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 Edmonton Oilers have two things they didn’t have in last year’s Stanley Cup Final: home-ice advantage and a lead in the series.
The Oilers’ 4-3 overtime win in Game 1 means the Florida Panthers will need to come back if they’re going to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Game 2 is Friday night.
“We learn more from adversity than we do from winning,” Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe told reporters on Thursday.
The Panthers blew a second intermission lead for the first time in the playoffs in three years under coach Paul Maurice. They were outshot 14-2 in the third period as Edmonton tied the game and won in overtime on Leon Draisaitl’s power-play goal.
“They dictated more of the game than we did,” forward Matthew Tkachuk said. “It is what it is. Back to the drawing board. Just try to play better than them (Friday).”
Florida has lost two in a row only once this postseason but rallied to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in the second round.
“We just need to be ready for it, that they are going to be better,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said.
Here’s what to know about Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, including how to watch:
When is Stanley Cup Final Game 2? 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 Friday.
What TV channel is Panthers vs. Oilers Game 2 on?
TNT and truTV are broadcasting Game 2 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 2
- Date: Friday, June 6
- Location: Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta
- Time: 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT)
- TV: TNT, truTV
- Streaming: Max, Sling TV
Oilers’ Stuart Skinner (7-4, 2.49 goals-against average, .904 save percentage) vs. Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky (12-6, 2.17, .912). Skinner has a five-game winning streak.
The Oilers have four of the top five scorers in the series: McDavid has a league-best 28 points, followed by Leon Draisaitl (27) and Evan Bouchard and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with 18 each. Draisaitl has a team-high nine goals.
The Panthers have 10 players with double-digit points, led by Sam Bennett (18) and Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk (17 each). Bennett is the playoffs’ leading goal scorer with 12.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch will put Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together later in games if Edmonton needs an offensive boost.
“It’s nice to know when those two get together mid-game that the results are pretty good,” he said.
But Knoblauch doesn’t do it all game long so he can spread the offense out.
The two used to go out together on the shift after a penalty kill, but McDavid has started killing penalties.
The Panthers forward is tracking toward a return but will sit out a second consecutive game on Friday. “We think if he tracks out, he’ll be available for Game 3,” coach Paul Maurice said.
Jesper Boqvist has taken Greer’s place on the fourth line.
Panthers forward Tomas Nosek said it was “tough” after the Oilers scored in overtime on the power play after his delay of game penalty.
“You don’t want to be the one guy who cost us the game, but obviously everybody can make a mistake,” he said, adding, “It’s in the past and now looking forward to just keep doing my job and focusing on tonight’s game.”
He said his teammates were “very helpful” and supportive of him.
“Most of the guys came to me and said, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ ” he said, according to TSN.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice was asked Friday about the Dallas Stars’ firing of coach Peter DeBoer. Maurice and DeBoer are friends.
“He’ll be all right. He’s a good coach. I think elite teams, you’ve got to push them real hard to get them where they get to, then at some point,” he said, trailing off. “You get a summer off, pick your spot, he’s going to be OK.”
All times Eastern; (x-if necessary)
- Game 1: Oilers 4, Panthers 3 (OT) | Story
- 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 Friday, June 6)
- Spread: Oilers (-1.5)
- Moneyline: Oilers (-110); Panthers (-110)
- Over/Under: 6.5
