Florida Panthers
Oilers at Panthers: How to Watch, Lines, Goalies, Betting Odds
FORT LAUDERDALE — The Edmonton Oilers held their morning skate at Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday, their first time back in the building since their Game 7 loss to the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.
Although a number of players were asked about their thoughts on being back in a barn filled with bad memories — one that now has a huge white Cup championship banner hanging above center ice — most said they are just focused on ending a four-game losing streak.
Edmonton is already 0-1 against the Panthers this season, and have been outscored 22-13 in those four losses.
“Mostly, just looking to end the losing streak. It obviously has not been a good stretch,” said Connor McDavid, who scored the game-winning goal for Team Canada a week ago tonight at the 4 Nations, but has just one goal in his past seven games with the Oilers.
“Yes, it’s a big one tonight. Managing the puck is important, just have a sense of urgency that we have been missing since the break. We need to find a way to get a win tonight. It wasn’t that long ago that we were in this building. Obviously, we know what happened. It doesn’t really matter.’’
The Panthers are expected to see the best of the Oilers tonight.
There is obviously the revenge factor, but this is a proud team not used to being on a long losing streak.
“I think [playing the Panthers] is the catalyst they need,’’ Paul Maurice said. “They have been off their game for a while. Over 82 games, everybody goes through that. Sometimes, you look for a jump start to get you going. With that Game 7 memory, we will expect them to be at their game tonight.”
As far as looking back, Maurice said it was enjoyable breaking down some of the video from the Final.
“We won’t reminisce before the game,” he said, “but if you watch the prep programming coming into the game, get some flashbacks, it brings a smile to your face.”
NOTES: OILERS @ PANTHERS
- Matthew Tkachuk will be out again tonight after being hurt at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Maurice had an update on the injury, saying Tkachuk is out ‘near term.’
- The Oilers will be without defenseman Darnell Nurse after he went hard into the boards Tuesday in Tampa. He is day-to-day.
- How to Watch: Tonight’s game was supposed to be an ESPN+ exclusive, but it was returned to local TV. The game can also be streamed on Panthers+ locally and ESPN+ nationally.
- Starting Goalies: The Panthers will have Sergei Bobrovsky back in net; Stuart Skinner goes for the Oilers.
- NHL Betting Odds: The Panthers are favorites on the money line (-145) at the local book. To win with the Panthers, a $145 bet pays $100.
ON DECK: GAME No. 60
EDMONTON OILERS at FLORIDA PANTHERS
- When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
- Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
- Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FtL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SWFla)
- Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
- Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
- Betting Odds — Panthers Favored: Money Line (-145); Puck line (-1.5, +160); Over/Under 6.5 (-110/-110)
- This Season (Panthers Lead 1-0) — At Florida: Thursday. At Edmonton: Panthers 6, Oilers 5 (Dec. 16).
- Last Regular Season: Florida Won 2-0
- Last Postseason: Florida Won Stanley Cup Final 4-3
- All-time Regular Season Series: Oilers lead 23-17-0, 3 ties
- Up Next for the Panthers: Saturday vs. Calgary Flames, 3 p.m.
PROJECTED FLORIDA PANTHERS (35-21-3) LINES
23 Carter Verhaeghe // 16 Sasha Barkov // 13 Sam Reinhart
25 Mackie Samoskevich // 9 Sam Bennett // 17 Evan Rodrigues
27 Eetu Luostarinen // 15 Anton Lundell // 70 Jesper Boqvist
10 A.J. Greer // 94 Tomas Nosek // 12 Jonah Gadjovich
42 Gus Forsling // 5 Aaron Ekblad
77 Niko Mikkola // 7 Dmitry Kulikov
88 Nate Schmidt // 26 Uvis Balinskis
72 Sergei Bobrovsky
30 Spencer Knight
Scratched: None
Returned to Charlotte: Justin Sourdif
Injured: Matthew Tkachuk (lower body)
PROJECTED EDMONTON OILERS (34-20-4) LINES
93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins // 97 Connor McDavid // 18 Zach Hyman
53 Jeff Skinner // 29 Leon Draisaitl // 33 Viktor Arvidsson
13 Mattias Janmark // 19 Adam Henrique // 28 Connor Brown
92 Vasily Podkolzin // 42 Kasperi Kapanen // 90 Corey Perry
14 Mattias Ekholm // 2 Evan Bouchard
51 Troy Stecher // 49 Ty Emberson
27 Brett Kulak // 36 John Klingberg
74 Stuart Skinner
30 Calvin Pickard
Scratched: Matt Savoie
Injured: Evander Kane (hip/knee), Alec Regula (knee), Darnell Nurse (upper body)
