Florida 5, Edmonton 2 (Panthers lead Stanley Cup Last 3-2)
Brad Marchand continues so as to add to his legend. With two objectives within the Panthers’ Sport 5 victory, Marchand has scored six of his 10 playoff objectives within the Stanley Cup Last. He now has 10 two-goal playoff video games in his profession, and he has joined Mario Lemieux as the one participant to attain 5 objectives in a number of Stanley Cup Finals. Marchand now has 20 factors in 22 video games, offering severe return on worth for the 2027 conditional second-round decide the Panthers gave up for him. If the Panthers win the Stanley Cup, Marchand has to obtain severe consideration for the Conn Smythe for the big-time objectives he’s scoring.
Even at age 37, Marchand can be in heavy demand on July 1 if the Panthers do not signal him earlier than then. This appears unusual to say for somebody his age, however he may really earn a elevate from his present cap hit. Keep in mind that he signed a really Bruins-friendly $6.125 million AAV contract that began in 2017. No matter quantity his new contract seems to be, he’ll have the ability to purchase as many DQ Blizzards as he needs.
Sam Bennett has scored a purpose in six consecutive street playoff video games. As well as, he continues to steer the playoffs with 15 objectives, together with 5 objectives within the ultimate. Solely three different energetic gamers have scored as many objectives throughout a postseason (Zach Hyman, Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby). Like Marchand, Bennett has robust Conn Smythe odds if the Panthers repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Bennett can be well-compensated as soon as the playoffs end, and I would not be shocked if the Panthers are the group opening the vault, given how essential he has turned out to be.
For the document, none of our writers picked both Marchand or Bennett to win the Conn Smythe of their Stanley Cup Last predictions. That is how a lot of a difference-maker each have been in the course of the Stanley Cup Last.
Sam Reinhart and Eetu Luostarinen scored the opposite objectives for the Panthers. Presently within the shadow of Marchand and Bennett, Reinhart has scored objectives in three consecutive video games in the course of the ultimate.
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 of 21 photographs in incomes the win. Bobrovsky has tied the NHL document together with his 10th street win of the playoffs.
The large story for the Oilers earlier than Sport 5 was Calvin Pickard beginning in web over the up-and-down Stuart Skinner. Pickard allowed 4 objectives on 18 photographs in Sport 5, though the loss may hardly be positioned squarely on his shoulders. Pickard had changed Skinner to begin the second interval of Sport 4 after Skinner allowed three objectives within the first interval. Going again additional, Skinner had allowed 5 objectives in each of Video games 2 and three as effectively. After the sport, coach Kris Knoblauch would not announce a beginning goalie for Sport 6. If I needed to guess, I would say the Oilers return to Skinner for this do-or-die match.
Along with his purpose in Sport 5, Connor McDavid is now the third-fastest participant to succeed in 150 profession playoff factors, behind solely Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. He’s additionally tied with Leon Draisaitl for the playoff scoring lead with 33 factors every. Each are 10 factors away from the next-highest point-getter, which is teammate Evan Bouchard.
Simply as over-35 Marchand is impressing for the Panthers, 40-year-old Corey Perry continues to get the job finished for the Oilers. Perry scored his tenth purpose of playoffs, with 5 of these objectives coming within the final seven video games. Perry has additionally registered at the least three photographs per recreation over the past 4 video games whereas primarily enjoying on a line with Draisaitl and McDavid. Leveraging this prime deployment, UFA-to-be Perry ought to have the ability to signal someplace subsequent season if he chooses to.
Sport 5 was the primary time within the 2025 playoffs that the Oilers had scored fewer than three objectives in a house recreation.
Viktor Arvidsson returned for Sport 5 after being a wholesome scratch for Sport 4. Arvidsson changed Kasperi Kapanen, who performed simply eight minutes and alter in every of Sport 3 and 4. Arvidsson performed simply 11 minutes himself whereas not producing any photographs, so I ponder if he stays within the lineup for Sport 6.
Yesterday I discussed Jake Walman‘s increase in worth when he was traded from Detroit to San Jose, then about how he misplaced a few of it when he was traded to Edmonton. I believed I would record his output throughout his ultimate season in Detroit, adopted by his stint with San Jose, then common season and playoffs with Edmonton.
2023-24 Detroit: 63 GP, 21 PTS, 0.33 PTS/GP
2024-25 San Jose: 50 GP, 32 PTS, 0.64 PTS/GP
2024-25 Edmonton: 15 GP, 8 PTS, 0.53 PTS/GP (common season)
2024-25 Edmonton: 21 GP, 9 PTS, 0.43 PTS/GP (playoffs)
That Edmonton pattern dimension provides us a fairly good concept of what Walman can be subsequent season. Not like in San Jose, Walman will not be on the highest energy play with the Oilers. Nonetheless, 35 factors looks as if an inexpensive projection for him, for the reason that Oilers as a group do not have points scoring.
The Stanley Cup can be within the Amerant Financial institution Enviornment in Florida on Tuesday, the place the Panthers will attempt to hoist it. In the meantime, the Oilers will attempt to pressure one other lengthy journey again to Edmonton for a Sport 7 that will happen on Friday.
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Video time! Dobber has one other video – this one on Connor Bedard. Does he suppose that Bedard goes to be a generational participant or “simply” a star? Watch, like, share, subscribe, and remark!
I had Bedard as one in all my gamers that did not meet expectations once I was recapping the common season a couple of month in the past, and I would should say that Dobber and I are pondering equally right here.
Bedard hasn’t fairly proven himself to be a generational expertise in his two seasons, scoring within the 0.8-0.9 PTS/GP vary. Over the same variety of video games performed over the previous two seasons, nonetheless, Bedard’s level manufacturing has been near the likes of Brady Tkachuk, Tage Thompson, and Rasmus Dahlin. That is nonetheless fairly stable, even when it isn’t on the elite stage that we hoped.
On high of that, Bedard will simply flip 20 in July. In Bedard’s first two seasons, the Blackhawks have not surrounded him with a ton of expertise, as he’s 36 factors forward of the group’s second-leading scorer over his two seasons. The Hawks have $29 million in cap house this offseason, so do not be shocked in the event that they make a play at a free agent or two to complement the younger expertise coming in. That might make Bedard smile a bit of extra subsequent season.
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Don’t overlook concerning the 19th annual Fantasy Prospects Report! Choose up yours at Dobber Sports activities immediately to be able to get forward of your offseason keeper league choices.
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Comply with me on X @Ian_Gooding and Threads @goodsfantasyhockey and Bluesky @goodsfantasyhockey.bsky.social
