Stanley Cup Finals Preview

The time has come. We started this journey back in October, with 32 teams all vying for the richest prize in all of hockey: The Stanley Cup! We are now down to two teams left standing. One team is looking for its first title in thirty four ears. The other is looking for the first title in the history of the franchise. The Florida Panthers will battle the Edmonton Oilers for the Stanley Cup!

Florida got here with three tough series wins to march through the Eastern Conference. They started with a five game win over Tampa Bay in the first round, a six game win over Boston in round two and finally by dispatching the New York Rangers in six games in the Eastern Conference finals. This is the 2nd year in a row and third time in franchise history that the Panthers have reached the Cup finals. They are still in search of their first title.

Edmonton got here by beating Los Angeles in five games, followed by beating Vancouver in seven games in round two and beating the Stars in six games in the conference finals. This is the seventh time in Oilers history they are playing for a Stanley Cup. Their last appearance in the finals was a loss in 2006. Edmonton is looking for its first cup since 1990. This is going to be one hell of a series. You got two of the best offensive teams in the game going head to head. This series could be a massive statement for Conor McDavid. He's the best player in the world right now and he's do so much during his career. Only thing he's missing is the Cup. Now he's finally got his shot at it. And its not just Conor and Leon leading the charge this playoffs. Mattias Janmark, Ryan McLeod, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Philip Broberg have all scored big goals at different times this post season. It really is a team effort.

There was some level of trepidation going into this post season. Stuart Skinner had been good in the past couple of seasons. Last year he had firmly took hold of the starting job in Edmonton, but wasn't quite able to get the Oilers to the promise land. This year he has, now the question is, can he help them finish the job. This has been a good, well balanced hockey club in this playoffs.

So to is the team they playing in the Florida Panthers. For as good of an offensive hockey club as they have, and they have a good one, they are just as known for their goaltending. Sergei Bobrovski has been just as good if not better. He's playing outstanding hockey and has really shown the hockey world that he has been worth every cent that the Panthers have been paying him. Bob's play this year in the playoffs is proving that last year's run was no fluke.

Same thing goes for the rest of the Panthers as well. Tkachuk, Verhaeghe and Barkov have all been playing out of their minds as the playoffs have gone along. They, like the Oilers, have been operating at a different level. They are well coached, balanced and deep. This is going to be a very tough team to beat.

Pick: Panthers in 6!