Stanley Cup Final Game 4 Preview: How To Watch, Odds, Injuries, Notes, and Keys

The Florida Panthers dominated Game Three of the Stanley Cup Final against Edmonton, 6-1. The Cats wasted no time in getting off to a great start, as 56 seconds in, Brad Marchand scored his fourth goal of the championship series. Then, at the 17:45 mark of the first period, Carter Verhaeghe scored the first of three power-play goals for Florida, to give the team a 2-0 lead heading into the second period.

After Corey Perry got the Oilers to within one early in the middle frame, that's as close as they would get. Edmonton would never find the back of the net again. A minute and 20 seconds after Perry lit the lamp, Sam Reinhart got the goal right back and restored Florida's two-goal lead. Nearly three and a half minutes later, at the 7:26 mark, Sam Bennett made the score 4-1.

In the third period, the Panthers added two more power-play goals off the sticks of Aaron Ekblad and Evan Rodrigues. The Ekblad goal is particularly notable because Sam Reinhart fed the defenseman on a behind-the-back, no-look pass. It's become the hockey version of a sweet pass from former NBA point guard Jason Williams. The final 20 minutes were also crazy, as fights and scrums were happening continuously.

Despite allowing the lone Oilers goal on the penalty kill, Edmonton's vaunted power play was shut down, as they went one-for-six against one of the best penalty-killing teams in the NHL. Florida took care of the puck more and didn't let their feet off the gas pedal. They stuck to the physical style and got rewarded with a blowout win. The focus shifts for Game Four, where Florida can take a 3-1 stranglehold on the series.

How To Watch Stanley Cup Final, Game 4

Date: Thursday, June 12 Time: 8:00 PM ET Venue: Amerant Bank Arena TV: TNT, Tru TV, MAX

Panthers vs. Oilers Odds, Spreads, and Total

Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook

Puck Line

Florida -1.5 (+164), Edmonton +1.5 (-198)

Total

6.5 (over +105/ under -125)

Moneyline

Florida -155, Edmonton +130

Florida Panthers Injury Report:

N/A

Edmonton Oilers Injury Report:

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C: Game-Time Decision (Undisclosed); Zach Hyman, LW: Out (Upper Body); Alec Regula, D: IR-NR (Knee)

Florida Panthers Projected Lines:

• Carter Verhaeghe- Aleksander Barkov- Sam Reinhart

• Evan Rodrigues- Sam Bennett- Matthew Tkachuk

• Eetu Luostarinen- Anton Lundell- Brad Marchand

• A.J. Greer- Tomas Nosek- Jonah Gadjovich

• Gustav Forsling- Aaron Ekblad

• Niko Mikkola- Seth Jones

• Nate Schmidt- Dmitry Kulikov

• Sergei Bobrovsky

• Vitek Vanacek

Edmonton Oilers Projected Lines:

• Jeff Skinner- Connor McDavid- Corey Perry

• Evander Kane- Leon Draisaitl- Kasperi Kapanen

• Trent Frederic- Adam Henrique- Connor Brown

• Vasily Podkolzin- Matthias Janmark- Viktor Arvidsson

• Matthias Ekholm- Evan Bouchard

• Darnell Nurse- John Klingberg

• Jake Walman- Brett Kulak

• Stuart Skinner

• Calvin Pickard

Panthers Keys To the Game

Florida has been doing great on special teams throughout the series. Despite the Oilers scoring one power-play goal in each of the first three games, they haven't exploded yet. They have gone a combined three-for-16 when on the power play. That's amazing penalty killing by the Panthers. Coming into this series, Edmonton's power play was arguably the biggest area of concern for Florida.

It hasn't been an issue. Despite the Cats picking up tons of penalties in each contest, they continue to show the world just how locked down their penalty killing is. Now, it seems as if their own power play has finally flicked the switch. As stated earlier, the Cats struck thrice on the man advantage. Just like the Panthers, the Oilers will and have taken their fair share of penalties.

When they do, continue to keep them on their heels. Get lots of shots from the point with traffic in front. Move the puck fast. Keep their heads turning. If they can keep dominating on the penalty kill while also getting more contributions on the power play, Florida will take a step toward winning a win in Game Four.

Sergei Bobrovsky has been excellent in the Stanley Cup Final. 'Bobby' is one of those goaltenders who picks up his play when it's playoff time. He's done it again this year, and he's backstopped the Cats to back-to-back wins. His numbers are deceiving. Yes, he gave up four goals in each of the first two games, but Florida was a shot away from winning Game One, and he made the stops needed in Game Two.

It was even better in Game Three. The always-humble Russian net-minder stopped 32 shots in the rout. He was locked in, and that's going to have to continue if Florida is to double their series lead. He did give up goals in the first two meetings that had should've saved. He most likely still wants those back. Bobrovsky just needs to stay concentrated and post another dominant performance. He's in a zone now. Keep that going.

One of the biggest reasons why Florida dominated on Monday night was that they got in the way of everything. The Cats' stifling defense was put on display as they blocked 17 shots. More impressively, only two Edmonton skaters had four shots on net or more. Corey Perry had five, and Evander Kane had four. Every other skater struggled to get into a rhythm offensively.

Even two of the best players in the league couldn't get anything going in Game Three. Connor McDavid had only two shots on net. Leon Draisaitl was held to none. That's incredible, especially since dealing with two players presents a tremendous challenge. Florida needs to keep being aggressive in this regard as well. Clog the lanes. Make the Oilers work to even get a shot towards the net. It's all about not making it easy for them.

Suffocating their offense will only lead to more frustration on their end, which is what everyone saw in Game Three. This is all towards getting the Oilers off their game.

Notes:

• Paul Maurice became the third head coach in NHL history to win 1,000 games (regular season & playoffs) alongside Scotty Bowman(1,467) and Joel Quenneville(1,090). 

• Carter Verhaeghe became the sixth player in the past 30 years to record three career game-winning goals in the Stanley Cup Final, joining Brett Hull(4), Adam Henrique(3), Jeff Carter(3), Peter Sykora(3), and Sergei Fedorov(3). 

• Sergei Bobrovsky has now made 116 saves in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, which is tied for the second most through three games of a Final – the others with as many are Tuukka Rask (120 in 2013) and Olaf Kolzig (116 in 1998).

• The Panthers and Oilers have combined for 23 goals so far in this series, which is the most through three games of a Stanley Cup Final since 1982, when the Islanders and Canucks combined for 24 goals through Game 3. 

• Defending champions who take a 2-1 lead in the ensuing Stanley Cup Final have an all-time series record of 9-1. The only team to overcome a deficit was the 2009 Penguins, who trailed 2-0 to open the Final against Detroit. 

• Teams that trail 2-1 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final own a record of 26-30 (.464) in Game 4 of the series, including 8-8 (.500) when on the road. 

• Two Stanley Cup Finals in NHL history have seen teams combine for seven-plus goals in each of the first four games of the series: 1980 (6 GP) and 1918 (4 GP).  

• There have been four instances over the past 40 years of a team winning three consecutive games in the Stanley Cup Final in consecutive postseasons: Tampa Bay (2020 & 2021), Detroit (1997 & 1998), Pittsburgh (1991 & 1992), and Edmonton (1984 & 1985). Both the 2025 Panthers and Oilers could join the list.  

• The 2025 Stanley Cup Final can become the first in NHL history to see a goal scored within the opening three minutes of the first four games. The 1938 Final between Toronto and Chicago is the only other to have seen this through the first three games.  

• The Panthers can become the sixth team in NHL history to score five or more goals in three straight games during a Stanley Cup Final, joining the 2024 Oilers (Game 4-6), 1991 Penguins (Game 4-6), 1984 Oilers (Game 3-5), 1981 Islanders (Game 1-3) and 1932 Maple Leafs (Game 1-3).