The Florida Panthers are just two wins away from their second straight Stanley Cup after crushing the Edmonton Oilers 6-1 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead.
It’s been a wild series so far. The Oilers grabbed Game 1 at home thanks to Leon Draisaitl’s overtime heroics. But the Panthers bounced back in Game 2 when Brad Marchand – their big trade deadline pickup from Boston – scored twice, including the double-overtime winner.
Then came Monday’s beatdown in Florida. The Panthers needed just 58 seconds to score and never looked back.
Six different Panthers found the net in Game 3, with Marchand and Sam Bennett continuing their hot streaks. Bennett’s been absolutely on fire this postseason with 14 goals.
If this feels a bit familiar to hockey fans, it should. These same teams met in last year’s Final, with Florida taking it in seven games after nearly blowing a 3-0 series lead.
Game 4 drops Thursday night in Florida at 8 p.m. ET. The home team’s favored to win, but Edmonton’s superstars can never be counted out.
Speaking of stars, Connor McDavid’s been oddly quiet this series. The NHL’s best player hasn’t scored a goal yet, though he did rack up five assists in the first two games before going pointless in Game 3.
The goalie matchup could be key. Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner has been Jekyll and Hyde this postseason – amazing at home (.924 save percentage) but struggling on the road (.862). Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky has been more consistent wherever he plays.
For bettors looking to get in on the action, several sportsbooks are offering sweet deals for new users:
• BetMGM will cover your first bet up to $1,500 if it loses
• DraftKings gives you $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins
• FanDuel offers $200 in bonus bets on a winning $5 first bet
• Bet365 gives you $150 in bonus bets whether you win or lose
The Oilers are desperate to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole. But they’ve shown before they can rally – just ask the Panthers about last year’s comeback from 3-0 down before ultimately falling short.
