Clash of Titans: Oilers vs. Panthers - Your Ultimate Guide to the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2024 Stanley Cup Finals have arrived following a demanding 82-game season that featured ups and downs and exciting matchups. After just a few weeks, two teams are left in the running to win the Lord Stanley Cup. The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are the two teams who will be battling it out after winning their respective Conference Championships. On their path to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Oilers and Panthers have had polar opposite seasons thus far. Although the Oilers were considered a contender heading into the season, they lost 10 of their first 13 games and fired former head coach Jay Woodcroft in early November. The Oilers regained their stride after the head coaching move and went on two lengthy winning streaks, including an eight and 16-game winning streak, for the remainder of the season. In contrast to the Oilers, the Panthers had fewer twists and turns during the regular season as they finished first in the Atlantic Division with 52 victories and 110 points. The Oilers are hoping to become the first Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup in 31 years, while the Panthers are hoping to make amends after making it to the Finals for the second straight year. This exciting Stanley Cup Finals series will be decided by several important matchups and deciding factors.
Special Teams
The performance of the Oilers' and Panthers' special teams is a major component that will influence how the series plays out. With a 93.9 percentage on the penalty kill and going 19-for-51 at 37.3 percent on the power play, the Oilers lead the NHL going into the Finals in both categories. When the Oilers faced the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Finals, they went 14-for-14 on the penalty kill and scored four goals when having the man advantage. In the postseason, the Oilers' top two goal scorers on the power play include Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, with Draisaitl scoring six goals and Hyman scoring five. The Panthers, however, boast an equally impressive special teams unit. They are the second-best club on the penalty kill with an 88.2 percentage and rank sixth on the power play at 23.3 percent. The Panthers shut down the New York Rangers' strong power play in their Eastern Conference Finals series, allowing them to score just one goal on 15 attempts. In the series, the Panthers also went 5-for-19 on the power play, with Sam Reinhart leading the way with three goals against the Rangers. The side with a clear edge to win the series will be the one that can contain the opponent's potent special teams performance.
Goaltending
Both Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner have been among the best in the crease during the playoffs, and they square off in this series. As the postseason has gone on, Skinner, the Oilers' starting goalie, has established himself. During their second-round series against the Vancouver Canucks, Skinner did not start for two games. Since coming back into the lineup, Skinner is 6-2 with a 1.81 goals against average, a .920 save percentage, and seven of his last eight starts have resulted in two goals or fewer being allowed. On the other hand, Bobrovsky, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner for the Panthers, has been outstanding throughout the postseason. In 13 of his 17 games thus far, he has allowed two goals or fewer, going 12-5 with a 2.20 goals against average, a .908 save percentage, and one shutout. The goalkeeper who can continue to play well and stop the opposition's fast-paced onslaught in their zone by producing huge saves will give their team the upper hand in the series.
X-Factor: Connor McDavid
The Oilers' captain, Connor McDavid, is without a question the greatest X-factor in this Stanley Cup Finals clash. After nine seasons without a Finals appearance, the Oilers advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time under Connor McDavid. The center, a seven-time All-Star, has been the main player in the Oilers' offensive assault, frequently creating good opportunities for his teammates to break through their opponent's defense. With 31 points and 26 assists in the postseason, McDavid has led the league in both categories. As they did with the Bruins' David Pastrnak and the Rangers' Artemi Panarin, the Panthers' main objective is to continue restricting the productivity of their opponents' elite players. However, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice will have his work cut out for him in this series when devising a strategy for McDavid.
Prediction: Oilers in Six Games
The Oilers vs. Panthers Stanley Cup Finals will essentially be a coin flip as to who many think will win. According to BetMGM, the Panthers are now favorites to win the series, with betting odds of -130 in their favor. With Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, and Aleksander Barkov all capable of beating an opponent in several ways, the Panthers have an abundance of depth. However, even though the Panthers have the better odds and my intuition is urging me to choose the Panthers, I think the Oilers will win the Stanley Cup in six games and for the first time in 34 years. With McDavid and Draisaitl at the top of the lineup with Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evander Kane as supporting players, the Oilers are an ongoing danger to score and wear out their opponents by the end of games. Therefore, I think that the Oilers having McDavid and Draisaitl, possibly the two best players in the series, will be the deciding factor in Edmonton's victory in the series.
