Are Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup bound? Former NHLer weighs in
Former NHL winger Riley Cote explains what he loves about this Edmonton Oilers team ahead of the Western Conference Finals.
Sports Seriously
The 2025 Stanley Cup Final begins today and features a rematch of last year’s dramatic series.
The Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers will face off Wednesday night for Game 1 in Edmonton, Alberta, with the Panthers seeking their second consecutive title. Florida built a 3-0 lead in the 2024 Final before Edmonton rallied to win three in a row. The Panthers won 2-1 in the decisive Game 7 to lift the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.
The Oilers are aiming for their first championship since 1990 and Canada’s first since the 1993Â Montreal Canadiens. Edmonton also has the NHL’s best player in Connor McDavid, who has won three MVP awards, five scoring titles, one goal title and made seven All-Star appearances. The Panthers will counter with Aleksander Barkov, who won the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward for the second consecutive season.
Here is how to watch Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final:
When is Stanley Cup Final Game 1? Panthers vs. Oilers game time
The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will face off at 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local) at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta on Wednesday.
What TV channel is Panthers vs. Oilers Game 1 on?
TNT and truTV are broadcasting Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final. Kenny Albert will provide play-by-play, while Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Darren Pang and Jackie Redmond will provide analysis and reporting.
Stream the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Sling
How to watch Panthers vs. Oilers Game 1Date:Â Wednesday, June 4Location:Â Rogers Place in Edmonton, AlbertaTime:Â 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT)TV:Â TNT, truTVStreaming:Â Max, Sling TV
The Stanley Cup Final can be streamed on Max and Sling TV
The Oilers have the four top scorers in the series: McDavid has 26 points, followed by Leon Draisaitl (25), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (18) and Evan Bouchard (17). Draisaitl and Corey Perry are tied with a team-high seven goals.
The Panthers have 10 players with double-digit points, led by Barkov (17), Matthew Tkachuk (16) and Sam Bennett (16). Bennett is also the playoffs’ leading goal scorer with 10.
Oilers’ Stuart Skinner (6-4, 2.53 goals-against average, .904 save percentage) vs. Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky (12-5, 2.11, .912)
The commissioner said the league isn’t interested in extending regular-season overtime to cut down on the number of shootouts. He notes that only 28% of overtime games go to a shootout.
“To extend overtime risks injury and fatigue and we don’t think it’s necessary,” he said. “And I think there are lots of fans who demonstrate during the shootout by standing up in the building that it’s an interesting and exciting way to decide … not an overly burdensome number” of regular-season games.
Also, Bettman reiterated that the International Olympic Committee has said there will be no Russian teams at the 2026 Games.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said that though cities have expressed interest in joining the NHL, “We’ve decided we’re not going to engage in a formal expansion process.”
“We’ve decided we’re not going to engage in a formal expansion process.”
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly addresses NHL expansion. pic.twitter.com/NVhBjAAuwT
— PHNX Hockey (@PHNX_Hockey) June 4, 2025
Oilers forward Zach Hyman had surgery for a dislocated wrist during the Western Conference finals and will be out for the rest of the playoffs. He met with reporters on Wednesday while sporting a large cast on his wrist and discussed the situation.
“Right away, I just felt my wrist kind of go on me,” he said, adding, “I was still a little delusional that I could play through it until after the surgery. … Some things in life you can’t control and this is one of them.”
Hyman was on the couch watching the clinching game with his wife and mother-in-law when he was Face-timed by the team.
“It meant the world,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting it.”
Hyman said he will travel with the team, even though he can’t play.
USA TODAY predictions for the Stanley Cup (click here for more details):
Jason Anderson: Oilers in 7. Conn Smythe winner: Connor McDavid, Oilers
Mike Brehm: Panthers in 6. Conn Smythe winner: Aleksander Barkov, Panthers
Jace Evans: Oilers in 6. Conn Smythe winner: Leon Draisaitl, Oilers
All times Eastern; (x-if necessary)
Game 1:Â Wednesday, June 4 | Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTVGame 2:Â Friday, June 6 | Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m | TNT, truTVGame 3:Â Monday, June 9, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTVGame 4:Â Thursday, June 12, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTVx-Game 5:Â Saturday, June 14, Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTVx-Game 6:Â Tuesday, June 17, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTVx-Game 7:Â Friday, June 20, Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
All odds via BetMGM (as of Tuesday, June 3)
Spread:Â Oilers (-1.5)Moneyline:Â Oilers (-130); Panthers (+110)Over/Under:Â 6Oilers 4-0: +1200Oilers 4-1: +550Oilers 4-2: +425Oilers 4-3: +425Panthers 4-0: +1400Panthers 4-1: +650Panthers 4-2: +425Panthers 4-3: +500