Stanley Cup Final: Preview, Stats, TV and Streaming Schedule
The pinnacle of the hockey world has arrived, it is time for the Stanley Cup Finals. This year, the stage has been set for a thrilling showdown between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers, with both teams enjoying a very successful 2024 season up to this point. In this article, we will dive into the journey undertaken by both teams to get here, explore the key players to look out for and give you our prediction of what will take place during this must-watch event. Get ready for an exhilarating clash on the ice.
Key information:
- Dates for the Stanley Cup Finals: June 9th - June 25th, 2024
- Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers H2H this season: 0-2
- Regular season rankings: Florida Panthers (1st in the East with a 52-24-6 record), Edmonton Oilers (2nd in the West with a 49-27-6 record)
- Stanley Cup Finals on TV and stream: Watch the Stanley Cup Finals live on ABC, with streaming available on ESPN+
- The most valuable player in both teams: Aleksander Barkov (Panthers), Connor McDavid (Oilers)
Stanley Cup Finals on TV and Stream
Nothing beats a finals series, and, the good news is, most TV packages will be showing it. With ABC being the primary host of the series, viewers with an antenna near an ABC station can enjoy every game without needing any subscriptions. For those who do not benefit from this, popular TV providers such as Cox, DirecTV, DISH, Verizon Fios and many more will include coverage of the game. If you need to upgrade your TV package in time for game 1, these range between $61 and $159.99 a month, offering a huge array of other sports and entertainment channels to enjoy.
If cable and satellite aren't for you then there are some impressive streaming options to choose from that will also offer a hefty package of channels to enjoy. The likes of Fubo, Hulu+ Live TV and Youtube TV all include ABC, therefore will allow you to watch live coverage of the full series. However, with these also setting you back a fair amount, we think the best option for someone who just wants to enjoy the action on the ice is a subscription to ESPN+. At just $10.99 a month, fans can enjoy every single second of Stanley Cup drama, with the freedom to cancel any time or keep long enough to enjoy the NHL draft. ESPN+ subscribers can also benefit from a wide range of additional live sports and TV programs. For a full breakdown click here
Edmonton Oilers road to the Stanley Cup Finals
It has been a strong season for the Oilers who would have fancied their chances at the beginning of the year. Led by a sensational Connor McDavid, they have come good on their potential and now have a great chance at winning their first Stanley Cup since the 1989-90 season. McDavid’s 31 points lead all other players in the 2024 playoffs, helping lift the team to impressive victories against the Los Angeles Kings in round 1, the Vancouver Canucks in round 2 and the Dallas Stars in the conference finals.
The team have shown great strength already to come back from 2-1 down against Dallas and also secure a thrilling game 7 victory against the Canucks. This team is battle-tested and ready to try and bring the coveted trophy back to Edmonton.
Florida Panthers road to the Stanley Cup Finals
It was heartbreak this time last year for the Florida Panthers, who fell just short of winning the Stanley Cup trophy after losing to the Vegas Golden Knights. They enter as slim favorites to get across the line this year after enjoying a stellar season that rounded off with four straight wins to help the team pip the Bruins to the top of the East by just 1 point. Standout performances from Sergei Bobrovsky and Matthew Tkachuk helped them defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs, followed by a 4-2 victory over the Boston Bruins in round 2.
Finishing up their Journey to the Stanley Cup Finals was a clash with the New York Rangers, who managed to set the nerves jangling after winning two overtime games to take a 2-1 lead in the Conference Finals. Bobrovsky’s goaltending proved crucial throughout the rest of the series, helping the team win out the rest of the way and secure a 4-2 series win to confirm the Panthers’ spot in the Finals.
Preview & Predictions
The Panthers are back in the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive year, desperate to banish the painful memories of the 2022-23 season and secure their first-ever trophy. They have been in red-hot form throughout the playoffs this year so far, earning them slight favoritism at +112 on BetMGM. If the Oilers are your fancy, you can get them at +190.
The Panthers ended up victorious both times these teams met in the regular season, scoring 5 in both games to outscore the Oilers 10-4. The Oilers, however, do benefit from having the top scorer in the playoffs so far, in Connor McDavid, and the next two on the leaderboard in Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard.
It certainly isn’t going to be easy for Florida, but with them having fallen just short last year, they should have the experience and skill to secure the trophy this year. McDavid being favorite for the Conn Smythe trophy at +175 makes a lot of sense, but the Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk, who has scored 19 points this offseason, looks like a good value bet at +500 on BetMGM, especially if you think his team are going to be the ones lifting the Stanley Cup.
Author: Venuse, Inc