We head to Edmonton for Game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on Thursday as the Oilers fight for their playoff lives in a 2-0 series hole.
It was a long and tumultuous flight to Canada for the Panthers, with storms in South Florida delaying them from arriving Edmonton until late Wednesday.
That could be a disadvantage for the Panthers, as the Oilers departed from Sunrise, Fla., well ahead of Tuesday’s storms.
The Oilers are -138 favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook, with the comeback on the Panthers at +115.
It’s a must-win for Edmonton at this stage, as a 3-0 deficit is nearly insurmountable.
We’ll be keeping a keen eye on captain Aleksander Barkov’s availability for the Panthers after he went down with an injury in Game 2 and his status is uncertain for Game 3.
Panthers vs. Oilers Game 3 prediction
(8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Barkov practiced Wednesday and he has not been ruled out for Thursday’s matchup.
Should he play, the odds of the Panthers will surely shorten going into Game 3.
Barkov is a major piece of the Panthers star-studded puzzle that includes a lockdown defense which has halted the league-best Oilers offense.
After losing, 3-0, in Game 1, Money Puck gave the Oilers a sparkling grade, giving them a 92 percent chance to win.
Those numbers plummeted in what seemed to be a hopeless loss in Game 2.
Look no further than the defensive prowess mixed with more impressive showings from goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
They had few strong scoring chances in Game 2 and have only scored one goal through two games this series.
Being at home undoubtedly helps the Oilers in Game 3, and the bookies are expecting rebound performance.
The Oilers were 28-9-4 at home this year and a raucous crowd is expected Thursday.
It’s tough to fade Edmonton tonight on their turf, but a bet on the game to go to overtime is worth a stab here at +300 odds.
Bettors should look toward Edmonton second line forward Evander Kane to have a strong night, as the Oilers look to get their offense on track.
Kane to go over 1.5 shots on goal is -145 at DraftKings and BetMGM, a fine wager tonight despite his poor play in this series.
He has zero shots on goal this series, but was 11-4 toward the over prior to Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
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He’s gone under in five straight, making him 11-9, but he’s too important to the Oilers gameplan to a complete non-factor.
PICK: Evander Kane over 1.5 shots (-145, BetMGM) | 60-minute line: Draw (+300, DraftKings)
