Will the Oilers wake up after all?
It’s not working for Leon Draisaitl and his Edmonton Oilers and now there’s frustration on top of that. The Canadiens racked up 45 penalty minutes in Game 2 – if that continues, our Edmonton vs. Panthers prediction for Game 3 is easy to predict.
However, we expect a slightly different attitude in front of their own fans. The Oilers have won six of their previous nine playoff games at Rogers Place – and they’ll need to do the same on Thursday night
In total, however, only five teams have ever come back from 2-0 down in the Stanley Cup Finals to lift the trophy. Positive signs look different. So a win in Game 3 is now a must for McDavid and his colleagues.
Accordingly, our prediction for Oilers vs Panthers is a different performance from the Canadiens, who will push the pace early. However, if goalie Stuart Skinner doesn’t improve significantly, even that might not be enough
Edmonton Oilers – Statistics & current form
The Oilers just can’t get their horsepower on the ice in these Stanley Cup Finals. After Edmonton was at least able to hold their own in Game 1 and was simply unfortunate in front of the net, there wasn’t much of that to be seen in Game 2.
They managed just 19 shots on goal over the course of the game – the fewest ever in this postseason. The Panthers appear a tad fresher and also better positioned in almost all parts of the team than the Canadiens, who are immediately noticeable when the two stars McDavid and Draisaitl are weak
Not much going on without McDavid and Draisaitl
While the two top stars were again on the ice the most of all Oilers forwards in Game 2, apart from two and three shots on goal respectively, there was little to show for it. Draisaitl even drew negative attention to himself with a very dirty check.
It’s the same as it has been for almost the entire season. When their two stars deliver, the Oilers are in a good position, when they don’t, things look bleak. Even Zach Hyman, who has been able to fill in more and more often of late, remained pale in the first two finals (only one shot on goal in Game 2).
Tips on good Oilers start possible
For game 3, we expect the Oilers to come out of the locker room very differently than in game 2, when they only had four shots on goal in the first period – even though they scored the 1-0.
That 1-0 lead could be on the ice again in Game 3. In the last four games, they’ve scored the first goal in period number 1 three times, so the odds on Edmonton scoring that first goal are definitely playable in Oilers vs. Panthers.
Key Players:
- G: Stuart Skinner
- D: Mattias Ekholm
- D: Evan Bouchard
- LW: Warren Foegele
- C: Connor McDavid
- RW: Zach Hyman
Florida Panthers – stats & current form
Turn 1-0 into 2-0 and there doesn’t look to be much that can stop the Panthers right now. Especially not the Oilers, who are having huge problems with the very aggressive Panthers.
The men from Florida racked up 39 hits in Game 2 and when the Oilers did try to counter them, they were at best unfair, as Warren Foegele or Leon Draisaitl were punished with hard hits and corresponding penalties
Panthers top in penalty killing
One of the Panthers’ biggest strengths in this series is their penalty killing. Against the best power play in the playoffs (before the start of the series), the Panthers are allowing very few scoring chances. The Oilers have yet to score a single power play goal.
With an 89.7% success rate, Florida now has the second-best shorthanded game of the postseason. If they are now also superior in their opponent’s actual strengths, not much can go wrong in the course of the series
How do the Panthers start Game 3?
We’ve already predicted a lightning start for the Oilers in Game 3, but Game 2 proved that the Panthers’ strength lies in playing consistently throughout the third. Something Edmonton has lacked throughout the playoffs.
So even an early deficit shouldn’t throw the Panthers off their stride. Besides an early Oilers goal, Edmonton vs Florida odds on the Panthers in period number 3 are playable. As far as win bets are concerned, we would rather hold back a little in this game, as anything seems possible.
Key Players:
- G: Sergei Bobrovsky
- D: Gustav Forsling
- D: Aaron Ekblad
- LW: Vladimir Tarasenko
- C: Aleksander Barkov
- RW: Sam Reinhart
Edmonton Oilers – Florida Panthers head-to-head / H2H record
0:2 from the Oilers’ point of view and thus only little chance for the Stanley Cup at the end. But for Game 3, the Canadiens are even considered the slight favorites. On the one hand because of the home advantage, on the other because of the “all-or-nothing” situation.
That can either inspire or inhibit. We are therefore unable to pick a clear winner for this match, as we were able to do in the first two duels. For Edmonton vs. Florida, a bet on 1 or 2 is to be avoided.
A bet on X is the most likely option here, as the value is enormous with odds of up to 4.20. And of the Panthers’ last seven games, three have gone the extra distance
Edmonton Oilers – Florida Panthers betting tip
The Panthers look clearly superior so far. Why do we still not recommend betting on them again? Because the Oilers still have a pillar in their quiver. Especially if Aleksander Barkov is indeed out for the Panthers (which is still completely up in the air).
Nevertheless, we see other bets as more playable here. For example, a bet on the first goal for Edmonton is a great alternative for Oilers vs Panthers. As is a bet that neither team will score two goals. Because the games so far have not been very high-scoring
As far as player bets go, we’d go with an Oilers player again this time. Leon Draisaitl is not making the best impression at the moment, which is why Connor McDavid is our favorite for goal bets. As captain, he should also lead the way, which could be reflected in a goal
