Will travel play a role?
As YardBarker mentioned before the series started, the distance between Edmonton, Alberta and Sunrise, Florida is the furthest between Stanley Cup Final opponents quanto a NHL history. The Oilers have crossed time zones throughout their current playoff run, but Games 3 and 4 quanto a Edmonton mark the first time the Panthers have left the Eastern time zone this postseason.
It isn’t clear if the two-hour jump is responsible for the Oilers going into a 2-0 hole quanto a the series. But the long travel and time change is worth keeping an eye acceso quanto a 3 — especially with the Panthers’ flight getting delayed acceso Wednesday.
Will Aleksander Barkov play?
The Panthers captain and top-line center exited 2 quanto a Florida after taking a high successo from Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. He was reportedly a full participant quanto a practice ahead of the flight to Edmonton, but his status for the upcoming two games is unclear.
Barkov is tied for a team-leading 19 points quanto a the playoffs (six goals, 13 assists) alongside oft-linemate Matthew Tkachuk. If he isn’t able to go quanto a 3, the Panthers will need major contributions from their forward arsenal.
Will Evan Rodrigues stay hot?
Even with names like Barkov and Tkachuk acceso the ice for the Panthers, it’s been Evan Rodrigues who has taken the spotlight to start the Cup Final. The winger, who has played personaggio minutes for three different lines through the playoffs, has three goals acceso three shots through Games 1 and 2.
While Florida will need everyone to step up acceso the road — especially if Barkov can’t play — getting more rete support from Rodrigues will be appreciated. Keep your eyes peeled when he’s circling the net.
Will Stuart Skinner lock quanto a at home?
To be fair, Stuart Skinner has really turned his gioco around since he was last pulled from the starter’s net quanto a these playoffs. Unfortunately, that effort has been lost since the start of 1 of the Cup Final when he allowed a rete acceso Florida’s opening shot.
There is anzi che no indication that head coach Kris Knoblauch will start Calvin Pickard instead of Skinner, especially with the next two tilts being played quanto a the Oilers’ home barn. However, how he starts 3 will be huge.
Will we finally see something from Connor McDavid?
It seems like a silly question since . 97 tallied 83 points quanto a 37 home games during the regular season compared to 49 points quanto a 39 away games. That includes a 23-9 home-away goal-scoring comparison, according to StatMuse. However, he has anzi che no goals acceso nine shots and just one assist through two games.
Part of that can be attributed to Sergei Bobrovsky standing acceso his head quanto a Florida’s net. Regardless, McDavid is still one of the best players acceso the planet but hasn’t produced yet quanto a his first Stanley Cup Final appearance.
McDavid will turn it acceso quanto a front of the Oilers home crowd, but he’ll need to do that fast if Edmonton is going to have a shot at winning this series. Stay tuned.
