it 4-1 at 7:46. Those two goals in a 6:06 span buried the Oilers, who's overall game devolved from there … Advertisement Also Read:: NHL Games Today: 2025 Stanley Cup Final Schedule, Dates, Times, and Results 2. Oilers become unglued in unsightly performance It's not like the Oilers weren't a mess all night. But as soon as the game got out of hand, so did their on-ice actions. They sought retribution against an irritating opponent at every turn, casting the game plan and rule book aside. They took four penalties in the first period, including two by Evander Kane, an undisciplined too many men on the ice minor, and goalie interference call against Viktor Arvidsson, who didn't even try and hide the fact that he skated through the crease and knocked down Bobrovsky. The Panthers aren't choirboys by any stretch of the imagination. They play right on the edge — and cross over it — for 60 (or more) minutes a night, every night. But they've perfected being a pain the ass and using that gritty, irritating style all the way to the Stanley Cup championship last spring. The Oilers tried to channel their inner-most Panthers and it backfired badly. They embarrassed themselves Monday. Advertisement Jake Walman was much more interested in mixing it up and being a tough guy instead of playing his usual solid two-way game, which, yes, includes physicality, but rarely crosses over into stupidity as it did in Game 3. Kane finished with four penalties for 16 minutes. Kasperi Kapanen took a late cheap-shot cross-check penalty against Luostarinen. Frederic cheap-shotted Bennett — though, to be fair, Bennett's had his share of being on the other side of that kind of stuff throughout these playoffs. For sure, the Oilers are a tougher team to play against than in previous iterations during the McDavid-Draisaitl era. But what took place Monday is not a winning formula at all for them. Also Read:: Brad Marchand among winners, losers from Panthers' double-OT win over Oilers in Game 2 of Stanley Cup Final 3. Aaron Ekblad rings cash register Ekblad had another impactful performance Monday. The veteran defenseman scored his fourth postseason goal, was credited with five hits, took a double minor for roughing against Walman late in the third period and logged 22:28 TOI. He also hammered McDavid with a shoulder-to-shoulder hit that upended the best player in the world. The 29-year-old's snarl and skill are a big part of the Panthers run this spring. A year ago, still not 100 percent after shoulder surgery, Ekblad played a big role, but didn't make as big an impact, when the Panthers defeated the Oilers in seven games to win the Stanley Cup. Advertisement His timing couldn't be better. Ekblad is a pending unrestricted free agent July 1, and he'd be the best available defenseman if the Panthers allow him to test the open market. No matter what, he — like UFA teammate Bennett — is set to make some serious coin this summer. Related Headlines
Miami Herald
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Panthers know Bobrovsky's importance in Cup Final. ‘We're not taking him for granted'
Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final had just ended and most of the Florida Panthers' went at full speed to celebrate with Brad Marchand, who scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to even the best-of-7 series with the Edmonton Oilers at 1-1. Nate Schmidt went in a different direction when he got off the bench. 'Just wanted to hug Bob,' Schmidt said. 'Bob,' as most Panthers fans know, is Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida's veteran goaltender who has been a key factor in the team's run through the Stanley Cup playoffs. And while the pure numbers might not indicate it, he has been stellar in the Stanley Cup Final. Yes, Bobrovsky has given up eight goals through two games against the Oilers. But considering the firepower he's facing in Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Co., Bobrovsky's production has been above expected. Consider the following entering Game 3 of the Cup Final on Monday: ▪ Bobrovsky posted an identical statline in both games, stopping 42 of 46 shots against in each matchup so far of the series — with Florida losing Game 1 4-3 in overtime and winning Game 2 5-4 in double overtime. He became the 11th goaltender on record with multiple 40-save outings in his Stanley Cup Final career and is the first goaltender on record to post back-to-back 40-save performances to begin a Stanley Cup Final. At 5-on-5, Bobrovsky's save percentage is .944 (68 saves on 72 shots against). ▪ His expected goals against in the two games, according to the advanced hockey statistics website Natural Stat Trick? 10.23, meaning he gave up two goals fewer than expected based on the quality of shots he faced. ▪ Bobrovsky stopped 22 of 27 high-danger shots on goal against in the first two games of the series. ▪ In 47:34 of overtime over the course of the first two games, Bobrovsky has stopped 23 of 24 shots on goal 'I think because he's been here so long the players here have seen if one gets by him that he doesn't like, that has no impact on the next save,' Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. 'His ability to kind of move on, to be present but then move on, is incredible. I think it helps that he's a veteran guy that's been through so much in his career, he's seen so much. In that game, the ones that beat you aren't that important; it's the next one, and he has just this fantastic way of being calm. 'He's kind of this Zen dude in the net, and he's just very present with what he does.' That sums up Bobrovsky throughout the entire playoffs, not just the Stanley Cup Final. Entering Monday, Bobrovsky has a .912 save percentage and 2.21 goals against average over 19 games this postseason. His 7.40 goals saved above average are the highest in the league in the playoffs. He has three shutouts — one apiece in the first round, second round and Eastern Conference final. 'He gives us a chance every night,' Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues said. 'That's all you can ask for, right? Some big saves, key saves at key moments and we're not taking him for granted, that's for sure.' Bobrovsky has been battle-tested throughout his 15-season career, which included stops in Philadelphia and Columbus before joining the Panthers. He's a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, and after struggles early in his Panthers tenure has returned to form as one of the league's more reliable goaltenders despite being 36 years old. He has come up at big moments and is once again giving the Panthers a chance to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. 'Bob's been Bob,' said defenseman Seth Jones, who reunited with Bobrovsky this season after spending time together in Columbus. 'Even back then, when I got traded to Columbus when I was 21 years old and I was able to see that preparation up close at that young of an age. Still, to this day, I haven't seen preparation like that, day in and day out. The mentality of him just being locked into his craft, and even at his age now wanting to get better every day. Even if it's a backdoor goal, he's taking blame. He thinks he can make every save for us, and that's the way he wants it. For us, it's just an honor and a privilege to play in front of him every single game, knowing the saves he makes and the work ethic he puts into trying to make us a better team and trying to giving us really an opportunity to win every single game, regardless of how we play.'
New York Post
09-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Oilers vs. Panthers: Stanley Cup Final Game 3 odds, picks, prediction
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers may be just two games old, but it has already delivered on the hype. Game 1 was extraordinary, with the teams exchanging early leads before the Oilers stormed back from 3-1 down to win, 4-3, thanks to a Leon Draisaitl game-winning goal in overtime. Not to be outdone, Game 2 featured five goals in the first period and a last-gasp game-tying goal from 40-year-old Corey Perry, but it was for naught as hockey's best heel, Brad Marchand, scored on a breakaway in double-overtime to send the series to Florida tied, 1-1. Oilers vs. Panthers Game 3 betting preview After earning the split in Edmonton, the Panthers are now priced as the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, though the odds are extremely tight. Florida is -118 at FanDuel Sportsbook, which is essentially where the Oilers were ahead of Game 1. In other words, the series started as a coin flip, and it remains one after two games. And it's not just the odds that are tight; the tale of the tape through nearly nine periods shows us that there's really nothing that separates these two heavyweights. The Oilers and Panthers have split 16 goals evenly through two games, though the Cats have outscored the Oil, 5-4, at 5-on-5. Both teams have a pair of power-play goals, but Florida also added a short-handed goal in Game 2. Things only get tighter from there, as the two teams are separated by 0.01 expected goals (xG) at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick. Florida has created 7.03 xG at full strength, while Edmonton has generated 7.02. Getting any separation in this series will be tough, as both teams have proven to be unflappable in big moments. Nate Schmidt gloves a puck in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. AP Betting on the NHL? Considering how tight things have been through the first two contests, it is a bit surprising to see Florida getting some love from the bookies for Game 3. Edmonton closed as a -125 favorite in Game 1, and Game 2 was a pick'em, but the Panthers are sitting at -140 for Game 3. Ignoring Game 2 because the series scoreline impacted the market for that game (bettors tend to back the team down 1-0 in a best-of-7 when it's supposed to be close), we're seeing a 65-cent shift from Game 1 to Game 3. Oilers vs. Panthers Game 3 pick That seems like a bit much, and puts value on the Oilers on the moneyline on Monday night. And while I will be backing Edmonton, that isn't my favorite bet on the board. Jake Walman has one goal so far in the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoffs. NHLI via Getty Images Jake Walman has been superb for the Oilers for the entire playoffs, but he's got more to give offensively. The smooth-skating defenseman doesn't log a ton of minutes, but he's making the most of his ice-time with 31 shots this postseason, including seven through the first two games of this series. It was Walman's shot that rebounded to Perry for his tying goal with less than 20 seconds left in the game. Kris Knoblauch is not afraid to send Walman over the boards in big moments, when the Oilers need a goal, and I think he's great value to find the back of the net in Game 3. Walman is 15/1 to score a goal on Monday night, and he's a whopping 85/1 to be the first goalscorer. THE PLAY: Oilers (+126, Caesars Sportsbook) | Jake Walman to score a goal (15/1, BetMGM) Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
