Oilers vs Panthers Tonight: How to Watch, Odds & Key Storylines for Stanley Cup Final Game 3

The 2025 Stanley Cup Final shifts from tense chess match to potential turning point tonight as the Edmonton Oilers visit the Florida Panthers for Game 4 at Amerant Bank Arena. Florida carries a 2-1 series lead after answering a thrilling opening-night loss with back-to-back victories, including a special-teams clinic in Game 3 that electrified Sunrise fans and nudged the franchise within two wins of its first championship. Series snapshot • Game 1: Leon Draisaitl’s overtime dagger capped a 4-3 comeback and stole home-ice advantage for Edmonton. • Game 2: Sergei Bobrovsky weathered a late push as the Panthers edged the Oilers 5-4 to even the set. • Game 3: Matthew Tkachuk’s net-front mayhem, three power-play goals and rock-solid defense produced a 6-1 rout that tilted momentum firmly south. Why Game 4 looms large Historically, teams leading 3-1 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final close out 90 percent of the time. For Edmonton, tonight is as close to must-win as it gets without an elimination banner hanging overhead. Connor McDavid and Draisaitl have combined for 13 points through three games, yet secondary scoring has lagged; Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins own a single goal between them. Head coach Kris Knoblauch hinted at lineup tweaks, inserting steady defenseman Troy Stecher and giving Stuart Skinner the crease after Calvin Pickard’s tough night Monday. Florida counters with a group suddenly brimming with confidence. Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand have terrorized Edmonton’s penalty kill, while Bobrovsky (.926 save percentage in the series) looks every bit the $10-million backbone the Panthers envisioned when they signed him. Coach Paul Maurice kept lines intact during Tuesday’s optional skate, stressing discipline and puck management over any tactical overhaul. Key matchup: Oilers PP vs. Panthers PK Edmonton’s vaunted man-advantage finished No. 1 in the regular season, but it’s just 2-for-13 in the final. Florida’s aggressive diamond has pushed McDavid off the half-wall, forcing low-percentage looks from the point. If the Oilers can regain quick-strike mojo—criss-crossing entries, down-low bump plays to Draisaitl—the complexion of the series could flip instantly. Goaltending spotlight Skinner’s return is a gamble rooted in ceiling. When dialed in, the 26-year-old reads cross-ice seams better than Pickard and can spark breakouts with crisp puck-handling. Bobrovsky, conversely, is hunting Conn Smythe whispers. The veteran thrives on early rhythm; Edmonton’s blueprint should be pucks from everywhere, with Hyman and Evander Kane planting themselves on the doorstep. How to watch live • Date: Thursday, June 12 (Friday, June 13 in some time zones) • Puck drop: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT • TV: ABC (U.S.), Sportsnet and CBC (Canada) • Streaming: ESPN+, FuboTV, Sportsnet NOW Trending storylines to track 1. Travel swing: The first cross-continent flight of the series wears differently on each roster. Edmonton arrived in Fort Lauderdale a day earlier than scheduled to acclimate to humidity and dodge potential weather delays. 2. Heavy hits: The Panthers have outhit the Oilers 108-91, with Bennett setting the tone. Expect Edmonton to answer physically, especially from Kane and Vincent Desharnais, to deter Florida’s forecheck. 3. Celebrity buzz: Social feeds lit up when Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were spotted in a suite during Game 3, part of a growing A-list presence that’s turning Sunrise into the NHL’s hottest ticket. What a win means • Panthers: A 3-1 stranglehold heading back to Rogers Place, two cracks at home ice, and the opportunity for Bobrovsky, Ekblad and Barkov to cement Hall-of-Fame résumés. • Oilers: A reset to 2-2, restored home-ice advantage, and renewed belief that Canada’s 32-year Cup drought can finally end. Bottom line Every Stanley Cup Final writes its defining chapter around the midway point. Tonight’s Oilers vs. Panthers clash promises desperation, swagger and star power in equal doses. If McDavid’s wizardry meets Bobrovsky’s brick wall, buckle up—June hockey drama rarely feels this seismic.