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After two games of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are knotted at one game apiece — essentially turning this series into a best-of-five.

With Game 3 on the horizon Monday night (8 p.m. ET, TNT/Max), which team will inch ahead two games to one?

Here are notes on the matchup from ESPN Research, as well as betting intel from ESPN BET:

More from Game 2: Recap | Grades

Matchup notes

Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers
Game 3 | 8 p.m. ET | TNT/Max

With the series tied 1-1, the Panthers are now slight favorites to win the Cup according to ESPN BET; their odds are now -115, compared to -105 for the Oilers. Connor McDavid remains atop the Conn Smythe Trophy odds board at +105, followed by Sergei Bobrovsky (+350), Sam Bennett (+400) and Leon Draisaitl (+650).

The Panthers’ win in Game 2 was their ninth on the road this postseason, setting a franchise mark for road wins in a single playoff run. They are now one road win shy of tying the NHL record, which has been done six times before, most recently by the 2019 St. Louis Blues.

This is the third time the Oilers have been tied 1-1 through two games of a Stanley Cup Final. They won Game 3 and the Cup Final on both previous occasions (1984 vs. the New York Islanders, 1985 vs. the Philadelphia Flyers).

Brad Marchand‘s overtime winner in Game 2 was his fifth career OT goal in the Stanley Cup playoffs, which ties him with Edmonton’s Corey Perry, teammate Carter Verhaeghe, Patrick Kane and Glenn Anderson for third all time. Only Maurice Richard (six) and Joe Sakic (eight) have more.

Florida’s Bennett scored the opening goal in Game 2 on the power play, his 12th road goal this postseason, which sets a new NHL record.

Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 42 saves for the second straight game, becoming the fifth goalie in NHL history to have 40 or more saves in back-to-back Stanley Cup Final games; the others are Henrik Lundqvist in 2014, Ed Belfour in 2000, Rogie Vachon in 1967 and Don Simmons in 1958.

Draisaitl scored his 22nd career power-play goal in the playoffs, moving him into a tie with Jari Kurri and Glenn Anderson for the second most in Oilers history behind Wayne Gretzky (23). Draisaitl’s goal was his 10th of the postseason, making him the third player in NHL history with at least 10 goals in three consecutive postseasons — joining Mike Bossy (four from 1980 to 1983) and Gretzky (three from 1983 to 1985).

Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard scored his 20th career playoff goal in his 71st playoff game, tying Cale Makar for the fastest defenseman to 20 career playoff goals among active blueliners. Only six defensemen have scored 20 playoff goals faster: Paul Coffey (48), Brian Leetch (49), Bobby Orr (50), Denis Potvin (52), Al MacInnis (70) and Paul Reinhart (70).

McDavid assisted on Draisaitl’s and Bouchard’s goals in the first period of Game 2, giving him his 33rd career multi-assist playoff game, breaking a tie with Sidney Crosby, Doug Gilmour and Ray Bourque for the third most multi-assist playoff games in NHL history, behind Gretzky (72) and Mark Messier (40).


Scoring leaders

GP: 19 | G: 13 | A: 6

GP: 18 | G: 6 | A: 25


Best bets for Game 3

Niko Mikkola total blocked shots; over 1.5 (+145): Already having spent almost half an hour on the ice against Connor McDavid in the first two games and currently winning the all-strengths goals differential head-to-head at 3-2 against him, Mikkola and Seth Jones should continue to see a healthy dose of McDavid now that the Panthers have last change on home ice.

Eetu Luostarinen total goals; over 0.5 (+600): If anyone is due for a tally, it’s the third member of the Panthers’ third line. Per NaturalStatTrick, Luostarinen is second to Sam Reinhart in overall scoring chances and leads the team in high-danger scoring chances across the first two games.

Connor McDavid total goals; over 0.5 (+135): Speaking of being due for a goal, McDavid and Evan Bouchard have combined for 26 shots on goal across 66:19 of total ice time in the first two games of the series. Bouchard has 15 of those shots and a goal to show for it, but McDavid is primed for a tally of his own.

Panthers to win by shutout (10-1): Though McDavid feels due to score, the Panthers playing their smothering defensive game on home ice does have a shutout feel to it. Sergei Bobrovsky has a shutout in each of the previous three rounds, after all. — Sean Allen

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Former White Sox pitcher, world champ Jenks dies

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Former White Sox pitcher, world champ Jenks dies

Bobby Jenks, a two-time All-Star pitcher for the Chicago White Sox who was on the roster when the franchise won the 2005 World Series, died Friday in Sintra, Portugal, the team announced.

Jenks, 44, who had been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer, this year, spent six seasons with the White Sox from 2005 to 2010 and also played for the Boston Red Sox in 2011. The reliever finished his major league career with a 16-20 record, 3.53 ERA and 173 saves.

“We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family today,” White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “None of us will ever forget that ninth inning of Game 4 in Houston, all that Bobby did for the 2005 World Series champions and for the entire Sox organization during his time in Chicago. He and his family knew cancer would be his toughest battle, and he will be missed as a husband, father, friend and teammate. He will forever hold a special place in all our hearts.”

After Jenks moved to Portugal last year, he was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. That eventually spread into blood clots in his lungs, prompting further testing. He was later diagnosed with adenocarcinoma and began undergoing radiation.

In February, as Jenks was being treated for the illness, the White Sox posted “We stand with you, Bobby” on Instagram, adding in the post that the club was “thinking of Bobby as he is being treated.”

In 2005, as the White Sox ended an 88-year drought en route to the World Series title, Jenks appeared in six postseason games. Chicago went 11-1 in the playoffs, and he earned saves in series-clinching wins in Game 3 of the ALDS at Boston, and Game 4 of the World Series against the Houston Astros.

In 2006, Jenks saved 41 games, and the following year, he posted 40 saves. He also retired 41 consecutive batters in 2007, matching a record for a reliever.

“You play for the love of the game, the joy of it,” Jenks said in his last interview with SoxTV last year. “It’s what I love to do. I [was] playing to be a world champion, and that’s what I wanted to do from the time I picked up a baseball.”

A native of Mission Hills, California, Jenks appeared in 19 games for the Red Sox and was originally drafted by the then-Anaheim Angels in the fifth round of the 2000 draft.

Jenks is survived by his wife, Eleni Tzitzivacos, their two children, Zeno and Kate, and his four children from a prior marriage, Cuma, Nolan, Rylan and Jackson.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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In search of infield options, Yanks add Candelario

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In search of infield options, Yanks add Candelario

NEW YORK — The New York Yankees, digging for options to bolster their infield, have signed third baseman Jeimer Candelario to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the affiliate announced Saturday.

Candelario, 31, was released by the Cincinnati Reds on June 23, halfway through a three-year, $45 million contract he signed before the start of last season. The decision was made after Candelario posted a .707 OPS in 2024 and batted .113 with a .410 OPS in 22 games for the Reds before going on the injured list in April with a back injury.

The performance was poor enough for Cincinnati to cut him in a move that Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall described as a sunk cost.

For the Yankees, signing Candelario is a low-cost flier on a player who recorded an .807 OPS just two seasons ago as they seek to find a third baseman to move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base, his natural position.

Candelario is the second veteran infielder the Yankees have signed to a minor league contract in the past three days; they agreed to terms with Nicky Lopez on Thursday.

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Dodgers’ Snell pitches to hitters, ‘looked good’

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Dodgers' Snell pitches to hitters, 'looked good'

LOS ANGELES — Pitchers Blake Snell and Blake Treinen are progressing toward a return for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Snell and Treinen each faced hitters Saturday, and Snell pitched two innings. Each could begin a rehab assignment after the All-Star break.

The 32-year-old Snell has pitched in two games for the Dodgers following his five-year, $182 million free agent deal after spending last season with the San Francisco Giants and three before that with the San Diego Padres. He is a two-time Cy Young Award winner.

“(Snell) looked good. He looked really good,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I don’t know what the velo was but the ball was coming out really well. He used his entire pitch mix. I thought the delivery was clean, sharp, so really positive day.”

The Dodgers’ starting rotation has been injury-prone this season but is starting to get a boost from Shohei Ohtani, the two-way superstar who is working as an opener in his return from elbow surgery.

Treinen is looking to get back to his role in the back end of the bullpen. He threw one inning Saturday.

“Blake Treinen I thought was really good as well,” Roberts said. “Both those guys should be ready at some point in time shortly after the All-Star break.”

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