EDMONTON, Alberta - The Oilers and Florida Panthers are playing a pivotal Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final tonight in Edmonton. For an Edmonton team that has had Cup aspirations since the start of training camp, this is the biggest game of the season.
Florida leads the series, 2-0, and the Oilers have had trouble getting the puck past Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. The vaunted Oilers power play has not scored in seven chances, something that will have to change for them to get back in the series.
Here’s what to know heading into Game 3 tonight:
What: Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Where: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta.
When: 8 p.m. EST.
TV: ABC, ESPN+.
Odds: Moneyline, Edmonton -135, Florida +115; Over/Under, 5.5; Spread, Panthers +1.5 at -225.
Injury update
Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse is expected to play. He was injured on a hit midway through the first period by Evan Rodrigues. Nurse skated just one shift in the second and two in the third, then didn’t practice Wednesday.
What they’re saying
Edmonton captain Connor McDavid on Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner:
“He’s been great. He’s given us a chance both nights, and that’s all you can ask of your goalie.”
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch on Skinner:
“Anything that comes his way, any adversity rolls off his back pretty easily. He handles it really well. (Like) our team, just putting the past behind us and thinking about our next shift or our next game or next play, I think Stu’s done a really good job with that.”
Skinner on dealing with the distractions:
“Once the puck drops and you start playing hockey, it’s the same game I’ve been playing for years and years and years,” Skinner said.
The Oilers’ Mattias Ekholm on getting more shots on Bobrovsky:
“We’ve got to get more volume there. Especially for us D-men, it’s maybe not so much about my shot from the blue line. It’s more about maybe that second opportunity, having guys around the net and go from there. I know offense hasn’t been a problem since I got here with this group, so I’m not too worried about it.”
Knoblauch on Nurse:
“Darnell, we haven’t considered much of not having him for our next game. With medical treatment he got, he was able to play a little bit at the end of the game. With the time off and everything we need to do, I have no issues he’ll be ready to play.”
- Information from The Associated Press was used in this post.