Oilers vs Panthers Picks and Prediction – 2/28/2025

This Thursday, Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers will travel to Amerant Bank Arena to take on Aleksander Barkov and the Florida Panthers in a high-stakes cross-conference matchup. Get our free NHL Picks all season long! The Oilers, now 34-20-4, are looking to bounce back after a 4-1 loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. McDavid remains the driving force of Edmonton’s offense, but the team will need a better overall performance to avoid back-to-back losses in Florida.

Florida, sitting at 35-21-3, is coming off a 4-1 win against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday but will be without Matthew Tkachuk due to injury. Barkov will be relied upon even more to lead the Panthers’ attack and maintain their strong play at home. Florida’s defensive structure and ability to control possession have made them a tough opponent, especially when playing with the lead.

For Edmonton, creating offensive pressure early and capitalizing on their speed will be crucial. McDavid will need to find open ice and generate scoring chances, while the Oilers’ power play must take advantage of any opportunities. Limiting Florida’s ability to control the puck and slowing down Barkov will also be key to Edmonton’s success.

The Panthers will look to continue their strong defensive play while finding ways to generate offense without Tkachuk. Barkov will need to step up as both a scorer and playmaker, while Florida’s depth will be tested against Edmonton’s high-powered attack. Keeping McDavid in check and forcing Edmonton into mistakes will be essential.

This game sets up a battle between McDavid’s offensive explosiveness and Barkov’s two-way dominance as both sides fight for positioning. While Edmonton has the talent to make this a close game, Florida’s home-ice advantage and defensive stability could give them the upper hand. Final Score Prediction, Florida Panthers win 6-2.