The Florida Panthers, defending Stanley Cup champions, will host the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Thursday, seeking to build on their 2-1 series advantage. After a dominant 6-1 win on Monday, the Panthers are determined to avoid the close call they faced last postseason when nearly losing a 3-0 series lead to Edmonton in the Final.
Strong Offensive Performances Drive Panthers’ Success
In Game 3, Carter Verhaeghe, Evan Rodrigues, and Sam Reinhart each contributed a goal and an assist, continuing Florida’s trend of prolific scoring. The Panthers have scored at least five goals in 11 of their 14 playoff victories and in each of the last eight games. Sam Bennett leads with 14 goals, maintaining a four-game goal streak, while Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad also scored in the rout.
Sam Bennett’s Pursuit of Playoff Goal Record
At 28 years old, Bennett has tallied 21 goals over the last two postseasons in just 39 games and is just five goals shy of tying the NHL record for most goals in a single playoff year. This record was originally set by Reggie Leach of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1976 and later matched by Jari Kurri of the Edmonton Oilers in 1985. Bennett and Marchand are the second pair of teammates in NHL history to enter a Stanley Cup Final with a goal-scoring streak of at least three games, joining Steve Payne and Dino Ciccarelli of the 1981 Minnesota North Stars.
Oilers Face Challenges Despite Depth in Scoring
Corey Perry scored Edmonton’s only goal in Game 3, marking his fifth straight game with points after a prior drought. The Oilers have showcased impressive depth, becoming only the ninth NHL team to have 20 different goal scorers in a single postseason. However, superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were both held off the scoresheet for the first time this playoffs, ending their impressive seven- and eight-game point streaks. McDavid leads the postseason with 31 points, including 11 multi-point games, just one away from matching his personal playoff high in a single year. Draisaitl trails closely behind with a career-best 10 multi-point games last postseason and is just a few points shy of McDavid in the current playoffs.
Key Defensive Contributions from Evan Bouchard
Evan Bouchard has played a significant role for the Oilers, contributing one goal and four assists in the series thus far. The 25-year-old leads all defensemen in this year’s playoffs with seven goals, 15 assists, and a total of 22 points, helping balance Edmonton’s offensive efforts.
Historical Stakes and Potential Milestones in the Series
The Panthers seek to join only the 1979 Montreal Canadiens and the 1985 Oilers as teams that overcame a series deficit in the Final to win back-to-back championships. Meanwhile, the Oilers are striving to become the first Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens’ 1993 victory, adding an extra layer of urgency to the rematch.
Top NHL Player Prop Bets for Game 4
Following strong performances in recent games, several players have become intriguing candidates for NHL player prop bets in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Nate Schmidt’s Playmaking Impact for Florida
Nate Schmidt has been a surprising standout for the Panthers this postseason. The 33-year-old defenseman ranks third in the league with nine assists over 20 playoff games, matching his total from the previous three postseasons combined. Schmidt has recorded five assists in the series and has an opportunity to tie the longest assist streak by a defenseman to start a Stanley Cup Final since 1968 if he assists on Thursday.
Carter Verhaeghe’s Consistent Offensive Production
Verhaeghe has kept his momentum rolling into Game 4, entering with a three-game assist streak where he tallied four helpers. The 29-year-old center has reached a playoff career-high 12 assists, just behind co-leaders Matthew Tkachuk and Evan Rodrigues. Notably, since the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, Verhaeghe has recorded at least one assist in five straight postseason games against the Oilers.
Corey Perry’s Veteran Scoring Streak
Veteran Corey Perry remains an offensive threat for Edmonton, ranking fifth on the team with 13 points this playoff season, his best total since 2015. At age 40, Perry is aiming to return for a 21st NHL season in 2025-26. After scoring in five consecutive games following a scoreless slump, Perry has established a rhythm, having also gained points in five of his last seven playoff games against the Panthers dating back to last year’s Final.
Evan Rodrigues Emerges as a Prime Player Prop Pick
Evan Rodrigues has transformed his slow postseason start into a powerful scoring run. After managing only one assist in his first seven playoff games, the 31-year-old center has since gathered 14 points across 11 games. Rodrigues enters Game 4 with a four-game point streak, including two goals and three assists, and has scored in eight of his last nine outings. In the 2024 Final rematch with Edmonton, Rodrigues notched points in five of seven games, continuing to prove his value as a clutch performer. His consistent impact positions him as a leading figure for the Evan Rodrigues top NHL player prop bet heading into Thursday’s contest.
Looking Ahead in the Stanley Cup Series
The Panthers aim to leverage their recent momentum and home-ice advantage to edge closer to consecutive championships, while the Oilers need adjustments to halt Florida’s offensive advances. How players like Rodrigues, Bennett, McDavid, and Perry perform in Game 4 will be critical in shaping the path to the Stanley Cup, making the upcoming matchup a pivotal moment in this intense rematch.