Stanley Cup Final 2025: Edmonton VS Florida – analytics, forecasts, key confrontation | Hockey

The Playoff of the National Hockey League approached its climax – the finals of Stanley Cup. We are expected to be repetition of the series last year, where Edmonton Oulerz and Florida Panthers will come together. Canada against the US what could be better?

Although such a sign is not liked by many, the teams are approached in other starting positions than last year.

« Champion » He tells about the main confrontations and strengths and weaknesses of the opponents in the final series.

Attack

Probably, from all the teams of this year’s playof, the unbiased fan was most pleasant to look at Edmonton’s game. And not only through the sweet couple, Connor Mc Devid-Leon Drizitl.

Edmonton’s most effective weapons are fast counterattack. And considering that the biggest problems in this Playoff in Florida were just with Toronto counterattacks, this aspect can work in plus Canadians.

Moreover, despite the widespread statement that « runs only McDid » in fact « oil workers » have a little more than one smart guy. The same Caspari Kapanen or Victor Arvidsson or Matthias Janmarck can escape that the panthers’ defenders will rotate the head.

But not counterattacks are one. On average, Edmonton enters the opponent’s zone 77 times in the match, which is the best indicator in the NHL. In general, Oulerz value the washer and often get out of the area to regroup or change. More often and more successfully, Edmonton, no one in the NHL leaves the area with the control of the washer.

Florida, in turn, takes a chic depth of attack (there and the entire composition in depth, which protects). And this is not only the best top 6 season. 9 Pleioff attackers spent 14 minutes on the ice. The same 9 attackers scored 10+ points in the Playoff, 12 attackers were distinguished by at least one goal.

If you also mention the most effective third link in the current Playoff Brad Marshane – Eet Luostarinen – Anton Lundel, who has grown into three 39 points, then the issue of attacks of flouristers disappears.

In general, Panther is currently the most successful team of Playoff, the leader over the control of the washer in the opponent’s area, by difference of abandoned-passed, by the number of power receptions, the second in number of throws at the gate.

The main statistical plus is the Florida in the difference between expected and abandoned washers. According to this indicator, Panther is fantastic +14 for three rounds of plieot.

Most of the Oulerz still work quite stable. Although this plioff the figure of 30% of realization does not look as bright as last year 37%, it is rather a testimony to working on opponents’ mistakes. This year, opponents were much less removed. According to the throws, the expected goals, the moments on the heel of « oil workers » are better statistics than Florida.

But these numbers are not absolute. Despite the more modest statistics, the same component of Florida seems more variant. Panthers can slightly shift the composition of the top five, and most importantly, have a full -fledged second implementation brigade.

Protection

Leader Edmonton Connor Mc Devid said after the second match with Dallas, « We can still play defense. » Yes, Oulerz was missed 4 from Las Vegas and 6 from Dallas, but it is rather from loosening, loss of discipline and non -discipline in the minority.

The main thing that has changed in the protection of « oil workers » – removed the elementary individual mistakes that they sinned over the past Pleioff. Stuart Skinner turns out to be drawn at the gate (what will be below), Darnell Ners may not be mistaken, and Evan Bushar is able not only to « water » from the blue line.

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The series against Dallas pulled out the protection itself. In some segments, « oil workers » frankly tried to survive in their area to give a chance for quick counterattack and that worked.

In counterattacks, the defenders decide a lot. The same Bushar is not the most prominent ion Klingerg is able to organize a quick transfer to the opponent’s area, and there is already Mc Devid and the company do their business.

However, the directly protective function does not look stable yet, so it is still a difficult topic for Canadians. And one of those details that should be considered especially carefully.

Instead, the current Florida champion has a wonderful and constantly stable defense line, in which it was cool in the course of the season Seth Jones, and we will talk about an experienced Bobrovsky in the gate again.

According to statistics, the panther was missed in the Playoff at the least. Also in the first place of Florida and the percentage of neutralization of the majority of the opponent.

The reliability of the defenders is also indicated by the number of penalties, which, for example, in the series with Carolina in Florida gained only 16 for five matches.

The main advantage in the game of Florida can be considered the ability to adjust under the opponent. Panthers neutralized the technical taron, power toronto and mechanical and boring Carolin.

The most interesting thing is that in all Playoff matches, Florida rivals seemed to face a mirror, as Panthers played very much as they did, despite the different style of all three.

For example, last year in the final against Edmonton, a fortiek worked perfectly (what football is called active pressing). Not the fact that this time will work, but the fact that « oil workers » are not the most persistent psychologically, the team can be an important factor in a long series.

Goalkeeper

If you compare the goalkeeper positions, it will definitely be the advantage of Florida and Sergei Bobrovsky.

Generally comparing the duo of Edmonton’s goalkeeper with the super -experienced Bobrovsky is a waste. The panther goalkeeper in the Playoff defended 17 matches and repelled about 91.4% of throws at the goal.

He managed to find his dry match against every opponent in every round. Bobrovsky’s finals are approached with statistics of 9 rescued heads above the expected and leader in the fixed throws.

The number one Edmonton’s affairs in Playoff did not go so much. Already the first confrontation against Los Angeles Stuart Skinner stunned and only timely replacement with the Picarde with Calvin led to the consciousness of « oil workers » that were able to break the course of the series.

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Piccard fulfilled his mission and pulled out a series with « kings », but was injured. Edmonton had to return Skinner to the goal. Stuart’s second event was much better. Two dry matches against Las Vegas and the incredible saves in a series with Dallas leveled statistics.

The finals of Skinner are suitable with already good numbers in 90% of the reflected throws.

Interesting fact, if Skinner fails to break in the first period, then Edmonton will certainly win.

X-factor

Connor Mc Devid and Leon Drizitl for Edmonton. Are not surprised? Of course! But in order not to seem too primitive and obvious, let’s try to develop an opinion.

Yes, Connor and Leon are the two best scorers of this plieot (26 points in Canadian, 25 – German). In previous years, Mc Devid sometimes in fact he independently decided the fate of whole series. When the dripl was connected, Edmonton was not stopped. However, all this often ended when the opponents managed to close them or both did not go through fatigue.

That same year, for all Playoff, Connor has only two matches of 3 or more points, and if you remember « steam skating », then the Canadian with the German on both of them decided only 4 matches out of 16. And this is not as bad as it can seem.

It seems that while other attackers have pulled themselves into the « sweet couple », Mac Devid and Drizaitl were not so tired, so they will be much more fresh than the last finals. Mc Devid is no longer on ice for more than 30 minutes per match. So it can give more to the team in the finals.

In this section, Florida would have to get Bobrovsky, but it was written above. It was also said that Florida is primarily excreted in depth and equality of the composition, but it is impossible to pass by their captain. The Finnish striker Alexander Barkov is not a megavido star, it is difficult to overestimate its role for panther.

Unlike more untwisted NHL stars, Barkov stands out for its versatility. In any situation, whether in defense, or in the attack, it is able to show the higher class and benefit the team. Barkov always plays – in equal warehouses, in most and in the minority, especially when the team needs results here and now. It is better than won, in particular in critical situations in minority or most.

Barkov has never achieved outstanding statistical results as Nathan McKinnon, does not have the speed of Mc Devid, does not beat sniper records like Drizaitl or Oston Matjuz, but that’s all there is no value when you see his game. And this is exactly a steep trump card in the coach’s sleeve.

****

If you try to summarize, it seems that this year’s Florida has almost no weaknesses. They have a stable attack, better in protection and have a top goalkeeper, which almost always becomes the main plus in the final series.

However, if Skinner does not catch butterflies, and the formula is 97+29 (Mac Devid with Dranzitel) will not have to put into operation almost because of the change, then the chances of joy with Edmonton fans will increase.

** Champion Forecast: 4-2 in favor of Florida