Which players can beat out Cam Ward and Ashton Jeanty for Rookie of the Year?
Cam Ward is a quarterback drafted No. 1 overall. Ashton Jeanty is an elite running back prospect drafted sixth.
That already gives them an edge in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year race. Voters love quarterbacks, and Jeanty already has gotten a ton of attention (and he'll get plenty of touches from the Las Vegas Raiders too). Both are co-favorites at BetMGM to win Offensive Rookie of the Year at +250, and rightfully so.
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That doesn't mean they're locks. Ward is joining a bad Tennessee Titans team that might not be able to support an award-winning quarterback. Jeanty should be good with the Raiders, but they were remarkably bad running the ball last season and maybe that was due to factors other than just subpar running backs.
The door isn't closed for someone else to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Here are some possibilities, with odds from BetMGM:
Jaguars WR Travis Hunter (+600)
The one thing Hunter will have in his favor is publicity. He's going to be a big story this season if he can pull off a two-way act on offense and defense that has been incredibly rare in NFL history. Hunter playing productive snaps at cornerback shouldn't impact the Offensive Rookie of the Year race, but it probably would. The issue Hunter might have is volume. Brian Thomas Jr. is coming off a great rookie season and he'll be a huge part of the passing game again. Will there be enough targets for Thomas to put up another 1,250 yards and Hunter do do enough to push him ahead of someone like Jeanty? Probably not, but Hunter is too talented to ignore that possibility.
Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan (+1300)
McMillan was a bit of a surprise pick by the Panthers at No. 8 overall. Not that he wasn't worth the pick, but the Panthers had one of the worst defenses in NFL history last season. The fact that they passed on defensive needs to take McMillan is a clear indication of how much they like his talent. The Panthers could be in a lot of high-scoring games this season due to that defense, which will help McMillan's numbers. Carolina doesn't have anyone standing in his way of being the team's top target earner either, like Hunter does in Jacksonville. It's a little challenging to talk yourself into McMillan being the OROY this season, but he has a path to it.
Chargers RB Omarion Hampton (+1400)
The odds on Hampton keep dropping, and for good reason. He is an excellent contrarian pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Yes, the Chargers have Najee Harris, but did they really draft Hampton 22nd overall to play the average Harris over him? Hampton was productive at North Carolina, has all the traits of a feature back in the NFL, is with a team that really likes running the ball and should be in the playoff mix. Hampton is going to have a really good rookie season, and he'll be in the mix for the OROY award.
Running back Omarion Hampton should have a big role for the Los Angeles Chargers as a rookie. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
(MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Broncos RB RJ Harvey (+2000)
It's a good year to be a rookie running back in the AFC West. Harvey was a second-round pick so he doesn't have the draft capital of Jeanty or Hampton. But he will have opportunity. The Broncos don't have anyone blocking him from being the clear No. 1 all season. Sean Payton usually likes using more than one back and maybe that cuts into Harvey's production, but the Broncos also might reach a point in which it's clear Harvey is their best back and the other backs fall back into minimal roles.
Giants QB Jaxson Dart (+2500)
Dart is behind Tyler Shough and Shedeur Sanders in the OROY odds. Shough is a quarterback who might start all 17 games, so he'll have a shot, but he's also going to be on a Saints team that everyone believes will be terrible. Sanders shouldn't be anywhere near the 22-to-1 odds he has, considering he's likely to begin training camp as the fourth-string quarterback and his best case scenario is probably getting a start in the second half of the season for a bad Browns team, if he ever gets a start. He's 10th in the odds only because he has name recognition.
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Dart at 25-to-1 is much more interesting. Right now he doesn't have a path to start early in the season, but it could change quickly. He is a first-round pick and could make things interesting with a good preseason. It's not like anyone in New York is dying to see Russell Wilson or Jameis Winston start games. He plays in New York, which helps his visibility in an award race. It's at least reasonable to imagine a scenario in which Dart starts early on and generates some excitement for a big-market team, leading to plenty of hype that would keep him in the OROY race. At least there's a more viable lane for Dart than there is for Sanders.
Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue (+5000)
OK, this one is way down the list. But there might be opportunity. The Cowboys didn't do too much to improve at running back this offseason. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders are two unexciting veterans at the top of the depth chart. Blue was a fifth-round pick but many late-round running backs have emerged to be productive rookies. The Cowboys' offense is good enough; Rico Dowdle had more than 1,000 yards rushing in it last season. Whether it's Blue or someone like Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten, if there's a true long shot that will win OROY it's probably a mid- to late-round running back.
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New York Times
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- New York Times
Reinhart expecting 'incredible battle'
Leon Draisaitl scores in overtime to lift Edmonton to a Game 1 win at home Getty Images The Oilers have beaten the Panthers 4-3 in overtime of Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final thanks to Leon Draisaitl's game-winning goal. Edmonton leads a Stanley Cup Final series for the first time since 1990, the year of the team's last championship. This year's Final is a rematch of last season's, which Florida won in seven games. In addition to his OT goal, Draisaitl also opened the scoring just 66 seconds into the game. The Panthers fought back with three straight goals, however, benefitting from a failed coach's challenge by the Oilers on the first before capitalizing on the subsequent power play to score the second. Edmonton then got goals from unlikely sources, Viktor Arvidsson and Mattias Ekholm, to come from behind and force overtime. GO FURTHER Leon Draisaitl plays OT hero as Oilers defeat Panthers in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final: Takeaways Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Getty Images Speaking to the media ahead of tonight's Game 1, the Panthers made it clear that they're not taking the Oilers lightly despite having beaten them in the Stanley Cup Final last year. "It's going to be an incredible battle again," Sam Reinhart said. "They're playing, obviously, some pretty dominant hockey, so we're excited for the challenge. We've got to be ready for it." "They're a really good team," Carter Verhaeghe added. "They've been to the final. They're definitely a hungry team. It's not easy to go to the final two times in a row, so they want it bad. So, it's for us to kind of play our game and we're going to be ready, too." Getty Images Jason I.: We've all known we have something special down here for going on four years now, I'm very pleased to see it finally be recognized on a national level. It's not just that this team is good, obviously, they won the cup, but this team is special beyond just that, this team is special AMONG Cup winners. In my opinion they are getting very very close to that "dynasty" moniker. For those of us that have spent the last 30 or so years cheering for this team these last five years have truly been amazing. Eric S.: Whatever the outcome, this Panthers team the past 3 seasons has been the highlight of 30 years of fandom and I've absolutely appreciated every moment of it. The structure and consistency and character and success. The soul destroying is a fun little bonus. Manny G.: Panthers fan here. I have no idea who's going to win. I was worried last year, and I'm worried again. I think there is something to the revenge angle. Steven N.: The Panthers better in every metric other than the fact they don't have the two best players in the world on their team. Like last year, it'll come down to how much and the timing of when McDavid/Draisaitl go psycho mode. It's going to will it be enough or too late? Remember, you can join the conversation by emailing us at live@ or by heading over to the Game 1 discussion page. ASSOCIATED PRESS Brian L.: One team has McDavid and that's gonna be enough in an even matchup. Robert F.: The Oilers are gonna win in 5 games. Rematches don't bode well for the previous winner. The Oilers' style of play has matured so much. I actually don't think it will be a close series. Edmonton is deeper and healthier and more responsible. The only thing that can derail them is poor goaltending. Anonymous: Florida is just too physical and smothering, they look better this year. So does Edmonton, but Bobrovsky is unequivocally the more seasoned guy and Florida is too good. I like Florida in 6 ... 5 if Skinner is lukewarm again. Nicholas B.: I think Edmonton has dominated better teams than Florida. Florida has had an easier ride and that will benefit them. I think really what this whole series is gonna come down to is Skinner. If Skinner is good Edmonton wins and if he isn't they won't. Pickard same deal. As long as Edmonton gets good goaltending I don't think there is another team that can skate with them. Oilers in 5. Remember, you can join the conversation by emailing us at live@ or by heading over to the Game 1 discussion page. Getty Images The betting odds for the Stanley Cup playoffs have shown the race to claim the Cup to be largely a series of coin flips. There have been favorites and underdogs to win it all, but the gap has been small, and no clear top team has emerged. It's fitting that the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers is also incredibly close in the odds. When the odds first came out following Edmonton's 6-3 win at Dallas in Game 5 last Thursday, the teams were listed at a dead-even -110 on both sides on BetMGM. That has since shifted a bit, with the Oilers now the favorite to lift the Stanley Cup at -125. The defending champion Panthers are just above even-money at +105. GO FURTHER 2025 Stanley Cup Final odds: Oilers given an early edge against defending champion Panthers The Panthers and the Oilers met twice during the 2024-25 regular season, with Florida winning each game by a one-goal margin. The score was 6-5 in Edmonton on Dec. 16 and 4-3 in Sunrise on Feb. 27. The Panthers won both games despite missing a key player in each – Aleksander Barkov in the first meeting and Matthew Tkachuk in the second. Carter Verhaeghe scored the winning goal in the final seven minutes of the third period in both games. Getty Images The Oilers have won the won the Stanley Cup five times (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990), tied with the Penguins for the most among non-Original Six franchises. They're appearing in the final for the ninth time, passing the Flyers (8) for the most appearances among non-Original Six franchises. Edmonton is the only Canadian team that has made consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances since 1979-80 (when they joined the NHL and the playoff field expanded to 16 teams). Getty Images The Panthers are making their third straight appearance in the Stanley Cup Final and fourth overall. They lost their first two appearances in the final, in 1996 against the Avalanche and in 2023 against the Golden Knights, before prevailing last year against the Oilers. Florida is the ninth different franchise in NHL history to make three consecutive final appearances, but just the second to do so in the past 40 years. Another title this year would make the Panthers the 10th different franchise in NHL history to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Getty Images Which team is going to win this series and lift the Stanley Cup? If you're a fan of the Panthers or the Oilers, how confident are you feeling? Which player will be awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs? We want to hear your answers to these questions and much more! Send us your predictions, thoughts and questions by emailing us at live@ If you're a subscriber to The Athletic , you can also join the conversation by heading over to our discussion page for Game 1. Getty Images The NHL has a time-honored superstition around touching the conference championship trophies, or rather not touching them. The belief is that hoisting those trophies is bad luck in your pursuit to win the real trophy, the Stanley Cup. When the Oilers won the Western Conference last year, they duly avoided touching the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl. This didn't pay off, however, as they lost to the Panthers in seven games. So naturally this year they thought they'd mix it up by touching it. The reaction from fans at a watch party at Rogers Place was strong to say the least, as you can see in the video below. As for the Panthers, two years ago they touched the Prince of Wales Trophy after winning the Eastern Conference, but went on to lose the final. So last year, they declined to touch the trophy and subsequently won the Stanley Cup. Coincidence? Cause and effect? Who can say! Unsurprisingly, given how last year went, the Panthers once again decline to hoist the trophy this time around. Getty Images For the second straight year, the Oilers met the Stars in the Western Conference final, and for the second straight year, Edmonton came out on top. Game 1, however, was a disaster for the Oilers. They took a 3-1 lead into the third period in Dallas before getting outscored 5-0 and dropping the series opener 6-3. Facing questions around their defense, the Oilers responded by allowing two total goals over the next three games. Combined with a 6-3 victory in Game 5 that saw them clinch the series, the Oilers outscored the Stars 19-5 over the final four games. Edmonton was the first team since 2000 to eliminate the same two opponents (Kings and Stars) in consecutive years. Codie McLachlan / Getty Images EDMONTON – Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman expects to be ready for the start of next season after undergoing surgery last week to repair a dislocated right wrist but can't say for certain that'll be the case. Hyman immediately dropped his stick and headed to the Oilers dressing room after being hit in the neutral zone by Dallas Stars winger Mason Marchment midway through the first period of Game 4 of the Western Conference final last Tuesday. He had season-ending surgery the next day. 'I knew it wasn't good when I got hit,' Hyman said. 'As a player, you know when something's not right. Right away, I just felt my wrist kind of go on me and, even then, you still think, whatever it is you'll be able to play through it or there'll be a chance you can play through it. 'I think I was still delusional I could play through it until after the surgery. I don't think I fully grasped it until later. Then you kind of get your head around it. Some things in life you can't control, and this is one of them.' The first Oiler to check in on Hyman after his injury was Oilers captain Connor McDavid before Game 4 against the Stars was even over. 'It was a moment as a player where you're heartbroken,' Hyman said. 'I hadn't fully grasped it yet and just sitting in the kitchen, not even eating, just trying to figure out what was going on and I think I knew at that moment it was done. My season was done. 'He was the first one to come over, mid-game in between the periods. He called me over and gave me a big hug. Honestly, that's when I broke down.' Hyman was amid a historic playoff run. He was on track to break the NHL record for most hits in a single postseason. Hyman was up to 111 hits, just 15 short of then-Tampa Bay Lightning winger Blake Coleman's mark of 126 in 2020. He also had five goals and 11 points in 15 games a year after leading the league by scoring 16 times in 25 playoff games as a second act to a 54-goal campaign. The Oilers lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final a year ago. It was Hyman who spoke up in the dressing room, assuring his teammates they'd be back. For him not to be able to play now that the Oilers have returned to the Final is a tough pill to swallow. 'Life has a funny way of working,' Hyman said. 'I truly felt that as a group – having gone through what we went through last year and in that moment – I knew that most of our guys were coming back, and I knew we had a hunger and a fire to get back to this point and not just get back but to win. 'Our team this year has been the ultimate example of a team and guys stepping up at different times, guys filling in different roles. We won series without Ekky (Mattias Ekholm), one of our best players. The timing worked out that when I was coming out, he was coming in. Just looking forward to cheering the guys on. We're here and we're ready.' The Oilers had a video call with Hyman after winning the Western Conference final in Dallas last Thursday, which brought him to tears. 'It meant the world. I wasn't expecting it,' Hyman said. 'It was the day after my surgery. I was sitting on the couch with my wife and mother-in-law, just watching. It caught me off guard. I was crying. It was really emotional. 'You just feel so much a part of the team, and for them to do that in that moment meant a lot. I'll be with the team the whole way, acting like I'm playing but obviously not.' Hyman said he plans on traveling with his teammates to South Florida for road games to be a part of the Stanley Cup Final. It's not like the Oilers need any extra motivation to avenge last year's loss to the Panthers and win the Cup, but playing for Hyman is it. 'When you have such a heart-and-soul guy like Zach, obviously the way he plays it speaks for itself,' longtime teammate Connor Brown said. 'What he means to guys in this room is hard to articulate. When a guy like that goes down, there's definitely a rallying call, and I think guys pull up their straps to kind of play for him.' Getty Images For the second time in three years, the Eastern Conference final saw the Panthers matched up against the Hurricanes. Florida swept Carolina in 2023 and things went nearly as well for the Panthers this time around as they triumphed in five games. Despite the Hurricanes holding home-ice advantage, the first two games were dominated by the Panthers as they outscored Carolina 10-2. The domination continued in Game 3 as the series shifted to Florida, the Panthers winning 6-2 to go up 3-0 in the series. The Canes pushed back in Game 4, earning a 3-0 shutout victory, but the reprieve was short-lived as Florida closed out the series 5-3 in Carolina in Game 5. Getty Images The second round saw the Oilers face another familiar foe, the Golden Knights. Vegas eliminated Edmonton in the second round two years ago en route to winning the Stanley Cup. This series went quite differently, with the Oilers making short work of the Kings in five games. After rallying from two goals down to take the series opener, Edmonton doubled its advantage with an overtime victory in Game 2, Leon Draisaitl scoring his second OT winner in the space of five games. The Oilers lost Game 3 in gut-wrenching fashion, allowing Reilly Smith to score the winning goal with 0.4 seconds left, but responded with a pair of shutout victories to close out the series. Kasperi Kapanen's overtime goal in Game 5 clinched the team's berth in the Western Conference final. Getty Images Between the six series the Panthers and Oilers have collectively played this postseason, only once did either team face elimination. That was Game 7 of Florida's second-round series against the Maple Leafs. That series didn't start well for the Panthers as they lost the opening two games in Toronto, each by a one-goal margin. Their season hung in the balance in Game 3 as they looked to avoid falling into a 3-0 series hole, and they responded the way champions do, overcoming a multi-goal deficit before winning in overtime on Brad Marchand's goal. Florida won the next two games before being shut out in Game 6 to set up the winner-takes-all finale in Toronto. Facing elimination for the first time this postseason, the Panthers ran riot, getting six different goal scorers in a 6-1 win. Getty Images The Oilers' playoff run was in danger of falling apart before it ever got off the ground. In the first round against the Kings, Edmonton dropped the first two games and trailed by one late in the third period of Game 3. Less than seven minutes away from needing to pull off the ultra-rare 3-0 comeback, the Oilers scored two goals in 10 seconds to flip the game on its head and save their season. Game 4 was no less dramatic, as Edmonton trailed by two in the third period before a pair of goals by Evan Bouchard, the second coming with just 29 seconds left, forced overtime. Leon Draisaitl scored the game winner to even the series and the Oilers never looked back. They took the next two games and closed out the series 4-2. This was the fourth straight year that Edmonton and Los Angeles met in the first round, and the fourth straight year that the Oilers prevailed. They became just the fifth team in NHL history to eliminate the same opponent in four straight seasons. Getty Images For the second year in a row and the fourth time in the space of five years, the Panthers found themselves facing their intrastate rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the playoffs. And just like last year, the Panthers prevailed in five games. Florida took the first two games on the road, blowing out the Lightning 6-2 in Game 1 behind two goals apiece from Matthew Tkachuk and Nate Schmidt before winning Game 2 by a 2-0 scoreline thanks to a 19-save shutout from Sergei Bobrovsky. The Lightning pushed back in Game 3 to avoid falling into the dreaded 3-0 series hole, and were poised to even the series leading Game 4 with less than four minutes to go. But two goals in the space of 11 seconds from Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones flipped Game 4 on its head, and the Panthers never looked back en route to closing out the series in Game 5. The fact that Tampa Bay's accomplishment of three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances from 2020-2022 has been immediately followed by three straight appearances by Florida really adds insult to injury in the context of this rivalry. Getty Images Rogers Place Location: Edmonton, Alberta Hockey capacity: 18,347 Opened: 2016 Rogers Place replaced Northlands Coliseum (opened 1974) as the home of the Oilers and the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings. The Oilers went 25-13-3 here during the regular season and are 6-1 here in the playoffs. In addition to hosting part of the Stanley Cup Final last year, Rogers Place also hosted the entire 2020 final between the Stars and Lightning due to the pandemic. Getty Images This is the third postseason in which Connor McDavid has tallied at least 20 assists. Only one other player has done that at least three times in his career, and his name was Wayne Gretzky. Panthers Aleksander Barkov: 17 Sam Bennett, Matthew Tkachuk: 16 Brad Marchand, Carter Verhaeghe: 14 Sam Reinhart, Eetu Luostarinen: 13 Anton Lundell: 12 Oilers Connor McDavid: 26 (leads all players in 2025 playoffs) (leads all players in 2025 playoffs) Leon Draisaitl: 25 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: 18 Evan Bouchard: 17 Evander Kane, Zach Hyman: 11 Getty Images Nineteen different players have scored for the Panthers this postseason – only eight teams in NHL history have had more unique goal scorers in a single playoff year. Panthers Sam Bennett: 10 (leads all players in 2025 playoffs) (leads all players in 2025 playoffs) Carter Verhaeghe, Aleksander Barkov: 6 Matthew Tkachuk, Anton Lundell: 5 Oilers Corey Perry, Leon Draisaitl: 7 Connor McDavid, Evan Bouchard: 6 Evander Kane, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor Brown: 5
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Stanley Cup Final live updates: Florida Panthers vs Edmonton Oilers, Game 1
Jun 4, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; An overall view of Rogers Place before game one of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers.. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images We're finally here. And it's deja vu. The Florida Panthers. The Edmonton Oilers. The Stanley Cup Final. Florida four wins away from a repeat against the same team it beat to win its first championship. Edmonton four wins away from its first title since 1990 — and the first overall for superstar Connor McDavid. Advertisement Let's get this thing going... again. Puck drop for Game 1 from Edmonton's Rogers Place is at 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast on TNT and truTV and is available via stream on Max. Follow along throughout the game for live updates, news, analysis and commentary. I'll be reporting live from Edmonton, while Herald sports intern Kaitlyn Pohly is in Sunrise at the Panthers' watch party at Amerant Bank Arena. Draisaitl scores in overtime, Edmonton wins Game 1, 4-3 Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl, who scored just 1:06 into the game, scored a power play goal 19:29 into overtime to give the Oilers a 4-3 win in Game 1. Advertisement READ MORE: Draisaitl scores in overtime as Oilers beats Panthers in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final Just after Oilers defensman Evan Bouchard blew past Gustav Forsling and got turned away by Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky on a solo rush that recalled Edmonton assistant coach Paul Coffey in his swift 1980s Oilers days, the Panthers Tomas Nosek flipped the puck over the glass while still in the defensive zone. That's a delay of game penalty. On the power play, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Corey Perry threw the puck down the left boards to Corey Perry, who quickly turned it to McDavid. The two passes put the Panthers aggressive penalty killers out of position, and McDavid fed Draisaitl as the latter steamed thorugh the right circle. Draisaitl's one-timer ended the game and gave him three overtime goals this playoff season. Overtime starts The Panthers had two shots in the entire third period. They had four in the first minute of overtime. Advertisement Though the Panthers led 2-1 after the first and 3-2 after the second, Edmonton had the better of the play in the first and third period, the Panthers in the second when there's a 'long line change' — the bench closer to the offensive zone — as there is in the first overtime. The game winner could come off a poor line change or from a group worn out in their defensive zone. Indeed, after a poor line change dump-in by the Panthers' Sam Bennett, Edmonton's Kaspari Kapanen got stopped with a left pad save on a counter assault. Kapanen is the son of Sami Kapanen, who played for Panthers coach Paul Maurice when Maurice coached Carolina in the 2002 Cup Final. Stanley Cup Final overtime? Both franchises know about that The Panthers and Edmonton went seven games last year without going to sudden death overtime. They took only one game this year to add to each franchise's Stanley Cup Final sudden death overtime history. Advertisement Two years ago, the Panthers got their first Cup Final win in franchise history when Carter Verhaeghe struck 4:27 into overtime against the Vegas Golden Knights. Alas, it would be the Panthers only win of the series, which ended in five games. Then, there are the marathons. The Panthers' first trip to the Stanley Cup Final ended at 1:06 a.m. on June 10, 1996, when Colorado's Uwe Krupp blasted a point shot by Panthers goalie John Vanbiesbrouck 4:31 into the third overtime period at Miami Arena. That completed the series sweep for Colorado. Six years earlier, in the Boston Garden, Edmonton and the Bruins went into the third overtime of Game 1 after Boston defenseman Glen Wesley blew a backhander at a wide open net in the second overtime. Petr Kilma had been stapled to the Oilers bench but scored on his second overtime shift, 15:13 into the third overtime, ending the longest Stanley Cup Final game ever. Advertisement Edmonton went on to win the last of its five Stanley Cups in five games. To overtime we go 3-3 after 60 minutes. Let's do overtime, shall we? Tie game The Oilers tied the game 6:33 into the third period on a Mattias Ekholm shot from the left circle. The Panthers had numbers back, but when McDavid started to circle the net, Panthers winger Carter Verhaeghe dropped down to the front of the net. McDavid saw Ekholm in the left circle and served up a lovely pass from the right post. 3-3. Gonna be a wild finish here in Edmonton. Panthers owning offensive zone face-offs, up 3-2 after two Official NHL stats have the Panthers winning 10 of 15 face-offs in the Edmonton zone over the first two periods. While they haven't scored directly off the draws despite executing some nice plays for shots from the circle, the Panthers got their best sustained offensive zone pressure off the face-off wins and had a 17-7 shot advantage in the second period. Advertisement Hard for the Oilers to score at the other end when they're busy trying to get the puck out of their own end. The Panthers had a 3-2 lead and a 24-22 shot advantage after two periods. They'd also won 59% of all face-offs. Gadjovich returns Jonah Gadjovich returned from the dressing room during the final TV timeout of the second period. Watch party update Things seem to be pretty lively at Amerant Bank Arena for the Panthers' Game 1 watch party. Kaitlyn Pohly has a full dispatch here. Gadjovich not on bench Panthers fourth-line winger Jonah Gadjovich has been missing from the Florida bench for a good chunk of the second period. His last shift ended 2:20 into the second period. Panthers, Oilers each strike early in second period Florida and Edmonton each scored a goal in the second period. Advertisement Sam Bennett pushed Florida's lead to 3-1 two minutes into the middle frame after scoring on a pass from Nate Schmidt. But the Oilers quickly responded when Viktor Arvidsson beat Sergei Bobrovsky after receiving a drop pass from Vasily Podkolzin to cut the Panthers' lead to 3-2 3:17 into the frame. Panthers lead after one Despite being outshot 15-7, the Panthers have a 2-1 lead over the Oilers after one period. Sergei Bobrovsky was stellar down the stretch after giving up the early goal, stopping 4 of 5 high-danger shots on goal he faced. Panthers set an NHL record for playoff road scoring The first period goals by Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand gave the Panthers 50 road goals in this year's playoffs, breaking the NHL record of 49 set by the Los Angeles Kings in 1993. That team, led by Wayne Gretzky, won the first game of the Stanley Cup Final in Montreal, then lost three consecutive overtime games before dropping Game 5 back in Montreal. Advertisement That was the last Stanley Cup won by a Canadian-based team. The next three teams on the list — 2013-14 Los Angeles, 2017-18 Washington, 1989-90 Edmonton — won the Stanley Cup. Marchand gives the Panthers the lead Aaaaannd now it's 2-1 Panthers over the Oilers Brad Marchand on the power play. 7:30 left in the first Tie game Sam Bennett tied the game with 9:11 left in the first. Edmonton challenged for goaltender interference, but the goal stood after refs determined that Bennett was pushed into Stuart Skinner in the crease by an Edmonton skater. 1-1. That's Bennett's 11th goal of the postseason, tying the Panthers' record for most in a single playoffs. Matthew Tkachuk set the mark in the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs and Carter Verhaeghe matched it in 2024. Edmonton opens scoring early It didn't take long for Edmonton to open scoring, with Leon Draisaitl scoring on a rebound 1:06 into the game. That's Draisaitl's eighth goal of the playoffs. Advertisement 1-0 Oilers, with 18:54 left in the first period. Draisaitl's goal 66 seconds in was the seventh fastest goal scored in Game 1 in Stanley Cup Final history. It was the fastest since Philadelphia's Reggie Leach scored 21 seconds into Game 1 of the 1976 Cup Final. Philadelphia went on to get swept by Montreal. TNT crew makes their picks As the lights behind them dropped to darkness and the anticipatory roar rose with the Edmonton fans' longing fo the Oilers first Cup since 1990, the TNT analyst crew made their series predictions: two for the Panthers, two went Edmonton and Wayne Gretzky remained as slippery on the desk as he was on the ice. Advertisement Former Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist liked Edmonton in six: 'I love how they've approached the playoffs so far. they're on a mission and it starts with No. 97.' Former NHL player Anson Carter, who played almost three seasons in Edmonton, said he wants to see Connor McDavid get his first title, but picked the Panthers. 'They're a team that's even better than last year and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky will be the difference.' Liam McHugh said ''I don't feel comfortable with any picks,' but agreed with Carter: Florida. Paul Bissonnette, a big Toronto fan before and after his NHL career (the guy who suggested Florida's lack of state income tax boosted the Panthers and Tampa Bay) said, 'I have enough hate coming in from Florida' and chose Edmonton. Advertisement Gretzky, who spent one World Hockey Association season and eight record-destroying NHL seasons in Edmonton, compared the teams to 1989 Triple Crown combatants Sunday Silence and Easy Goer. Then, he didn't make a pick, but said, 'My brother's an assistant GM for Edmonton (Keith Gretzky), so you know who I'm pulling for to get his name on the Cup.' Excited crowd in Sunrise As each player from the starting lineup appears on the jumbo-tron above the rink at Amerant Bank Arena, the crowd erupts in cheers. The screams are deafening for goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. The crowd's boo echoes as Connor McDavid's face flashes on the massive screen. Connor Brown returns for Oilers Based on Edmonton's warmups, forward Connor Brown appears to be back. Here's how they looked... Advertisement Forward lines Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Connor McDavid-Corey Perry Evander Kane-Leon Draisaitl-Kasperi Kapanen Trent Frederic-Adam Henrique-Connor Brown Vasily Podkolzin-Mattias Janmark-Viktor Arvidsson Defense pairs Mattias Ekholm-Evan Bouchard Darnell Nurse-Brett Kulak Jake Walman-John Klingberg Goaltenders Stuart Skinner Calvin Pickard Panthers in warmups Florida's lineup looked as follows during warmups... Forward lines Evan Rodrigues-Aleksander Barkov-Sam Reinhart Carter Verhaeghe-Sam Bennett-Matthew Tkachuk Eetu Luostarinen-Anton Lundell-Brad Marchand Jesper Boqvist-Tomas Nosek-Jona Gadjovich Defense pairs Gustav Forsling-Aaron Ekblad Advertisement Niko Mikkola-Seth Jones Nate Schmidt-Dmitry Kulikov Goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky Vitek Vanecek Early watch party scene Two hours before puck drop, tents are up and fans are already tailgating in the parking lot of Amerant Bank Arena for the Panthers' watch party. Even with the opening game of the Stanley Cup Finals happening over 2,500 miles away, the fans in South Florida appear to be ready. Series schedule ▪ Game 1: Tonight ▪ Game 2: Friday, June 6, 8 p.m., TNT, truTV, Max, Edmonton's Rogers Place ▪ Game 3: Monday, June 9, 8 p.m., TNT, truTV, Max, Sunrise's Amerant Bank Arena ▪ Game 4: Thursday, June 12, 8 p.m., TNT, truTV, Max, Sunrise's Amerant Bank Arena Advertisement ▪ Game 5 (if necessary): Saturday, June 14, 8 p.m., TNT, truTV, Max, Edmonton's Rogers Place ▪ Game 6 (if necessary): Tuesday, June 17, 8 p.m., TNT, truTV, Max, Sunrise's Amerant Bank Arena ▪ Game 7 (if necessary): Friday, June 20, 8 p.m., TNT, truTV, Max, Edmonton's Rogers Place Pregame reading Need to catch up ahead of Game 1? Here are the highlights of the Miami Herald's coverage over the past few days. ▪ The Panthers' driving force to win another Stanley Cup: The newcomers who haven't won yet ▪ One Panthers regular out for Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final. How the lineup should look ▪ No state tax is why the Florida Panthers are succeeding? Not exactly, Bill Zito says Advertisement ▪ 'I bleed for the Florida Panthers,' Aaron Ekblad says, but free agency looms after Cup Final ▪ How do the Panthers beat the Oilers to repeat as champions? Here are the keys ▪ With a chance at second Stanley Cup, Matthew Tkachuk's rise to stardom with Panthers continues ▪ Trash talk, shooting rats, eating DQ: How Panthers are dealing with playoff pressure ▪ Why Paul Maurice says the Florida Panthers are 'the best team I've ever coached' ▪ The team with the player of the generation won the last two Stanley Cup rematches
Fox Sports
an hour ago
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Panthers endure uncharacteristic playoff collapse in losing Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final to Oilers
Associated Press For nearly three full years under coach Paul Maurice, the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers were unbeatable in the playoffs when holding a lead through either of the first two periods. Until Wednesday night. After a 4-3 overtime loss to Edmonton in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers blamed themselves for playing too conservatively in allowing the Oilers to score three straight goals as Florida squandered a 3-2 advantage entering the third. 'Just not let up. Don't sit back,' said Sam Bennett, who scored twice — including his franchise-record 12th goal of this postseason. 'We've been really good all year at not sitting back with the lead, and for whatever reason we sat back tonight.' It was an uncharacteristic collapse for a Florida team that had won 31 consecutive playoff games under Maurice when holding the lead at an intermission break. Worse yet, the Panthers actually blew a two-goal lead in a game Leon Draisaitl sealed by converting Connor McDavid's centering pass 19:29 into overtime. The winning goal came on a power play, 72 seconds after Tomas Nosek was penalized for delay of game after lifting the puck over the glass. Maurice was more concerned with how the Panthers performed well before Nosek went into the penalty box. Florida was outshot 24-8 from the beginning of the third period on. 'I think we had some real good pressure. They get it back and then there were some plays we didn't compete,' Maurice said. 'I thought we were a little safe with the puck.' Florida dropped to 8-3 on the road this postseason and trails a series for the first time since losing the first two games of its second-round meeting with Toronto, which the Panthers rallied to win in Game 7. Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final is Friday night in Edmonton. As for Nosek's penalty, Maurice called it a tough break, and made a point to remind the player how valuable he was in helping the Panthers rally against Toronto. Nosek didn't make his playoff debut until Game 3 of the Maple Leafs series. 'That line came in and changed everything for us. We're not here without Tomas Nosek,' Maurice said. 'He's got lots of people sitting at his table and reminding him how good he's been.' The question for the Panthers is how they appeared to wear down as the game progressed in a rematch of last year's final, which Florida won in seven games. Just when it appeared Florida had grabbed the momentum by building a 3-1 lead on Bennett's second goal two minutes into the second period, Edmonton responded with Viktor Arvidsson's goal 1:17 later. And the Panthers looked gassed in the third when Mattias Ekholm converted McDavid's centering pass to tie the score at the 6:33 mark. The 46 shots allowed were the most permitted by Florida in the playoffs since giving up 65 in a 3-2 win over Carolina that took four overtimes in Game 1 of the 2023 Eastern Conference final. And they came a game after the Panthers allowed 52 shots in Game 5 of a second-round series-clinching 3-2 OT win over Toronto. Draisaitl's power-play goal was just the eighth allowed by Florida in 62 chances this postseason. Maurice remained calm in assessing how evenly matched the teams are in a series he believes has a chance to go the distance. 'It has the potential to be just a spectacular seven-gamer,' Maurice said. 'It was honest, it was hard, it was fast and it was tight. It was an overtime game.' ___ AP NHL: recommended
