Stanley Cup finals set with the Edmonton Oilers taking on the Florida Panthers

[True Dough]

The Panthers, an NHL expansion team in 1993, are making their third appearance in the finals, having advanced last year (lost to the Vegas Golden Knights) and in 1996. Florida has never won the Cup.

The Oilers last made it to the championship round in 2006 and last won Lord Stanley's Cup in 1990, defeating the Boston Bruins.

Florida opened at -125 to win the Cup, with Edmonton coming in as +105 underdogs, per ESPN BET odds.

Game 1 is set for Saturday, June 6th, at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

[FarPoint]

1. My grandson lives in Edmonton Alberta Canada now..

He is a Chef from Ohio....looks like he will be real busy with the playoffs. Funny thing is his sister lives in Naples near Miami where the Pathers NHL team is....

[Xavier Breath]

2. I would like to see the cup return to Canada

for the first time in 31 years. Outside of that, I don't have much of a rooting interest. Haven't watch a final since the Kings repeated back in '14, but I'll tune in for this one.

[Different Drummer]

3. The respective successes of the Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning...

in recent seasons just goes to show that hockey can and does thrive in the Sun Belt. I have no rooting interest in the Stanley Cup since my home market of Atlanta hasn't had a team since the Atlanta Thrashers became the Winnipeg Jets 2.0. I could go on a long rant about the inadequacies of the ownership of the two NHL franchises Atlanta has had over the years, but I won't.

[True Dough]

10. It's interesting, isn't it

that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman largely sets the agenda for where the league expands and he's so fond of American markets where the fanbase doesn't love the team. Florida is one. They have had horrible attendance during the regular season for years.

Arizona was another.

I'm not familiar enough with the circumstances in Atlanta. If the fans were driven away by terrible ownership, I lay that squarely at the feet of Bettman as well. He and his cronies should have vetted the ownership more closely.

That said, the NHL has largely thrived during his tenure despite those missteps, which helps explain why he's lasted so long in the role.

[LisaM]

4. I would love to see Edmonton win.

I think it's good for hockey to have a Canadian team in the finals.

I don't see how teams in the South can even host games this time of year, when the temperatures outside are so brutally hot. The amount of energy used to keep the ice up in Florida must be obscene.

[Xavier Breath]

5. They've come a long way with the ice texhnology over the years.

I remember an outdoor game played in Las Vegas back in the '90s, with the high temp that day to match the decade. It makes for softer ice and a slower game, but it can be done. They're having an outdoor game in Columbus next year in March, when it's usually 52 and rainy. So, good luck to them with that.

[LisaM]

6. May as well watch soccer!

Softer ice and a slower game is not exactly a ringing endorsement for having playoff hockey in Florida in June.

[Xavier Breath]

7. There's never a good reason to watch soccer.

I'd watch the proverbial paint dry before I ever did that

I believe they employ the curtain system used by a lot of southern teams, wherein they drop a curtain around the ice sheet a few feet above the surface. Then they close off each exit with a curtain, and the temperature plummets in the arena. Yeah, the ice may be a little slower, but it's a small price to pay to have the Rangers eliminated.

[LisaM]

8. I was rooting for the Rangers!

If the Red Wings aren't in it, I root for other Original Six teams (except Chicago), then the Canadian teams.

[Xavier Breath]

9. Meh, I didn't want the Rangers to win because there's too many ex-CBJ players on the team.

Won't stick around and build something here? Well then, screw you. Hope Breadman and Wennberg enjoyed killing worms on the back nine today

[True Dough]

11. Aaaaaand we'll need a Game 7

on Monday!

Great series!