By Joe Coopersmith
NHL Public Relations
* The 2025 Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Oilers and Panthers has no shortage of goals – we’ve seen an average of 7.7 goals per game, which is tracking as the seventh-highest total of a Final series in NHL history.
* Evan Bouchard and Matthew Tkachuk are going head-to-head for the second Stanley Cup Final in a row after winning an OHL championship as teammates in London.
* Lane Hutson was awarded the 2024-25 Calder Memorial Trophy and was surprised with the honor at a dinner surrounded by more than 50 family members and friends.
GOALS, GOALS, GOALS: A STORYLINE FROM THE 2025 STANLEY CUP FINAL
High-scoring games have been a staple of the Stanley Cup Final so far, with the Oilers and Panthers combining for 23 goals and a 7.7 goals-per-game average through the first three contests of the series. Edmonton scored four in the first two games, while Florida posted back-to-back outings with five-plus goals in Games 2 and 3.
* Should the Oilers and Panthers once again combine for at least seven goals, 2025 would mark the third Stanley Cup Final in NHL history to feature teams combine for seven-plus tallies in each of the first four games of the series, following 1980 (6 GP) and 1918 (4 GP).
* The Panthers are leading the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 80 goals for – their most in a postseason in franchise history and seven more than last year when they hoisted their first Stanley Cup. They can become the sixth team in NHL history to score five or more goals in three straight games during a Stanley Cup Final and would join the 2024 Oilers (Game 4-6), 1991 Penguins (Game 4-6), 1984 Oilers (Game 3-5), 1981 Islanders (Game 1-3) and 1932 Maple Leafs (Game 1-3).
BOUCHARD, TKACHUK WON TOGETHER BEFORE FACING OFF IN FINAL
For the second Stanley Cup Final in a row, former teammates Evan Bouchard and Matthew Tkachuk are going head-to-head as key figures in the Stanley Cup Final. The two played together on the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights nine years prior, winning an OHL championship in 2016 when Bouchard was a rookie and Tkachuk was leading the league in playoff goals (20) and penalty minutes (42).
* Bouchard (20-60—80 in 72 GP) and Tkachuk (29-50—79 in 91 GP) have almost identical career point totals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The pair have gone head-to-head in the playoffs 15 times dating to their “Battle of Alberta” days, with Bouchard holding the edge in points (4-9—13 in 15 GP) and overall record (8-7) over Tkachuk (4-5—9 in 15 GP; 7-8 record). When it comes to the Final, Tkachuk has the stronger record (6-4) and a Stanley Cup.
* With an assist in Game 3, Bouchard tied for the fifth-fewest games in NHL history by a defenseman to reach 80 career playoff points. In Game 2, he became the sixth-fastest blueliner (tied) in NHL history to 20 career playoff goals. Bouchard (1-4—5) is tied for the scoring lead in the 2025 Final and has recorded a point in all three contests.
NHL DRAFT LOOK AHEAD: OHL COULD PRODUCE FIRST NO. 1 PICK IN A DECADE
Four of the top six ranked North American skaters for the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft played in the Ontario Hockey League in 2024-25, as the league looks to produce its first No. 1 selection since Connor McDavid in 2015.
* In addition to three of the highly ranked OHL prospects who appeared at Game 3 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, Matthew Schaefer (No. 1 N.A. skater), Michael Misa (No. 2 N.A. skater) and Jake O’Brien (No. 4 N.A. skater), another OHL standout could hear his name called early in Round 1: Brampton Steelheads forward Porter Martone.
* Martone served as captain of his junior team in 2024-25, and concluded the season seventh in OHL scoring (tied) with 37-61—98 in 57 games. Internationally, Martone was one of three draft-eligible players named to Canada’s 2025 World Junior Championship team (1-0—1 in 3 GP) and represented Canada again, alongside Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon, at the 2025 World Championship (2 GP). In 2024, Martone captained Canada to a gold medal at the 2024 Under-18 World Championship.
* In total, the OHL/OHA has produced a record 20 first overall picks in the NHL Draft, followed by the QMJHL/QJHL (12), WHL/WCHL (9) and NCAA/U.S. College Hockey (4). The last two No. 1 selections out of the OHL are both participating in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final: McDavid (2014) and Aaron Ekblad (2015).
* The 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft will return to Los Angeles for a second time when hockey’s top prospects descend on L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater starting with the opening round on June 27 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN+, Sportsnet, TVA Sports), followed by rounds two through seven on June 28 at 12 p.m. ET (NHL Network, ESPN+, Sportsnet, SN1).
HUTSON TAKES HOME CALDER TROPHY
Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson is the 2024-25 recipient of the Calder Memorial Trophy, presented “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition,” as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Hutson was surprised with the trophy at a dinner attended by more than 50 family members and friends – many of whom flew in secretly from out of town – to celebrate his first NHL season.
* The 21-year-old became the Canadiens’ second Calder recipient in the expansion era (since 1967-68) after goaltender Ken Dryden (1971-72). As the first choice on 165 of the 191 ballots and a unanimous top-two pick, Hutson was a dominant winner with 1,832 voting points. Click here for the full release including voting results.
QUICK CLICKS
* Oilers remain confident, ‘not going crazy’ entering Game 4 of Cup Final
* Jake Walman fined $10,000 for actions in Stanley Cup Final Game 3
* Connor McDavid‘s Cup quest reminiscent of Ferguson’s with Canadiens in 1965
* EDGE stats: Sam Bennett’s case for Conn Smythe Trophy with Panthers
* Sam Bennett displays competitive edge for Panthers in Game 3 win against Oilers
COURTESY NHL PUBLIC RELATIONS
