by
- What: Game 3 of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final
- Who: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Florida Panthers
- Date: Thursday, June 8, 2023
- Location: FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, FL
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: TNT, TBS, truTV, CBC, SN, TVAS
Game 3 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final takes place tonight in Sunrise, Florida. The home team, the 2023 NHL Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers, look to avoid going down 0-3 to the Western Conference’s Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas won the first game of this year’s Stanley Cup Final 5-2. The Golden Knights topped the Panthers in Game 2, 7-2, chasing Florida’s starting goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky, out of the net after he gave up four goals on 13 shots.
During the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, Vegas has played the same team-first game that served the squad so well over the 2023 NHL regular season and throughout the first rounds of the 2023 NHL Playoffs. The Panthers have also played the same tenacious and gritty style that led to upset wins in the early rounds of the playoffs, where they topped the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Carolina Hurricanes. However, Vegas has not allowed the Panthers to get under their skin.
Game 3 is an important one for the Panthers. In NHL history, 203 teams have faced a 3-0 series deficit. Only four of those teams have come back to win the series. The only team to do so in the Stanley Cup Final was the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.
Before we look at Game 3 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final series between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers, check out the best sites for NHL betting and our guide to betting on the 2023 Stanley Cup.
2023 Stanley Cup Final Game 3 betting picks
| To Win 2023 Stanley Cup Final Game 3 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +108 | +105 | +105 | +105 | +101 |
| Florida Panthers | -119 | -125 | -125 | -125 | -123 |
Vegas Golden Knights Game 3 Stanley Cup final betting breakdown
The Vegas Golden Knights are a deep and balanced team. They don’t care who puts the puck in the net, and they don’t rely on specific players to do so. In the NHL Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars, each of the 19 players who suited up for Vegas had at least one point. With defenseman Alec Martinez scoring a goal in Game 2, the Golden Knights are tied with the Seattle Kraken for most individual goal scorers in the playoffs with 18. In the first two games of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, Vegas has had 15 of its 18 players score at least one point.
Jack Eichel may not have a goal since the Golden Knight’s first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers, but he is tied for the team lead in scoring against the Florida Panthers with four points. One of the better players with or without the puck, Eichel is an essential cog in the Golden Knights’ machine. When he left the ice in Game 2 after a Matthew Tkachuk hit, there was some worry. However, he returned to play the rest of the game and will be in the lineup in Game 3. One of the original Golden Knights, Jonathan Marchessault, has elevated his game in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. Marchessault has picked up three goals in the first two games of the series.
Vegas goaltender Adin Hill has been excellent in the postseason. The free-agent-to-be has a 9-3 record in the Stanley Cup playoffs with a .937 save percentage and a 2.06 goals against average.
Florida Panthers Game 2 Stanley Cup final betting breakdown
The Florida Panthers are in a rough spot, down 0-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. Teams who held a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup playoffs have posted a series record of 347-55. In the Stanley Cup Final, teams with a 2-0 lead have lifted the Stanley Cup 48 out of 53 times. This postseason, teams that were up 2-0 are 5-1. Florida needs to come out fast and aggressive and put the Golden Knights on their heels. Establishing a lead and a physical game are essential to the Panthers.
Florida’s power play was solid in the first rounds of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. The team was clicking on 28 percent of its chances. The Panthers have yet to score a power-play goal in the Stanley Cup Final, where they are 0-7. If the Panthers can’t capitalize with the man advantage, this series will continue to be difficult.
Some good news for Florida? Since 2000, teams who have been 0-2 in their Stanley Cup Final matchup have gone 10-2 when playing at home in Game 3.
2023 Stanley Cup Final Schedule
- Game 3 (at FLA): Thurs., June 8, 8 p.m. (TNT)
- Game 4 (at FLA): Sat., June 10, 8 p.m. (TNT)
- Game 5 (at VGK): Tues., June 13, 8 p.m. (TNT)
- Game 6 (at FLA): Fri., June 16, 8 p.m. (TNT)
- Game 7 (at VGK): Mon., June 19, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Best bets to win Game 3 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final
Things look bleak for the Florida Panthers, but there is some hope in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. They have been getting more shots and better shots than the Vegas Golden Knights. Expect them to be more aggressive when they get in the zone in Game 3, and look for veteran goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to have a bounce-back performance. What they can’t do is take unnecessary penalties. That has to be the one big change on the Florida side of the ledger. They need to be aggressive but smart. The best bet is for the Panthers to win Game 3 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final at home.
Best 2023 Stanley Cup Final Game 3 betting pick: Florida Panthers to beat Vegas Golden Knights
See below a list of reliable sportsbooks and choose the best one for you.
