Panthers, Oilers a Win Away from Stanley Cup Final Rematch

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are both a win away from meeting up in the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight summer.

If the Panthers get past the Hurricanes, and the Oilers beat Dallas — both hold a 3-1 lead in their respective series — it would be the first time since 2008-09 that there would be a Stanley Cup rematch.

Since 1984, there has only been two Stanley Cup Final rematches in successive seasons: Pittsburgh vs. Detroit (2008-09), and the Islanders vs. Edmonton (1983-94).

The team that lost the first meeting won the second both times.

Last year, the Panthers beat the Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 in Sunrise on June 24; Edmonton would have home ice this time around.

The Panthers could have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year with a win against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 on Monday night. Carolina won 3-0, however, forcing Game 5 tonight in Raleigh.

Edmonton, meanwhile, has won three straight games in the Western Conference final after Dallas scored five goals in the third period to win Game 1.

Tuesday, despite playing much of the game without Zach Hyman, the Oilers dropped the visiting Stars 4-1.

Game 5 in the WCF will be Thursday in Dallas.

Florida, meanwhile, needs a much better game tonight if they want to make it back to the Final.

Coach Paul Maurice and the Panthers were not happy with their performance in a 20-shot game in which Frederik Andersen was not challenged all that much.

After the game on Monday and again on Tuesday, the Panthers had plenty of praise for Carolina.

It would have been easy for the Hurricanes to pack things in after being throttled 16-4 in the first three games — only they simply sold out and made life miserable on the Panthers in Game 4.

Florida, after all, played its worst game of the series but with 3 minutes left, was a goal away from tying the score at 1. Carolina scored its final two goals into an empty net.

“It’s a game that I didn’t like, but I didn’t think we got dominated,” Maurice said. “I thought it got lousy in the third. We just started opening up, trying to get that last one. They were throwing pucks in behind us, there were breakaways, odd-man rushes. We don’t like that at all.”

FLORIDA PANTHERS / FHN

• All three of the injured Panthers skated Tuesday before the flight to Raleigh. Will they play tonight?
• The Panthers were ready to host a good ol’ fashioned celebration Monday night — only the Hurricanes spoiled everything.
• Tickets for the Miami Winter Classic going on sale to the general public soon.
• We jumped the gun: The Charlotte Checkers open the AHL ECF tonight at the Laval Rocket. Best-of-7 series to see who plays for the Calder Cup.
• Florida has to raise its game in No. 5.
• Logan Stankoven came to the Hurricanes in the Mikko Rantanen trade to Dallas — and has been coming up big.
• Maurice was not thrilled with how Game 4 went.
• Remember that story about Brad Marchand eating Dairy Queen during intermission?
• Turns out, he was just enjoying some honey, junior.
• Don’t forget to subscribe to the FHN YouTube channel to watch video interviews with the Florida Panthers throughout the postseason. Maurice, Evan Rodrigues, and Eetu Luostarinen spoke Tuesday. Seth Jones and Carter Verhaeghe did as well, but the video didn’t upload. Maybe today.

NHL LINKS / NHN

• The Oilers have taken complete control of the Stars and are on the verge of a second straight Western Conference title.
• Hyman left the game in the first after a hit from Mason Marchment.
• A new name has come up in the Pittsburgh Penguins coaching search.
• Jeff Blashill is excited for the chance to coach these Chicago Blackhawks.
• The value of the Montreal Canadiens trading both of their first-round picks.

2025 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: GAME 5

FLORIDA PANTHERS @ CAROLINA HURRICANES

Panthers lead Best-of-7 Series 3-1

• When: Wednesday, 8 p.m. 
• Where: Lenovo Center, Raleigh
• National TV: TNT/truTV
• National Streaming: Max
• Radio: WQAM 560-AM; WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• Series Schedule (all games on TNT/tru, 8 p.m.) — Game 1: Florida 5, Carolina 2; Game 2: Florida 5, Carolina 0; Game 3: Florida 6, Carolina 2; Game 4: Carolina 3, Florida 0; Game 5: Wednesday @Carolina; Game 6*: Friday @Florida; Game 7*:Sunday @Carolina
• Regular Season: Panthers Won 2-1
• How They Got Here: Carolina d. New Jersey (5), Washington (5); Florida d. Tampa Bay (5), Toronto (7).
• All-Time Regular Season Series: Carolina/Hartford leads 74-49-10, 11 ties
• Postseason History: Florida 1-0 (2023 ECF in 4)