The 2024 Stanley Cup Finals matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers is expected to be somewhat evenly matched. Florida is the home team and is listed as a slight favorite at sportsbooks across the country, with that designation sitting around -135.
Bobrovsky could make a difference in the Stanley Cup Finals
In the last two playoffs, Sergei Bobrovsky has made it to the SCF.
2023 Playoffs:
— Record: 12-6
— GAA: 2.78
— SV%: 0.915
— Saved a total of 585 times
— 1 shutout2024 Playoffs:
— Record: 12-5
— GAA: 2.20
— SV%: 0.908
— Saved a total of 377 times
— 1 shutoutPlayoff B🚫B B really lives up to its name pic.twitter.com/A2dIJyhCik
— FL PanthersMuse (@flpanthersmuse) June 5, 2024
One of the main reasons they are the team with a better winning percentage is the outstanding play of their goaltender, and they are hoping that Sergei Bobrovsky can give them the edge they need to bring the franchise their first championship.
The Oilers’ roster features two of the best players of the series. Connor McDavid is widely regarded as the best player in the NHL, having won three MVPs and finishing as the league’s top scorer with five finishes. His teammate, center Leon Draisaitl, a former MVP himself, finished seventh in points during the 2023-24 season.
But the difference for the Panthers is their goalie. Sergei Bobrovsky was outstanding in the Eastern Conference Finals series against the New York Rangers, where he allowed an average of two goals per game with a save percentage of 92.1%. It came on the tail end of a great regular season performance. Bobrovsky is tied for first in the league in shutouts and eighth in total saves.
Skinner was great against the stars
Stuart Skinner: Last 8 games
6-2 record
1.81 Gaa
.920% saved#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/A3ByJ84EMI— SportsNet Statistics (@SNstats) June 3, 2024
Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner is solid in his own right and has done enough to get his team to the Stanley Cup Finals, but he’s not in the same league as Bobrovsky this year. He was right behind his opponents in total saves during the regular season, but right in the middle of the pack in his save percentage.
Skinner struggled through the first two rounds of the playoffs, but averaged two goals per game with a 92.2% save percentage in the conference finals.
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals is scheduled for Saturday evening in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers are the money line favorite at -135, the same number they have throughout the series.
