FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Florida Panthers can complete their quest to repeat as Stanley Cup champions in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, CBC).
Florida has won three of the past four games to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series and move within one victory of becoming the first team to repeat since the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. The Panthers can also become just the eighth to earn a Cup-clinching win on home ice in consecutive seasons and first since Edmonton in 1987 and 1988.
"We haven't treated any days differently and this morning was the same," Panthers center Sam Bennett said. "We were all pretty loose this morning, joking around, cracking jokes and staying loose. You know what's at stake tonight, but you kind of just push that away and focus on what you can control and that's just taking your day, going through your routine and doing the same thing you've done. That's how we're handling it."
After defeating Edmonton in seven games last season, Florida is trying to become the first team to eliminate the same opponent in the Cup Final in consecutive seasons since the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Boston Bruins in 1977 and 1978. The Panthers have had trouble closing out series the past two postseasons, going 2-5 in their first attempts.
That includes an 8-1 loss in Game 4 of the Cup Final last season after they won the first three games of the series. The Oilers won the next two games to force Game 7 before Florida rebounded with a 2-1 victory at home to win the Stanley Cup for the first time.
Edmonton faces elimination for the first time in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs; it went 5-1 in such games a year ago, including three wins after falling behind 3-0 in the Cup Final.
"It helps, but not much has changed for us," Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said. "If we wanted to win (the series), we would've had to win this game here on the road anyway. So, for us, it's about trying to get our game a little bit quicker. … I think we still haven't seen our best and, obviously, tonight would be a great time to show it."
Needing a win to extend the series, Edmonton will turn back to Stuart Skinner after Calvin Pickard gave up four goals on 18 shots in a 5-2 loss in Game 5 on Saturday. Skinner was pulled and replaced by Pickard in each of his past two starts, including after allowing three goals on 17 shots in the first period of the Oilers' 5-4 overtime win in Game 4.
Skinner is 7-6 with a 2.99 goals-against average, .891 save percentage and three shutouts in 14 starts this postseason. He was 3-1 with a 1.76 GAA and .935 save percentage when the Oilers faced elimination in the final four games of the Cup Final last season.
"Feeling good coming into tonight," Skinner said. "Definitely know that I have the confidence of my teammates and the coaching staff. There's obviously a lot of belief."
The Oilers have led for only 33:51 in the series compared to 200:25 for the Panthers, according to NHL Stats. Edmonton has led for just 6:04 in the past three games, all in the third period of Game 4.
"When you're constantly chasing a game, there comes a time in the game when you have to take chances," Draisaitl said. "That's the way it is. Your top guys take chances and then you're leaking a little bit the other way. So, I think playing with a lead and just getting off to a better start in general, not being down 2-0 after the first period, will go a long way."
No team has overcome a 3-2 deficit in the Cup Final by winning Game 6 on the road and Game 7 at home since the Lightning against the Calgary Flames in 2004.
"For whatever reason, our group doesn't like to make it easy on ourselves," Oilers captain Connor McDavid said, "and we've put ourselves in another difficult spot and it's our job to work our way out of it."
Here is a breakdown of Game 6:
Oilers: In addition to Skinner starting in goal, forward Kasperi Kapanen will be back in place of Viktor Arvidsson. Kapanen was a healthy scratch for Game 5 after playing the first four games of the series and getting three assists. Defenseman John Klingberg will also return, replacing Troy Stecher. Klingberg played the first three games of the Final before sitting out that past two in favor of Stecher, who played only 4:18 in Game 4 and 13:38 in Game 5. Edmonton is 2-for-13 on the power play over the past three games, including 0-for-3 in Game 5.
