Don Cherry’s Big Stanley Cup Final Concern About Oilers originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Stanley Cup Final will once again be decided between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers.
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It’s a rematch of last season’s seven-game series, and a showdown between goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky, of the Panthers, and Stuart Skinner, of the Oilers, in the net.
While Bobrovsky enters with more accolades and experience, the Oilers are hoping Skinner can help them flip the result this time after losing last year’s finals as the starter.
Don Cherry isn’t sure how it will go in goal, but he isn’t backing away from his preseason prediction, doubling down on his Oilers pick when asked by his son, Tim, about it.
“I’m still sticking with Edmonton,” Don Cherry said on Episode 310 of the “Don Cherry Grapevine Podcast.”
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) reacts against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center.Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Don’s confidence remains despite his acknowledgment of how tight the goaltending matchup could be. Tim Cherry said he’d take Bobrovsky over Skinner in a seven-game series.
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Don Cherry didn’t argue against his son’s logic but made clear he still believes Skinner has earned the right to be trusted.
That said, Don Cherry posed a big question, casting some doubts and concern over Skinner’s performances in the upcoming finals compared to earlier rounds.
“Skinner’s playing just as good,” Don Cherry said. “Whether he’ll do it in the finals… we’ll see.”
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) looks on against the Toronto Maple Leafs.Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Skinner has battled inconsistency throughout the playoffs. He lost his starting job in Round 1 but reclaimed it in Round 2 and has gone 6-1 in his last seven games.
He enters the finals with a 2.53 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage in the playoffs.
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Bobrovsky, by contrast, has a more proven playoff resume, including winning the Stanley Cup title last season and two Vezina Trophy awards.
The Panthers goalie has posted a .912 save percentage, allowing 2.11 goals-against on average.
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final is set for puck-drop at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, with the Oilers having home-ice advantage, contrary to last season.
Related: Don Cherry Doubles Down on Stanley Cup Final Winner Pick
Related: Oilers Get Definitive Injury Update on Top-Six Forward Before Stanley Cup Final
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.