Panthers-Oilers Game 6 preview: Can the Oilers force a Game 7?

Will Tuesday night's matchup betwixt the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers beryllium the last crippled of the 2024-25 season? Or volition determination beryllium 1 much connected Friday?

The Panthers pb 3-2 successful the 2025 Stanley Cup Final up of Game 6 (8 p.m. ET, TNT/Max). If they win, they skate the Cup connected location ice. If the Oilers win, Game 7 is backmost successful Edmonton.

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

More from Game 5: Recap | Grades

Matchup notes

Florida Panthers astatine Edmonton Oilers
Game 6 | 8 p.m. ET | TNT/Max

With a 3-2 pb up of Game 6 connected location ice, the Panthers are present -400 favorites to triumph the Cup and the Oilers are +300; those numbers are adjusted from anterior to Game 5, erstwhile some clubs were -110. As for the Conn Smythe Trophy, Sam Bennett remains the leader, but his likelihood person shifted from +150 to -190. Brad Marchand (+300), Connor McDavid (+700) and Leon Draisaitl (+700) circular retired the apical four.

The Panthers are seeking to go the archetypal squad to repetition arsenic Stanley Cup champions by beating the aforesaid squad since the Montreal Canadiens did truthful against the Boston Bruins successful 1977 and 1978 -- for the Habs, those were titles No. 2 and 3 of 4 consecutive earned betwixt 1976 and 1979. A Panthers triumph would beryllium the 4th Stanley Cup for a squad based successful the authorities of Florida this decennary (the Tampa Bay Lightning won successful 2020 and 2021).

The Oilers are facing elimination for the archetypal clip successful the 2025 playoffs. Last year, they were 5-1 erstwhile facing elimination -- including 3 wins successful the 2024 Stanley Cup Final aft falling down 3-0. Road teams facing elimination successful Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final person gone 6-6 successful the past 12 occurrences.

Marchand is having a superb Stanley Cup Final, scoring six goals frankincense far. That marks the astir goals successful a Cup Final since Esa Tikkanen (1988, besides six). Marchand is the archetypal subordinate to people 5 oregon much goals with aggregate teams successful a Cup Final, and his 5 roadworthy goals successful this bid are the astir successful a azygous Cup Final since Jack Adams had six for the Vancouver Millionaires successful 1922. With aggregate multigoal games successful the Cup Final, Marchand joins Jeff Friesen (New Jersey Devils, 2003) and Max Talbot (2009, Pittsburgh Penguins) arsenic the lone players to propulsion disconnected that feat successful the past 30 years.

Teammate Sam Bennett is besides entering historical territory. With a extremity successful Edmonton successful Game 5, helium became the 5th subordinate successful NHL past with a streak of six consecutive roadworthy games with a goal. He is besides the 4th progressive NHL subordinate to people 15 goals successful a azygous postseason, joining Zach Hyman (16, 2024), Alex Ovechkin (15, 2018) and Sidney Crosby (15, 2009).

Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky tied the NHL grounds for astir roadworthy wins successful a azygous postseason (10). The different 5 goalies tied atop the database are: Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues, 2019), Braden Holtby (Washington Capitals, 2018), Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings, 2012), Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary Flames, 2004), Martin Brodeur (Devils, 2000 and 1995).

With 3 goals successful this series, Edmonton's Corey Perry tied Mark Recchi (Bruins, 2011) and Igor Larionov (Detroit Red Wings, 2002) for the astir goals by a subordinate property 40 oregon older successful a azygous Cup Final.

McDavid scored a constituent successful each location crippled helium played since the 4 Nations Face-Off interruption -- a tally of 17 consecutive games, with 36 points successful that span. He reached 150 playoff points successful 95 games, the third-fastest subordinate successful NHL past to scope that benchmark, down Wayne Gretzky (68 games played) and Mario Lemieux (86).

With 1 much game-winning extremity this series, Draisaitl would go conscionable the 3rd subordinate successful the NHL's modern epoch (since 1943-44) -- and archetypal since 1977 -- to person 3 crippled winners successful a azygous Stanley Cup Final. The erstwhile players to bash truthful are Jacques Lemaire (1977) and Jean Beliveau (1965 and 1960), some of whom accomplished the feat for the Canadiens.

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Oilers coach: We've flooded hard situations before

Kris Knoblauch keeps religion successful his Oilers arsenic helium reflects connected losing Game 5 successful Edmonton.

Scoring leaders

Sam Bennett, C, Florida Panthers

GP: 22 | G: 15 | A: 7

Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton Oilers

GP: 21 | G: 11 | A: 22

Best bets for Game 6

Evander Kane implicit 4.5 full hits (+107): The Oilers request to beryllium much carnal if they anticipation to person a morganatic changeable astatine pushing this bid to a Game 7. Saturday's squad full of 25 hits, including lone a brace from Kane, isn't going to chopped it. An assertive difference-maker erstwhile he's astatine his champion astatine nearing, but not crossing, the enactment arsenic helium has excessively often this series, the winger volition beryllium 1 to ticker from the get-go Tuesday. Notably, helium registered 17 full hits done some overtime games to unfastened this bid successful Edmonton. Win oregon lose, Kane is going to service arsenic a factor. Hopefully for the Oilers, not by earning himself clip successful the punishment box.

Stuart Skinner nether 25.5 full saves (-120): If Skinner -- presuming manager Kris Knoblauch goes with his No. 1 netminder to commencement Game 6 -- struggles, oregon the remainder of the Oilers neglect to execute good capable retired front, helium won't past agelong capable successful the crease to marque 26 saves earlier each is said and done. The leash volition beryllium abbreviated successful this must-win contest. Or possibly Edmonton's squad defence rises to the juncture and prevents much scoring chances successful enactment of their starting goaltender, arsenic it did successful earlier rounds versus Dallas and Vegas.

Connor McDavid archetypal play anytime goal-scorer (+600): After Leon Draisaitl scored the opener successful Game 1, the Panthers are cleanable successful 4 consecutive games astatine catching the backmost of the nett first, outscoring Edmonton 11-4 altogether successful the archetypal period. The Oilers recognize reversing that inclination would spell a agelong mode successful helping them survive, peculiarly by forcing Florida to sway from their stifling antiaircraft play. Who amended to look to than McDavid, who yet recovered the backmost of the nett this bid successful Saturday's losing effort? The sport's champion subordinate needs to sprout more, and helium knows it. He'll beryllium revved close up to marque a statement, early. -- Victoria Matiash