After some sensational motion all through the NHL postseason, the Stanley Cup Closing is formally set in stone. The Florida Panthers would be the Japanese Convention consultant, whereas the Edmonton Oilers have come out of the Western Convention for the Stanley Cup Closing starting Saturday. 

The Panthers performed like a No. 1 seed all through the Stanley Cup Playoffs and defeated the New York Rangers in six video games to win the Japanese Convention Closing. Florida will now play for a Stanley Cup for the second consecutive season.

In the meantime, the Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Closing after topping the Dallas Stars within the Western Convention Closing. This marks the primary time in Connor McDavid’s profession Edmonton will play for Lord Stanley’s Cup. 

Our analysts have weighed in with their picks for the Stanley Cup Closing.

Panthers vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Closing schedule

All instances Japanese | *if needed

• Sport 1 — Oilers at Panthers: Saturday, June 8, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
• Sport 2 — Oilers at Panthers: Monday, June 10, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
• Sport 3 — Panthers at Oilers: Thursday, June 13, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
• Sport 4 — Panthers at Oilers Saturday, June 15, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
• Sport 5* — Oilers at Panthers: Tuesday, June 18, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
• Sport 6* — Panthers at Oilers: Friday, June 21, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC
• Sport 7* — Oilers at Panthers: Monday, June 24, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC

Panthers vs. Oilers odds

• Sequence winner: Panthers -135, Oilers +115
• Sport 1: Panthers -139, Oilers +117

Sequence predictions, picks

Chris Bengel: The Panthers battled via fairly a little bit of adversity early on within the Japanese Convention Closing. The truth is, the Rangers held a 2-1 collection lead following an extra time victory in Sport 3. Nonetheless, Florida closed out the collection about as sturdy as a staff might with three consecutive wins to take the collection.

As was the case all through the Panthers’ 2023 Stanley Cup run, star ahead Matthew Tkachuk has excelled all through the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tkachuk leads the staff in factors (19) as he is tallied 5 targets and 14 assists up to now. On prime of Tkachuk, the Panthers possess an abundance of depth amongst their top-six forwards, together with Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe along with Tkachuk. Bennett actually confirmed up within the ultimate three video games of the Rangers collection as he’s presently driving a three-game purpose streak. 

Whereas the offensive firepower can typically be the theme in the case of the Panthers, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been enjoying out of his thoughts all through the postseason. Bobrovsky has tallied a 12-5-0 document to go together with a 2.20 goals-against-average and a .908 save proportion. The 35-year-old has additionally allowed two or fewer targets in 10 of his final 11 playoff video games, together with in all however one contest throughout the Japanese Convention Closing. In response to Cash Puck, Bobrobsky owns a .960 save proportion when he is confronted unblocked pictures all through the postseason.

Bobrovsky is actually going to need to be at his finest for the Panthers to hoist the Stanley Cup. The Oilers have been arguably essentially the most deadly offensive staff of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and that is to be anticipated when a staff has the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on its roster. 

Having to cope with one of many world’s prime gamers in McDavid on a nightly foundation will not be a simple activity, however I feel Bobrovsky will probably be as much as the problem. This can seemingly be a back-and-forth collection and will simply go seven video games. In the end, I belief the Panthers’ goaltending and star energy somewhat bit extra, and I imagine they’re going to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise historical past. Choose — Panthers beat Oilers, 4-3

Austin Nivison: The Oilers rely closely on a core of about six gamers with Connor McDavid main the way in which as the most effective hockey participant on this rotating rock. Together with McDavid, Edmonton has 5 gamers with at the very least 18 factors in these playoffs. Nobody else has greater than eight. When the Oilers’ prime gamers are rolling, as they’ve been all postseason, they’re nearly invulnerable. The massive query is whether or not they can preserve it going in opposition to Florida’s protection.

Edmonton has held its personal defensively in these playoffs, however the overwhelming majority of that work has been performed by Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard. These two have mixed for a plus-9 purpose differential at five-on-five, per Pure Stat Trick. With out these two within the recreation, that purpose differential plummets to minus-12.

The Panthers use their phenomenal depth and suffocating staff protection to squeeze the life out of groups. The Panthers have allowed simply 2.24 targets in opposition to per recreation within the playoffs. That stinginess is due, at the very least partially, to the efforts of Selke Trophy winner Aleksander Barkov and the highest defensive pair of Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad. Count on McDavid to get very accustomed to these three, and whereas he has dominated robust matchups via the primary three rounds, this will probably be one thing akin to a ultimate boss problem for him.

After all, the Panthers aren’t all protection on a regular basis. Matthew Tkachuk stays among the finest energy forwards within the recreation at present, and he leads Florida with 19 factors. Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe fill out the top-six with some good scoring pop too.

Particular groups gained the day for the Oilers within the final spherical, and they’re going to have an edge in that division once more. Their energy play has transformed on 37.3% of its alternatives, and the penalty kill has killed off 28 consecutive energy play probabilities for its opponents. The Panthers are not any slouches on particular groups, however they don’t seem to be fairly that good.

Florida ought to have the ability to make up for that particular groups deficit with a slight benefit in purpose. Sergei Bobrovsky has been stable for the Panthers in these playoffs, posting a .908 save proportion, however he has proven the power to play at an elite degree. On the opposite aspect, Stuart Skinner got here on sturdy within the convention ultimate after struggling within the second spherical. Which model of Skinner exhibits up on this collection will probably be an X-factor.

This Stanley Cup Closing matchup is a toss-up that includes groups constructed in several methods. In the end, the Panthers’ depth and protection will win out in opposition to a high-powered however top-heavy Oilers staff. Choose — Panthers beat Oilers, 4-2

So who wins Oilers vs. Panthers, and which aspect of the cash line has all the worth? Go to SportsLine now to see which aspect of the cash line to leap on Saturday, all from the skilled who’s up over $1,400 in his final 72 NHL against-the-spread picks, and discover out.