The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are left standing in the and will play for the Stanley Cup in the best-of-seven final starting Saturday in Sunrise, Florida.
remain championship favorites on after rallying to beat the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference final. Florida is back in the Cup Final for a after winning the Atlantic Division and steamrolling through the East.
has reached this stage for the first time in his nine-year professional career and has gotten the Oilers for the first time since 2006.
Edmonton has not won the Cup since 1990 鈥� three years before Florida's inaugural season. The Panthers have yet to win it.
THE MATCHUP
, who have allowed just over two goals a game thanks to relentless defense and the terrific goaltending of Sergei Bobrovsky, meet . Edmonton has averaged 3.5 goals a game over the course of this run, led by Zach Hyman's 14.
After Florida a year ago in the five-game Cup Final loss to Vegas, the Panthers appear to be much healthier this time around. That gives coach Paul Maurice options to choose from as he seeks his first NHL title.
"We are as healthy as you could be as a hockey club," Maurice said Tuesday.
HOW TO WATCH
Every game of the Stanley Cup playoffs is televised nationally in the U.S. and sa国际传媒 and available on streaming platforms. The NHL schedule is and a streaming guide is Games are carried in the U.S. on an ABC, ESPN, TNT or TBS and in sa国际传媒 on CBC or Sportsnet in English and TVA Sports in French.
WHO TO WATCH
, who is just the fifth player in NHL history to get 100 assists in a season, leads all playoff scorers with 31 points in 18 games. German star and longtime running mate Leon Draisaitl is next with 28, and the Oilers have gotten 27 points from defenseman Evan Bouchard.
for Florida, and the two-time Vezina Trophy winner as the league's top netminder is on his game. He has stopped 377 of 415 shots so far this playoffs and is among the Conn Smythe Trophy favorites as postseason MVP.
But he's not alone on the Panthers, with winger Matthew Tkachuk leading the way again like he did last year in his coming-out party. Tkachuk tops Florida with 19 points and dishes out plenty of punishment with hits and physicality, too.
WHO IS THE FAVORITE?
Florida is the -130 (10-13) favorite to win the series, according to , while Edmonton is +110.
WHEN IS THE STANLEY CUP FINAL?
Game 1 is set for Saturday, June 8 at Florida. Game 2 is Monday, June 10 before the series shifts to Alberta for Game 3 on Thursday, June 13 and Game 4 on Saturday, June 15. If necessary, Game 5 is Tuesday, June 18 back in Sunrise, Game 6 is Friday, June 21 in Edmonton and Game 7 is Monday, June 24 at Florida.
GO DEEPER
Scoring creativity hasn't stopped now that the playoffs are here, with a handful of goals being scored off the masks of goaltenders. shooters are continuing to refine to put the puck in the net at the most difficult time of year to do so.
Some goals, however, have not counted, as goaltender interference challenges have throughout the playoffs. Interference or not, scoring first is no guarantee, as of various kinds are happening all over the place.
A big Finn is looking to finish the job for the Panthers, with paving the way on and off the ice. as the NHL's top defensive forward during the regular season.
Buildings are full to the brim all over the continent, from Boston to South Florida to Denver and Vancouver, with and fans filling arenas to 97% of capacity this season. It's another result of the .
This year also brought the most-viewed first three rounds in the U.S. since 1996, which coincidentally was Florida's first trip to the final in franchise history. Conference finals ratings increased 34% from last year.
Fans who like have watched the brawls dwindle in recent years and they are a rarity in the postseason. Like tradition? Rest easy: The NHL has no plans to
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AP NHL:
The Associated Press
