Panthers-Oilers Game 3 preview: Who will take a 2-1 lead?

After 2 games of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are knotted astatine 1 crippled apiece -- fundamentally turning this bid into a best-of-five.

With Game 3 connected the skyline Monday nighttime (8 p.m. ET, TNT/Max), which squad volition inch up 2 games to one?

Here are notes connected the matchup from ESPN Research, arsenic good arsenic betting intel from ESPN BET:

More from Game 2: Recap | Grades

Matchup notes

Edmonton Oilers astatine Florida Panthers
Game 3 | 8 p.m. ET | TNT/Max

With the bid tied 1-1, the Panthers are present flimsy favorites to triumph the Cup according to ESPN BET; their likelihood are present -115, compared to -105 for the Oilers. Connor McDavid remains atop the Conn Smythe Trophy likelihood committee astatine +105, followed by Sergei Bobrovsky (+350), Sam Bennett (+400) and Leon Draisaitl (+650).

The Panthers' triumph successful Game 2 was their ninth connected the roadworthy this postseason, mounting a franchise people for roadworthy wins successful a azygous playoff run. They are present 1 roadworthy triumph shy of tying the NHL record, which has been done six times before, astir precocious by the 2019 St. Louis Blues.

This is the 3rd clip the Oilers person been tied 1-1 done 2 games of a Stanley Cup Final. They won Game 3 and the Cup Final connected some erstwhile occasions (1984 vs. the New York Islanders, 1985 vs. the Philadelphia Flyers).

Brad Marchand's overtime victor successful Game 2 was his 5th vocation OT extremity successful the Stanley Cup playoffs, which ties him with Edmonton's Corey Perry, teammate Carter Verhaeghe, Patrick Kane and Glenn Anderson for 3rd each time. Only Maurice Richard (six) and Joe Sakic (eight) person more.

Florida's Bennett scored the opening extremity successful Game 2 connected the powerfulness play, his 12th roadworthy extremity this postseason, which sets a caller NHL record.

Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 42 saves for the 2nd consecutive game, becoming the 5th goalie successful NHL past to person 40 oregon much saves successful back-to-back Stanley Cup Final games; the others are Henrik Lundqvist successful 2014, Ed Belfour successful 2000, Rogie Vachon successful 1967 and Don Simmons successful 1958.

Draisaitl scored his 22nd vocation power-play extremity successful the playoffs, moving him into a necktie with Jari Kurri and Glenn Anderson for the 2nd astir successful Oilers past down Wayne Gretzky (23). Draisaitl's extremity was his 10th of the postseason, making him the 3rd subordinate successful NHL past with astatine slightest 10 goals successful 3 consecutive postseasons -- joining Mike Bossy (four from 1980 to 1983) and Gretzky (three from 1983 to 1985).

Edmonton's Evan Bouchard scored his 20th vocation playoff extremity successful his 71st playoff game, tying Cale Makar for the fastest defenseman to 20 vocation playoff goals among progressive blueliners. Only six defensemen person scored 20 playoff goals faster: Paul Coffey (48), Brian Leetch (49), Bobby Orr (50), Denis Potvin (52), Al MacInnis (70) and Paul Reinhart (70).

McDavid assisted connected Draisaitl's and Bouchard's goals successful the archetypal play of Game 2, giving him his 33rd vocation multi-assist playoff game, breaking a necktie with Sidney Crosby, Doug Gilmour and Ray Bourque for the 3rd astir multi-assist playoff games successful NHL history, down Gretzky (72) and Mark Messier (40).

Scoring leaders

Sam Bennett, C, Florida Panthers

GP: 19 | G: 13 | A: 6

Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers

GP: 18 | G: 6 | A: 25

Best bets for Game 3

Niko Mikkola full blocked shots; implicit 1.5 (+145): Already having spent astir fractional an hr connected the crystal against Connor McDavid successful the archetypal 2 games and presently winning the all-strengths goals differential head-to-head astatine 3-2 against him, Mikkola and Seth Jones should proceed to spot a steadfast dose of McDavid present that the Panthers person past alteration connected location ice.

Eetu Luostarinen full goals; implicit 0.5 (+600): If anyone is owed for a tally, it's the 3rd subordinate of the Panthers' 3rd line. Per NaturalStatTrick, Luostarinen is 2nd to Sam Reinhart successful wide scoring chances and leads the squad successful high-danger scoring chances crossed the archetypal 2 games.

Connor McDavid full goals; implicit 0.5 (+135): Speaking of being owed for a goal, McDavid and Evan Bouchard person combined for 26 shots connected extremity crossed 66:19 of full crystal clip successful the archetypal 2 games of the series. Bouchard has 15 of those shots and a extremity to amusement for it, but McDavid is primed for a tally of his own.

Panthers to triumph by shutout (10-1): Though McDavid feels owed to score, the Panthers playing their smothering antiaircraft crippled connected location crystal does person a shutout consciousness to it. Sergei Bobrovsky has a shutout successful each of the erstwhile 3 rounds, aft all. -- Sean Allen