NHL Playoff Last 2023/24 Prediction: Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers – Who Will Win the Stanley Cup?

On June 9, the primary rivalry of the complete season will start – the ultimate collection of the 2024 Stanley Cup between Florida and Edmonton. The Oilers intention to be the primary Canadian crew since 1993 to carry the trophy. Nevertheless, Russian hockey gamers “Panthers” have a very good probability to develop the black streak of Canadian followers and take the most effective participant on the planet away from the well-known Cup.

Florida Panthers – Edmonton Oilers

Russian finalists: Vladimir Tarasenko, Dmitry Kulikov, Sergei Bobrovsky (all Florida).

The Stanley Cup Finals have not began but, however the groups have already set an unprecedented report. The space between Dawn and Edmonton is 4,090 kilometers, and the cities collaborating within the finals have by no means been up to now aside. This pair could possibly rewrite a number of extra pages of the league’s historical past. To do that, the Oilers solely must win 4 victories, then Chris Knobloch’s crew will change into the primary Canadian membership since 1993 to win the Stanley Cup.

Then a separate movie might be made about Nobloch himself. He began this season as the top coach of the AHL crew, then on November 12 he moved to Edmonton, which is on the backside of the standings, and made the Oilers the strongest crew within the league: because the specialist introduced, the Oilers have led the league in scoring And most significantly, for the primary time within the Connor McDavid period, a Canadian membership reached the finals.

McDavid seems to have approached the foremost league in the most effective form of his complete profession. For instance, Connor (26) can tie Wayne Gretzky’s (31) report for assists in a playoff sport. In wage cap time, the closest to the legend was Nikita Kucherov (27) within the 2019/20 season. On the similar time, the Edmonton captain should present the most effective hockey in each assembly, as a result of for the strongest hockey participant on the planet this can be the one alternative for the Cup in his profession to complete. Subsequently, Pavel Bure within the 1994 ultimate as a part of Florida couldn’t defeat the Rangers, and Russia by no means reached the primary stage of the playoffs. However, Alexander Ovechkin took benefit of the chance and received the Cup in 2018.

Edmonton’s attacking crew is answerable for serving to McDavid not lose the trophy. The Oilers are so good with this part that the Oilers took the primary 4 traces within the listing of main scorers: McDavid (31), Leon Draisaitl (28), Evan Bouchard (27), Ryan Nugent -Hopkins (20).

As well as, Knobloch’s crew within the playoffs is first in energy play turnovers – 37.3%. This quantity most likely says nothing in regards to the dominance of the Canadian membership once they play in an unbalanced lineup. Nevertheless, it is sufficient to keep in mind the final two video games of the Western finals that led to favor of the Oilers – 3:1, 2:1. 4 of the Oilers 5 targets had been scored on the ability play! It appears like Paul Maurice might have one thing to fret about heading into the ultimate, as Florida is averaging 3.56 ejections per sport. Nevertheless, Maurice taught the Panthers tips on how to include even probably the most harmful particular groups of their opponents. So, in six video games of the Japanese ultimate, the Panthers had been within the minority 15 instances and solely conceded one purpose.

Florida’s protection usually appears much more dependable than Edmonton’s. And whereas Maurice’s crew would not have defenders on the extent of Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen, the Panthers managed to show the Rangers’ high stars from the sport. Subsequently, in six video games in opposition to the Panthers, Artemiy Panarin (1+3), Mika Zibanejad (0+2), Chris Kreider (1+1) weren’t capable of present their stage.

Dmitry Kulikov / Picture: © Joel Auerbach / Contributor / Getty Photos Sports activities / Gettyimages.ru

It is a lot simpler for Florida’s protection due to the Panthers’ energy play and fixed strain. The East finisher likes to dam his opponent with fixed strain and benefit from errors. And it is nonetheless exhausting to think about how Edmonton will take care of this. As well as, Sergei Bobrovsky helps the defensive gamers. In these playoffs, the Russian took out lifeless pucks and robbed his opponents many times. And Bobrovsky is unquestionably the most effective goalkeeper of the ultimate.

The principle goalie of the Oilers, Stuart Skinner, had already misplaced his first quantity within the Stanley Cup and watched the video games within the second spherical in opposition to Vancouver from the bench. Nevertheless, it can’t be mentioned that the 25-year-old goalkeeper fully failed within the playoffs. For instance, within the sixth sport in opposition to Dallas, he beat Jake Autinger, stopping 34 out of 35 photographs. Nevertheless, Skinner is just too unstable and definitely can’t evaluate with Bobrovsky .

Florida’s offensive line additionally has many star gamers: Alexander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Vladimir Tarasenko, Samuel Rinehart. As well as, if the Panthers approached the ultimate final 12 months in lower than optimum situation – many gamers had been injured, now the Panthers can boast of a protracted bench . For instance, within the sixth sport of the Japanese ultimate, whereas Tkachuk, Barkov and Reinhart had been nonetheless silent, Tarasenko scored the successful purpose.

The whole lot means that Florida will change into the proprietor of the Stanley Cup, eradicating the strongest hockey participant on the planet from the well-known cup. The Panthers had been capable of attain the purpose in simply six video games.