Panthers vs Oilers: Edmonton’s reaction after the beating? Analysis and betting

In-Depth Analysis of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final: Panthers vs. Oilers

After two exciting initial games in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, which were decided in overtime, the third game presented a clear dominance. The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers with a score of 6-1. Will the Oilers be able to tie the series before it returns to Edmonton for Game 5? Or will the Panthers move closer to a victory that would give them the championship?

Relevant Data of the Confrontation

Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers

Game 4 | 8 p.m. ET | TNT/Max Before Game 3, the Stanley Cup odds were tight, with the Panthers at -115 and the Oilers at -105. After Florida’s decisive victory, the Panthers are now favored at -260, while the Oilers are at +215. Sam Bennett also rose in the odds for the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP), going from +400 to +120. Connor McDavid (+240), Brad Marchand (+550) and Sergei Bobrovsky (+650) complete the top four. When a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final starts 1-1, the Game 3 winner has a historical series record of 23-7. The Panthers have a series record of 3-1 when leading 2-1 in a best-of-seven series; their only series loss was in the 2012 conference quarterfinals against the New Jersey Devils. The Oilers have won their last three series when they were down 2-1: the 2024 second round against the Vancouver Canucks, the 2024 Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Stars, and the 2025 first round against the Los Angeles Kings. Florida is the sixth team in Stanley Cup playoffs history to score five or more goals in a game 11 times in a single postseason, and the first since the 1992 Pittsburgh Penguins. Four of the previous five teams won the Stanley Cup. With a goal in Game 3, Marchand (37) became the oldest player to score in each of the first three games of a Stanley Cup Final, breaking the previous record of Frank Mahovlich (35 years old in 1973). Marchand’s four goals in this series are the most in a Stanley Cup Final for a player aged 37 or older. Bennett and Marchand became the second pair of teammates to score at least one goal in each of the first three games of a Cup Final. The other duo is Steve Payne and Dino Ciccarelli for the 1981 Minnesota North Stars. Paul Maurice now has 1,000 career wins and is only the third coach to reach that milestone, joining Scotty Bowman (1,467) and Joel Quenneville (1,090). The Game 3 was the thirteenth time McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were held without a point in the same playoff game; the last two times have been against the Panthers in Florida (Game 7 of the 2024 Cup Final was the other). The Oilers’ winger, Corey Perry, scored his tenth goal in the Cup Final in Game 3, which is the second most among active players (behind Marchand). Edmonton has had 20 different goal scorers this postseason, which is tied for third-most in a single postseason in NHL history. If a new goal scorer scores in Game 4 or beyond, it will tie the all-time mark, currently held by the 1987 Philadelphia Flyers (against the Oilers) and the 2019 Boston Bruins (against the St. Louis Blues).

Leaders in Annotations

Sam Bennett, C, Florida Panthers

GP: 20 | G: 14 | A: 6

Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers

GP: 19 | G: 6 | A: 25

Best Bets for Game 4

Evan Bouchard over 3.5 total shots on goal (+125): After recording seven and eight shots in Games 1 and 2 respectively, the Oilers’ most productive defenseman had nine shots on goal in Monday’s losing effort. Only Connor McDavid has put shots on goal more frequently for Edmonton this postseason. Sergei Bobrovsky over 26.5 total saves (-135): While Bobrovsky’s save benchmark was bound to eventually increase, over 26 is still palatable enough. After stopping 42 of 46 shots in the two overtime battles in Edmonton, Florida’s No. 1 stopped 32 of 33, including a good number of high-danger chances, in Game 3. Note that that contest turned into a focus on the battles rather than scoring in the third period. The Oilers will surely come out firing often in a game they essentially need to win to keep the chance of emerging victorious in this series. Brad Marchand over 0.5 plus/minus (+145): The new most beloved member of the Panthers is on a four-game streak with four goals against Edmonton, plus an assist from Florida’s last game with Carolina. In total, he has a plus-four in three games in this Stanley Cup Final.