'We're stronger': Oilers better prepared for Panthers' physical play in this year's final, coach says

Kris Knoblauch pushed back at the notion his team had been bullied in last year's Stanley Cup final.

The Edmonton Oilers head coach also agreed the group is better suited to face the Florida Panthers some 11½ months later.

"We're a more physical team," he said. "We're bigger, we're stronger."

The Oilers showed that in Game 1 of the 2025 title series. They have no intention of backing down.

Edmonton delivered punishing blows to Florida's defence in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime victory, including a number of big hits on Panthers blueliner Aaron Ekblad, who played more than 33 minutes to top all skaters.

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Knoblauch said his team "accepted that challenge and the physicality" in last June's seven-game Cup loss to the Panthers. The reality, however, is the Oilers are more physically ready to face the same opponent.

Edmonton is minus winger Zach Hyman (dislocated wrist), but has a trainers' room that's otherwise largely unoccupied.

Bruising winger Evander Kane sat out the final five games of the 2024 final before missing the entire regular-season following abdominal and knee surgeries. The Oilers also added size and toughness up front with the acquisitions of Trent Frederic, Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen.

The hits sat at 51-51 when Leon Draisaitl ended the opener on an OT power play, but Knoblauch said it's about more than just making life uncomfortable against an opponent that does it better than most.

"It's important that not only you're finishing your checks, you have that physical presence, but winning a lot of battles," he said. "The bigger you are, typically you're stronger, you're winning more pucks."

Kane said his group has shown in this post-season it's