Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Stanley Cup match.
This clash could be pivotal for the Edmonton Oilers in the context of the Stanley Cup Final. The Florida Panthers currently lead the series 2-1, and a win in Game 4 would put them within touching distance of the title.
Florida Panthers
Game 3 — the first of the series hosted by the Florida Panthers — saw the Florida Panthers completely outplay the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers, seemingly out of ideas, resorted to a mass altercation in frustration. Known for their combative style, the Panthers were more than willing to engage. However, their physical dominance goes beyond mere aggression — their hits consistently carry more weight, even when they don’t outnumber the opposition in total checks. Aleksander Barkov remains a central figure in the series. He was decisive in Game 2 and opened the scoring in Game 3. His wealth of playoff experience continues to make a difference — he now has four goals in the series.
Edmonton Oilers
By contrast, the Edmonton Oilers were let down in goal. Stuart Skinner posted a save percentage of only 78.3%, and it was evident that the change in net should have come in the second period after three goals, not in the third after conceding five. On the other end, Sergei Bobrovsky delivered another stellar performance with a 97% save percentage. The power play continues to be a weak spot for the Edmonton Oilers, converting just one of six opportunities in Game 3, and only three from 16 across the series. The Florida Panthers, meanwhile, scored three goals while on the power play. To compound the issues for the Edmonton Oilers, Connor McDavid sustained an injury late in the game and left the ice. He logged under 21 minutes of ice time in Game 3, well below the 31-plus minutes he played in each of the opening two fixtures, including overtime.
Florida Panthers vs Edmonton Oilers Prediction
Game 3 revealed significant structural issues in the Edmonton Oilers' play, suggesting a comeback is unlikely — especially away from home. We expect the Florida Panthers to secure victory in regulation.
