Panthers’ fatal flaw that will doom them in 2024 Stanley Cup Final

The Florida Panthers passed every test on their way to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, but a fatal flaw could ruin their chances. They took care of the in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, losing just one game in the first-round series. They moved on to play another Atlantic Division foe and faced some adversity when the Boston Bruins dominated them in Game 1. However, the Panthers rallied off three consecutive victories to take a 3-1 series lead.

The teams switched roles in this series, as the Bruins took a 3-1 series lead against the Panthers in 2023 but lost three straight to ruin their record-setting season. The Panthers knew how easy a comeback could happen, and after losing Game 5, they took a tight-checking affair in Game 6 to advance.

Their most challenging test came in Round 3 when they faced the President’s Trophy-winning New York Rangers. Igor Shesterkin did everything to steal the victory, but it wasn’t enough. The Panthers won the series in six games, setting the table for their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers’ old-school style has gotten them to the SCF, and they’ll need to stick with their game to have a chance to beat the offensive firepower of the Edmonton Oilers. Ironically, the last time we saw this type of matchup was in 2011 when the Vancouver Canucks became Canada’s chance at finally bringing the Stanley Cup home.

The Canucks were offensive dynamos, but the Boston Bruins bullied them and outmuscled them, which is what the Panthers will attempt to do to the Oilers. However, the sport has changed since 2011, and the Panthers hope their physical nature won’t be the fatal flaw that dooms them in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

Oilers will win special teams battle

The Edmonton Oilers have a historically good special teams unit. The Oilers could set records in this postseason run with their penalty-killing, owning a 93.9% success rate. However, the Oilers’ penalty kill isn’t what will get the Panthers into trouble in this series. Edmonton’s offensive attack is dynamic. They may not have the same depth as the Panthers, but their top-end talent reigns supreme. The Oilers can release a powerplay unit featuring Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Zach Hyman. When looking at the points leaders for this postseason, those players are numbers one, two, three, four, and seven on the list. Unsurprisingly, their powerplay operated at a 37.3% rate through the first three rounds.

The Oilers’ dynamic powerplay is where the Panthers’ hard-nosed style of play comes in. The Panthers are the most-penalized team in the playoffs, recording 207 penalty minutes through the first three series. The number is 16 more than the next-closest team. The next closest is the Boston Bruins, thanks to a physical series between these teams in Round 2. The Panthers will try to drag the Oilers into the fight like they did to the Bruins, but other than Evander Kane, many of the Oilers’ top players won’t bite. If the Panthers aren’t careful, the Oilers will let them take plenty of penalties to capitalize on special teams.

Can the Panthers overcome the penalties? Despite playing the Rangers and Lightning, two of the top three powerplay units from the regular season, the Panthers have the second-best penalty kill percentage in the postseason. However, the Oilers’ top unit is at a different level, and if the Panthers are wise, they won’t tempt fate.

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