Oilers vs Panthers Picks & Props

They'll need to win Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night in Sunrise, Fla., to avoid watching the Florida Panthers celebrate a championship on their home ice for a second consecutive year.

Edmonton was in an even more perilous situation in the finals last season. The Oilers lost the first three games to the Panthers before rallying to win three in a row. Of course, Edmonton eventually lost 2-1 in Game 7 in Florida.

If the Oilers could force a Game 7 again this year, they'd have the benefit of playing the winner-take-all game in Edmonton.

"We've been through difficult situations before, and it's just another one we'll overcome," Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said.

The Panthers certainly won't take the Oilers lightly, not after they staved off elimination so well last season.

"Having a bit of an experience does matter," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. "We were all pretty wired after Game 3 last year, and I think we can handle that a bit better now."

Florida second-line center Sam Bennett certainly has taken his game to another level. He has 15 goals in these playoffs, including five in the finals. His 13 goals away from Sunrise set an NHL record for most road goals in a single postseason.

"It's just his game," Florida forward Sam Reinhart said of Bennett. "It translates so well this time of year."

The top line of Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe and captain Aleksander Barkov have combined for 20 goals in the playoffs and four in the finals, but it's the defense they've played against Edmonton star captain Connor McDavid that's been remarkable.

McDavid scored his first goal of the series in Game 5 after Edmonton had fallen behind 3-0.

"It's a team effort defending guys like that," Reinhart said. "We've known all series the challenge is there for us. No one really cares in our locker room about who's producing. It's just a matter of (making sure) someone is at the right times, and that's what we've had."

The Panthers also have been getting solid contributions more recently from the fourth line of Tomas Nosek, A.J. Greer and Jonah Gadjovich.

Nosek and Gadjovich were healthy scratches for the Panthers' first seven playoff games, and Greer only played three of the first seven postseason games while dealing with a lower-body injury.

"We try to focus on every shift," Nosek said. "It doesn't matter if we play five or 10 minutes, every time we step on the ice we try to do our best to help the team win a game."

Knoblauch was undecided on the starting goalie on Monday, however Stuart Skinner let the cat out of the bag on Tuesday afternoon and confirmed that he is getting the nod.

Calvin Pickard made his first start of the finals in the 5-2 loss in Game 5. He surrendered four goals on 18 shots, dropping his record to 7-1 in these playoffs.

Pickard, 33, has an .886 save percentage and a 2.85 goals-against average in the postseason.

Skinner, 26, was pulled in each of his previous two starts in this series after permitting eight goals on 40 shots. He is 7-6 with a 2.99 goals-against average, .891 save percentage and three shutouts in 14 starts during the playoffs.

In addition to Skinner, John Klingberg will draw back into the lineup in place of fellow defenseman Troy Stecher, and Kasperi Kapanen will replace fellow forward Viktor Arvidsson.

--Field Level Media