Florida (3-0) at Edmonton (0-3)
When: Saturday, June 15th 2024
Where: Rogers Place,
Edmonton, Alberta
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Edmonton -115/5.5
The betting public was all over the Edmonton Oilers leading up to Game 3 on Thursday night. Why not? They were a desperate team down 2-0 and playing in front of their wild home fans in Canada. Well, the Florida Panthers had other ideas and took a commanding 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Finals, holding on for a 4-3 win. Game 4 is set for Saturday night and history is not on the Oilers’ side. 27 of the previous 28 times a team has led 3-0 in the Stanley Cup Finals have gone on to win. The only comeback were the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Oilers went off as a -145 favorite on Thursday and now the Panthers are getting a little more respect from oddsmakers. Edmonton is just a -115 home favorite, while the total stays the same at 5.5. Florida is now a -3000 favorite to win the series, while the Oilers are +1300. The NHL futures board lists Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky as a heavy -500 favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, while Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is +400 and Edmonton captain Connor McDavid is +1500. If the Oilers can stay alive, Game 5 would be back in South Florida on Tuesday.
FLORIDA PANTHERS
Florida fans got a little nervous near the end of Game 3, but the Panthers held on and look to become the first team since 1998 to sweep a Stanley Cup Finals. Barkov and Sam Reinhart each had a goal and an assist, while Bobrovsky stopped 32 shots. Vladimir Tarasenko and Sam Bennett also scored in the win. Barkov now leads the team with 21 points (7G, 14A), but Florida has nine different players with double digit point totals in the playoffs, which is showing off their depth. Bobrovsky is 15-5 in the playoffs with a 2.07 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and two shutouts.
EDMONTON OILERS
Edmonton nearly pulled off the miracle comeback after trailing 4-1 in the third period. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough and they now sit on the verge of elimination. McDavid added two assists to his playoff-leading 34 points (5G, 29A), while Warren Foegele, Philip Broberg and Ryan McLeod scored the Oilers’ goals. Stuart Skinner made 19 saves in goal. Both McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are being held in check. McDavid is averaging a point per game in the series, but three assists wont’ cut it. Draisaitl, who has 28 points (10G, 18A) in the playoffs, doesn’t have a point in the series. The Edmonton power play is now 0-for-10 in the series.
Prediction:
I’m liking Edmonton less and less as each game goes by, but I’ll back them at least one more time. They showed some grit in the third period the other night and maybe that momentum can carry them in Game 4.
