The Florida Panthers return to Amerant Bank Arena for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final with the series tied 1–1 and a renewed sense of confidence after outlasting the Edmonton Oilers in a thrilling double-overtime battle in Game 2. That dramatic 5–4 victory not only evened the series but reaffirmed the Panthers’ identity as a resilient, battle-tested squad capable of weathering elite opposition and delivering clutch performances when the stakes are highest. Florida’s success continues to be rooted in its structured, physically demanding system orchestrated by head coach Paul Maurice, which emphasizes defensive accountability, forechecking intensity, and zone dominance. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been a pillar of consistency, and his Game 2 heroics—making over 40 saves including several jaw-dropping stops in OT—demonstrated his ability to steal games against the NHL’s most potent offenses. Offensively, the Panthers bring a blend of balance and grit that wears teams down: Sam Bennett has emerged as a playoff scoring leader with timely snipes, while Carter Verhaeghe, Aleksander Barkov, and Matthew Tkachuk all provide a multi-dimensional threat, whether through puck retrieval, net-front presence, or transitional speed. Defensively, the Panthers’ top-four pairings, led by Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling, have shown the ability to slow down speed-heavy teams by limiting time and space in the neutral zone and boxing out effectively in the slot. Their penalty kill has been superb, aggressively pressuring puck carriers and clearing the crease to support Bobrovsky, especially when facing Edmonton’s dangerous power play.

At home, Florida has thrived, not just from crowd energy but from tactical advantages like line matching, which will be critical in attempting to contain McDavid and Draisaitl. With last change, Maurice can deploy Barkov and Ekblad against the Oilers’ stars more consistently, which may tilt possession battles in Florida’s favor. From a betting perspective, the Panthers have been a profitable puck-line play at home, and historically, they’ve shown a strong ability to win Game 3s when returning home from a split series. The over has trended in their home playoff games, thanks to late-period goals and strong offensive zone cycling that wears opponents out over time. In Game 3, the Panthers must continue to execute their forecheck, limit turnovers in transition, and capitalize on any lapses in Edmonton’s defensive structure, particularly when the Oilers’ second and third pairings are on the ice. Florida’s depth, discipline, and clutch finishing ability give them a path to take control of the series on home ice, especially if Bobrovsky continues to outperform his counterpart and the Panthers can generate consistent traffic and pressure in the offensive zone. A win in Game 3 would not only swing the series momentum but also reinforce Florida’s blueprint for Stanley Cup success: structured defense, balanced scoring, strong goaltending, and opportunism in critical moments. The stage is set, the crowd will be loud, and if the Panthers stay within their system, they’ll be difficult to beat.