Panthers-Oilers Game 2 preview: Can the Cats strike again?

If Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final was once any indication, Panthers–Oilers II goes to be unbelievable.

Either method, Edmonton carries a 1-0 sequence lead into Game 2 on Friday evening (8 p.m. ET, TNT/Max). Will the Oilers notch some other W earlier than the sequence heads cross-continent to South Florida? Or will the “Comeback Cats” strike again to sq. issues up?

Here are notes at the matchup from ESPN Research, in addition to making a bet intel from ESPN BET:

More from Game 1: Recap | Grades

Matchup notes

Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers
Game 2 | 8 p.m. ET | TNT/Max

Following their win in Game 1, the Oilers at the moment are -225 to win the Stanley Cup, with the Panthers adjusted to +185, in line with ESPN BET. The most sensible of the Conn Smythe Trophy leaderboard (for MVP of the playoffs) has Edmonton’s Connor McDavid at -175, adopted via Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky (+375), Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl (+450) and Florida’s Aleksander Barkov (+1000).

The winner of Game 1 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final has received 76% of the ones sequence (65-20), together with the previous 4 and 10 of the previous 13.

The Oilers registered 46 photographs on objective in Game 1, their maximum in a Stanley Cup Final recreation; the former top was once 43 in Game 7 towards the Philadelphia Flyers in 1987.

Florida has scored 51 highway targets this postseason, which units a brand new Stanley Cup playoffs report, besting the 1993 Los Angeles Kings‘ mark of 49. They also are the primary staff in NHL historical past to attain 3 or extra targets in 9 instantly highway video games in one postseason.

Draisaitl — who did not rating in any respect within the 2024 Cup Final — scored his 3rd time beyond regulation objective this postseason, tying the only postseason report held via Mel Hill in 1939, Maurice Richard in 1951, Corey Perry in 2017 and Matthew Tkachuk in 2023.

Defenseman Mattias Ekholm is the 20th other Oilers participant with a objective this postseason, tied for 3rd maximum in one postseason in Stanley Cup playoff historical past, and one shy of the mark set via the 2019 Boston Bruins and 1987 Flyers.

Stuart Skinner earned his 26th occupation playoff win, which breaks a tie with Bill Ranford for moment in Oilers historical past, trailing best Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr, with 74.

Florida’s Sam Bennett scored his 11th and 12th targets this postseason, which breaks the Panthers’ unmarried postseason report held via Matthew Tkachuk in 2023 and Carter Verhaeghe in 2024. Eleven of his targets were at the highway this postseason, which ties Mark Scheifele in 2018 for essentially the most highway targets in one postseason all time.

Brad Marchand scored a power-play objective in Game 1. He’s the one participant with a minimum of one power-play objective in each and every of the previous 8 postseasons.

Bobrovsky made 42 saves in a dropping effort, the second-most saves via a Panthers goalie in a Stanley Cup Final recreation in the back of John Vanbiesbrouck, who had 55 saves in 1996 Game 4 vs. the Colorado Avalanche (which went to triple time beyond regulation).

Scoring leaders

GP: 17 | G: 6 | A: 22

GP: 18 | G: 12 | A: 6

Best bets for Game 2

Sergei Bobrovsky over 24.5 overall saves (-110): After preventing 33 of 36 photographs in legislation, the Panthers’ beginning netminder went directly to deny some other 9 of 10 within the additional body of an exceptionally full of life Game 1. Only two of Edmonton’s 18 skaters did not check in a minimum of one shot on web, with six defenders accounting for a complete of 21. Projecting the Oilers to return out firing another time in entrance of the house crowd at Rogers Place, Bobrovsky must be in for some other busy night. He simply wishes to forestall 25 of them.

Eetu Luostarinen over 3.5 overall hits (-134): Through the 16 complete video games he is performed this postseason, the bodily ahead is averaging 4.6 hits in line with contest. Only teammate Sam Bennett is throwing his frame round extra. After logging greater than 21 mins in Game 1, there is much less fear that the in the past banged up Luostarinen is are compatible sufficient to wreak such havoc. Plus, definitely he’s going to understand Oilers ahead Evander Kane registered 9 hits within the opener. That little additional aggressive incentive by no means hurts, particularly following a loss.

Corey Perry over 0.5 overall issues (Even): Maybe the purpose streak ends at 3 video games. Or possibly the just-turned 40-year-old will proceed to take advantage of changing an injured Zach Hyman on a most sensible line and tool play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. — Victoria Matiash