Are Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup bound? Former NHLer weighs in
Former NHL winger Riley Cote explains what he loves about this Edmonton Oilers team ahead of the Western Conference Finals.
Sports Seriously
The 2025 Stanley Cup Final begins today and features a rematch of last year’s dramatic series.
The Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers will face off Wednesday night for Game 1 in Edmonton, Alberta, with the Panthers seeking their second consecutive title. Florida built a 3-0 lead in the 2024 Final before Edmonton rallied to win three in a row. The Panthers won 2-1 in the decisive Game 7 to lift the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.
The Oilers are aiming for their first championship since 1990 and Canada’s first since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens. Edmonton also has the NHL’s best player in Connor McDavid, who has won three MVP awards, five scoring titles, one goal title and made seven All-Star appearances. The Panthers will counter with Aleksander Barkov, who won the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward for the second consecutive season.
USA TODAY is providing live updates from Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. Follow along:
Edmonton has only two shots so far, though one has gone in.
The Oilers get one back 77 seconds later. Viktor Arvidsson beats a screened Sergei Bobrovsky just under the glove.
Sam Bennett again, this time on a rush with Nate Schmidt. That’s 12 goals for Bennett this season. The pending unrestricted free agent is looking at a big payday. Two assists for Schmidt and Carter Verhaeghe in this game.
Panthers 2, Oilers 1
Edmonton had to like its start after Leon Draisaitl scored 66 seconds in and the Oilers outshot Florida 14-7. But the Panthers escape with the lead because the Oilers challenged Sam Bennett’s tying goal and lost. That gave Florida a power play and Brad Marchand scored for the lead. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has been impressive, with multiple back-to-back saves. Even on the Draisaitl goal, he made two saves before Edmonton scored. Bennett now up to 11 goals this postseason.
It’s 4-on-3 after three consecutive penalties. The Oilers’ power play is at 56% at home this postseason. Good movement by Edmonton, but Sergei Bobrovsky stops Leon Draisaitl on the best chance. Penalty killed.
Edmonton is shorthanded after the unsuccessful challenge. Brad Marchand scores after a cross-ice pass and the Oilers’ 1-0 lead has quickly become a 2-1 deficit.
Sam Bennett scores and Edmonton challenges for goaltender interference because Bennett fell into Stuart Skinner. But it’s ruled that Bennett was knocked into the goalie and the goal stands. Carter Verhaeghe’s shot went in off Bennett. Panthers going on power play.
Corey Perry is called for high-sticking. Panthers power is clicking at 23.2% this postseason. Edmonton penalty kill is at 66%. Connor McDavid out there killing penalties and hits the crossbar on a shorthanded rush. Edmonton kills it.
The Edmonton goalie stops Sam Bennett on a partial breakaway. Connor McDavid raced back to help defend.
Leon Draisaitl puts Edmonton ahead at 1:06. Jake Walman starts the play with a shot from the point. Sergei Bobrovsky stops that and Kasperi Kapanen’s rebound, but the puck pop out to Draisaitl. He was playing hurt in last season’s final and had no goals then.
Both teams have their top lines out there.
When is Stanley Cup Final Game 1? Panthers vs. Oilers game time
The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will face off at 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local) at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta on Wednesday.
What TV channel is Panthers vs. Oilers Game 1 on?
TNT and truTV are broadcasting Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final. Kenny Albert will provide play-by-play, while Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Darren Pang and Jackie Redmond will provide analysis and reporting.
Stream the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Sling
How to watch Panthers vs. Oilers Game 1
- Date: Wednesday, June 4
- Location: Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta
- Time: 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT)
- TV: TNT, truTV
- Streaming: Max, Sling TV
The Stanley Cup Final can be streamed on Max and Sling TV
It will be the Connor McDavid line for Edmonton vs. the Aleksander Barkov line for Florida. Edmonton defense pairing is Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard. Florida defense pairing is Seth Jones and Niko Mikkola. Stuart Skinner vs. Sergei Bobrovsky in net.
It’s not official yet, but the roster report shows the Panthers will start the Aleksander Barkov line and the Oilers will counter with the Connor McDavid line. Strength against strength. The NHL’s best player (McDavid) vs. the three-time Selke Trophy winner (Barkov).
The official roster report has Edmonton’s Connor Brown back in the lineup after an injury absence. That means Jeff Skinner will sit out. Skinner, who’s in the playoffs for the first time in his career, has played the opening game of the playoffs and in the Oilers’ Game 5 clincher. He scored in that game.
No Canadian team has won since 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens beat the Los Angeles Kings in five games. A Canadian team has reached the Final eight times since then, including the Oilers three times. They’re the second team with home-ice advantage, joining the 2011 Vancouver Canucks.
The Oilers have the four top scorers in the series: McDavid has 26 points, followed by Leon Draisaitl (25), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (18) and Evan Bouchard (17). Draisaitl and Corey Perry are tied with a team-high seven goals.
The Panthers have 10 players with double-digit points, led by Barkov (17), Matthew Tkachuk (16) and Sam Bennett (16). Bennett is also the playoffs’ leading goal scorer with 10.
Oilers’ Stuart Skinner (6-4, 2.53 goals-against average, .904 save percentage) vs. Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky (12-5, 2.11, .912)
The commissioner said the league isn’t interested in extending regular-season overtime to cut down on the number of shootouts. He notes that only 28% of overtime games go to a shootout.
“To extend overtime risks injury and fatigue and we don’t think it’s necessary,” he said. “And I think there are lots of fans who demonstrate during the shootout by standing up in the building that it’s an interesting and exciting way to decide … not an overly burdensome number” of regular-season games.
Also, Bettman reiterated that the International Olympic Committee has said there will be no Russian teams at the 2026 Games.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said that though cities have expressed interest in joining the NHL, “We’ve decided we’re not going to engage in a formal expansion process.”
Oilers forward Zach Hyman had surgery for a dislocated wrist during the Western Conference finals and will be out for the rest of the playoffs. He met with reporters on Wednesday while sporting a large cast on his wrist and discussed the situation.
“Right away, I just felt my wrist kind of go on me,” he said, adding, “I was still a little delusional that I could play through it until after the surgery. … Some things in life you can’t control and this is one of them.”
Hyman was on the couch watching the clinching game with his wife and mother-in-law when he was Face-timed by the team.
“It meant the world,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting it.”
Hyman said he will travel with the team, even though he can’t play.
USA TODAY predictions for the Stanley Cup (click here for more details):
Jason Anderson: Oilers in 7. Conn Smythe winner: Connor McDavid, Oilers
Mike Brehm: Panthers in 6. Conn Smythe winner: Aleksander Barkov, Panthers
Jace Evans: Oilers in 6. Conn Smythe winner: Leon Draisaitl, Oilers
All times Eastern; (x-if necessary)
- Game 1: Wednesday, June 4 | Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
- Game 2: Friday, June 6 | Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m | TNT, truTV
- Game 3: Monday, June 9, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
- Game 4: Thursday, June 12, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
- x-Game 5: Saturday, June 14, Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
- x-Game 6: Tuesday, June 17, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
- x-Game 7: Friday, June 20, Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
All odds via BetMGM (as of Tuesday, June 3)
- Spread: Oilers (-1.5)
- Moneyline: Oilers (-130); Panthers (+110)
- Over/Under: 6
- Oilers 4-0: +1200
- Oilers 4-1: +550
- Oilers 4-2: +425
- Oilers 4-3: +425
- Panthers 4-0: +1400
- Panthers 4-1: +650
- Panthers 4-2: +425
- Panthers 4-3: +500
