The 2025 Stanley Cup Final has provided nothing but electric moments through the first two games. With 16 goals in total, an overtime treat in Game 1, and a double OT thriller in Game 2, the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers look evenly matched in this rematch of last year’s final round.
The series shifts back to Sunrise, Florida on Monday night for a pivotal Game 3. Will the Panthers keep momentum rolling in front of the home fans, or will the Oilers steal a game on the road to retake the upper hand in the series?
Find out below with this Panthers vs. Oilers Game 3 prediction and pick for the next Stanley Cup Final matchup.
Panthers vs. Oilers Game 3 prediction, preview
This series presents one of the most intriguing stylistic matchups in the NHL. The high-flying, speed-skating Oilers get out on the break and pour on goals better than pretty much any other team in the sports. On the other side of the coin are the Panthers, a team which prides itself on toughness, grit, and slowing pace of play to a level they can not only control, but dominate outright. What’s the result been so far?
To this point, the Oilers are having their way in the scoring column. Goals haven’t been difficult to come by — how could they be with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl up front — with eight between their first two contests. Florida’s defense hasn’t yet been able to slow down their opponents’ attack as they were outshot by Edmonton 92-74 across the first two games. Yes, those numbers are elevated due to three overtime periods, but it’s still a trend to keep an eye on.
Here’s the interesting part, though. The Panthers’ offense has risen to the occasion to keep up with the Oilers’ scoring pace. Sam Bennett leads the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a whopping 13 goals in 19 games, three more than Draisaitl, the next-closest skater with 10. In another trend few predicted, Brad Marchand’s seven goals tie him for fifth-most in the postseason and second-most among Florida players — his two goals in Game 2 with the winner in overtime need no explanation.
What’s the lesson here? With eight goals for each team so far, it’s clear the Panthers are capable of playing the Oilers’ brand of hockey to keep up in the scoring column. The most encouraging part for Florida? Their other stars aren’t even firing yet.
Panthers vs. Oilers Game 3 pick, best bet
As the Panthers head back to their home arena tonight, DraftKings Sportsbook lists them as -148 favorites on the Moneyline. The Oilers, however, hold +124 odds to win outright with a game total of combined 6.5 goals.
As mentioned above the Panthers haven’t yet slowed the Oilers’ attack down, instead matching them with high-output scoring of their own. The interesting part to watch will be whether that changes tonight as Florida heads back to their home ice.
If the Panthers can get back to playing their typical brand of hockey, they certainly have the upper hand in Game 3 (and Game 4, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves). Edmonton has plenty of shooters, but limiting their scoring chances to begin with is by far the most reliable path to victory for the home team tonight. It’s easier said than done, especially with the extra day of rest between Game 2 and tonight’s festivities. However, the Panthers will likely out-hit their opponent again this evening and work to impose their will throughout. Their deeper roster remains an added benefit, and if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins misses this outing due to his undisclosed injury, Florida should see a major boost from that.
The Oilers are a fearsome unit and there’s nothing scarier than the McDrai pairing skating toward your goaltender on the breakaway. Corey Perry has also mustered his share of heroics this postseason, but if RNH doesn’t play, this looks like Florida’s game to lose. I expect the Ice Cats to start looking like their usual selves and grind the pace to a halt at home.
