Edmonton or Florida? This is the question that will occupy hockey fans’ minds for the next two weeks. The fact is that the season in the NHL has reached a decisive stage: the teams that will meet in the final series of the Stanley Cup have been determined.
A year after losing to Las Vegas in the NHL playoff final, Florida is ready to hoist the coveted trophy for the first time in franchise history. The Edmonton Oilers are no less motivated. Here we are talking about the ambitions of the team leaders. Talented goal scorers Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in their careers.
The forwards now have the opportunity to show that they can not only break records for points scored in the regular season, but also perform to their full potential in the decisive moment of the season. Who is the most likely winner of the final series?
Florida should help Sergei Bobrovsky
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been the Panthers’ most reliable player throughout the playoffs. Of course, the confident defensive play and maximum dedication of the team helped the Russian goalkeeper as best he could. But the 35-year-old veteran’s consistency gives Florida the psychological advantage and confidence that even in a desperate situation, Bobrovsky will make important saves.
In the current playoffs, the goalkeeper has stopped 90.8% of shots and has allowed an average of 2.20 goals per game. The only goaltender in the playoffs who has a better record than Bobrovsky is Boston’s Jeremy Swayman. But Sergei, together with Florida, finally won the series against the Bruins with a score of 4-2.
Group arrangements before Euro 2024:
The group you will definitely see at Euro 2024
Bobrovsky had to be the Panthers’ hero during the last few playoffs when they reached the finals, and in the end, the enormous workload drained him emotionally and physically. In this Stanley Cup, Florida has changed its style and takes the initiative more often. Thus, the pressure on Sergei decreased and he clearly retained more strength and emotions for the decisive matches.
“Florida” has evolved significantly compared to last season. The team has three strong units that know how to play and create moments of danger. There are few flashy combinations in the Panthers’ formation, but their pressure on the opposing defense is systemic and forces clubs to make mistakes.
Vladimir Tarasenko is not lost in this hockey. The forward subordinated his interests and ambitions to the team’s tasks. He is focused on completing the coaching staff’s tasks. The Russian has only six points in these playoffs according to the goal + pass system, but his usefulness to the team is difficult to underestimate. Florida’s victory in the Stanley Cup final series is estimated at an odds of 1.65.
Connor McDavid is ready to take the final step towards the Cup
It is not entirely true to consider Edmonton a team that reached the final only thanks to the scoring talents of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Of course, between them they scored 59 points in these playoffs on the pass-and-goal system, but without the not-so-obvious hard work of Mattias Janmark, Ryan MacLeod and Philip Broberg, the Oilers would have been a hundred times tougher.
McDavid has been playing for Edmonton since 2015. The forward went through difficult times with the club, when even making the playoffs was a pipe dream. But little by little the management managed to form a strong team willing to fight for the title.
Connor is in his prime and will dominate the league for a long time if he is sidelined by injury, but the finals series that begins soon could put the forward on par with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin. These scorers only received maximum recognition after winning the Stanley Cup.
Did the Germans have any luck with the group?
Kroos rubs his hands, Hungary prepares a surprise. Group A of Euro 2024
In the playoffs, the coaching staff led by Chris Knobloch managed to bring the team’s performance in uneven lineups to the highest level. Furthermore, this statement is valid not only to achieve the majority (37.7%), but also to neutralize the opponent’s numerical advantage (93.9%). It’s a big surprise that Edmonton, designed for an attacking scheme, has learned to defend so well. The Oilers’ victory in the Stanley Cup is valued at odds of 2.24.
Forecast
The final series highlights the team’s mentality, its confidence in the correct formation and tactics, as well as the experience of big matches. Florida learned a good lesson last season when they lost the title to Las Vegas and the coaching staff came to the right conclusions.
The Panthers are strong as a team, but Edmonton’s play still depends on McDavid’s form. Furthermore, Sergei Bobrovsky plays a crucial role. The Panthers goaltender is in great shape and ready to finally take home the Stanley Cup. We assume the final playoff series will be a close battle, with Florida emerging victorious.
Tender: Florida will win the Stanley Cup in 1.65.
