For the second season in a row, the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will meet within the Stanley Cup Ultimate. Florida received the Cup final season in seven video games.
Forward of Recreation 1 Wednesday in Edmonton (8 p.m. ET; SN, CBC, TVAS, TNT, truTV, Max), we mixed the groups and ranked one of the best 10 gamers in inverse order.
10. Niko Mikkola, D, Florida Panthers
Season: 76 video games, six objectives, 16 assists | Playoffs: 16 video games, three objectives, two assists
It is a testomony to how a lot expertise is on this collection that you possibly can choose six or seven different gamers for this spot, however Mikkola upping his recreation through the playoffs and taking part in a essential position on Florida’s second pair and penalty kill lands him within the prime 10. He’s a powerful plus-7 at 5-on-5 within the postseason, and Florida has allowed solely three objectives in 35 minutes of penalty-killing time with him on the ice.
9. Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Florida Panthers
Season: 33-19-2, .905 save share, 2.44 GAA, 5 shutouts | Playoffs: 12-5-0, .912 save share, 2.11 GAA, three shutouts
“Bob” hasn’t fairly had the identical degree of flash throughout this playoff run for Florida, however he is nonetheless reliable. At 36, he’s the oldest goalie to start out a recreation this postseason.
8. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C/W, Edmonton Oilers
Season: 78 video games, 20 objectives, 29 assists | Playoffs: 16 video games, 5 objectives, 13 assists
His offensive numbers withered through the common season, however Nugent-Hopkins spent a lot of the Western Convention Ultimate reminding the league that he is nonetheless a harmful participant solely two years faraway from his solely 100-point common season.
7. Matthew Tkachuk, W, Florida Panthers
Season: 52 video games, 22 objectives, 35 assists | Playoffs: 17 video games, 5 objectives, 11 assists, 16 factors
Beneath regular circumstances, Tkachuk in all probability can be increased on this listing. He has been quiet for stretches throughout these playoffs, maybe as a result of he’s battling accidents. Nonetheless, Tkachuk has discovered methods to be impactful in spurts in his trademark style and nonetheless has offered practically a degree per recreation within the postseason.
6. Evan Bouchard, defenseman, Edmonton Oilers
Season: 82 video games, 14 objectives, 53 assists | Playoffs: 16 video games, six objectives, 11 assists
Few gamers draw the identical degree of debate as Bouchard, a extremely gifted offensive participant with an occasional penchant for defensive lapses. His colossal shot, “The Bouch Bomb,” has in all probability modified the course of those playoffs.
