Game 6 of the SCF goes tonight at 8 pm in Florida. The Panthers could win the Cup at home, or the Oilers might stay alive to get to Game 7. If that game is necessary, it will be on Friday.

Of note, if the series ends tonight the first buyout window opens in 48 hrs, which I think makes it Friday given the way NHL days work. The buyout period runs to 5 pm on June 30.

If you missed it yesterday, Roni Hirvonen has signed to play in Finland.

Hyökkääjä Roni Hirvonen Kärppiin! - Oulun Kärpät
“Signaukset hoitaa Visma Sign!” Kärpät on kiinnittänyt tulevaksi kaudeksi riveihinsä hyökkääjä Roni Hirvosen. Sopimus on yhden vuoden mittainen. 23-vuotias Hirvonen on epoolaisseurojen kasvatti. Keväällä 2019 hän solmi kaksivuotisen Liiga-sopimuksen Porin Ässien kanssa ja saman vuoden syyskuussa hän debytoi Liigassa vain 17-vuotiaana. Kahden Porissa vietetyn kauden jälkeen Hirvonen siirtyi Helsingin IFK:n vahvuuteen. Hirvonen on NHL-seura Toronto […]
Oulun KärpätRiikka Airio

He is a pending RFA, so the Leafs can issue a Qualifying Offer by June 30 and keep their signing rights.

The dismantling of the Toronto Sceptres continues:

They have now lost Sarah Nurse, the top draft picks from last summer, and their best sneaky good player. They need to have a really good draft and to find someone in free agency who can score goals. At time of writing the Sceptres have not signed any free agents. Trades are also possible now, including draft picks, leading into the PWHL draft next week.

I'm including this for you because it has all the teams' first six players in easy to read text format and tells you where they play:

2026 Olympic Men’s Hockey Roster Tracker: Initial lineups unveiled
Follow along as the 12 participating nations at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan announce their initial six roster selections.
Daily FaceoffScott Maxwell

I went looking for something related to the game tonight, but it's all stuff like this:

Mark Masters: McDavid, Oilers need to find another level with Cup in the building | TSN
A reporter asked Connor McDavid how much extra pressure he’s feeling, as the greatest player in the world, to lead the Oilers to a pair of wins this week and claim his first Stanley Cup. “That’s a pretty heavy question,” Edmonton’s captain responded.
TSNMark Masters

I mean, yeah, they need to win. The Cup will be there. Yup.

And as for this, you know I watched Calvin Pickard come in net for the Avs way back a decade ago in a tough situation, and I've been a fan of him ever since. I was thrilled when the Leafs signed him and sad that he had such a down year. And I think there's only one choice in net here. Skins should be ins.

Oilers don’t name starting goalie for Game 6 of Stanley Cup Final
Will the Edmonton Oilers make another goaltending change? On Monday, coach Kris Knoblauch wasn’t ready to answer that question, declining to name a starting goalie for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Sportsnet.caSportsnet Staff

Chucky the Elder talks about his injury:

Panthers’ Tkachuk feeling the best he’s felt since return from injury
With the Panthers one win away from capturing a second consecutive Stanley Cup, Tkachuk said he’s had “some ups and downs” but is feeling the best he’s ever felt ahead of Game 6 against the Edmonton Oilers.
Sportsnet.caSportsnet Staff

But no! It's all a cap circumvention plot, I know because I read it on the internet. (How anyone could have thought that watching him barely play vs the Leafs is beyond me.)

This is a few days old now, but it neatly covers off what Dallas is and is not actually doing. Listening, not offering, for the most part:

Robertson, Marchment in play for Dallas — The Fourth Period
The Stars are listening to calls about Jason Robertson, while also shopping Mason Marchment.
The Fourth PeriodRumours

Moneypuck has the Panthers the heavy favourites tonight, at well more than home-ice advantage gives you (they don't have confirmation on lineups, however, so those numbers will change).

Who you got? Is it over tonight? Or will it go seven?

From The Branches