2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Stanley Cup Final Game 1: Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers
How to watch
Start time: 8:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM PDT
In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet (English) TVA Sports (French)
In the U.S.: TNT, truTV
Streaming: Max, Sportsnet+
Both the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers have received several days of rest after knocking out their opponents in five games during the conference semifinals. That’s a lot of time for last year’s contestants of the Stanley Cup Final to dissect the game of one another and see what has changed from 12 months earlier.
The Panthers’ coaches have been watching video of a team that can attack with speed and precision but also defend top talent once it has a lead. Edmonton’s depth is better than a season ago, and it has had to be with injuries affecting several players at the end of the season and carrying into the playoffs. No team has averaged more goals per game than the Oilers, and they’ve had a larger sample of games in that mark than most team behind them.
Edmonton will have seen a Panthers club that has gradually ramped up its play to peak at the right time, and one that has been particularly tough to beat when they enter enemy territory. Florida has made a habit of racking up goals in quick succession, and recently named Selke Trophy-winner Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Matthew Tkachuk, and Brad Marchand have been doing a lot of damage.
Each team has the skill to fill the net, so the series could come down to the goaltending. Based on historical evidence you would have to give the edge to Sergei Bobrovsky, but Stuart Skinner has been playing well since an early demotion to the backup role was followed by him needing to return after Calvin Pickard’s injury. If Skinner can sustain that form for another series, Edmonton will match up quite evenly as it seeks reprisal following last year’s defeat.
