Two games into the Stanley Cup Final, and it’s more clear than ever why the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers are the last teams standing.

It’s a battle of heavyweights. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier. Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield. The list goes on and on. Both Games 1 and 2 have gone to overtime as both teams have traded blow-for-blow, but with Games 3 and 4 in Florida, they could be key to determining who hoists the Stanley Cup.

And while we wait for Monday night, I rounded up some of Oilersnation’s writers for a little round table.

Zach Laing: I think so. The pairing of Darnell Nurse and Brett Kulak has had a tough go of it, and while the latter of the two has shown he can play the right side at times in the past, that doesn’t seem to be the case now. Let’s see how Jake Walman fares trying to do the same now.

Cam Lewis: Now that the series has shifted over to Florida, the Oilers are going to have to play a more conservative and defensive style, so it makes sense to try a different look for Game 3. The pairing of Darnell Nurse and Brett Kulak struggled in the first two games of this series, and the Oilers can’t wait forever to make a change.

Baggedmilk: I think the Nurse/Kulak pairing was getting caved, and if Knoblauch wasn’t planning to bring Stecher back in, then something needed to change. I thought they might put Walman with Nurse and Kulak with Klingberg, but I’m going to go ahead and trust Knobby’s judgement here.

Tyler Yaremchuk: It really was. The Nurse/Kulak pairing was really struggling with getting the puck up ice and as much as partnering Nurse with Bouchard worries me, you couldn’t just run back a pairing that has struggled in back to back games.

I would have preferred to see Kulak with Bouchard since we saw earlier in the playoffs that it works, but I can see why Knoblauch took things in this direction. Hopefully Nurse is up for the challenge of being on the top pairing.

Zach Laing: For me, it’s Trent Frederic. He’s had a few moments where he’s looked good, but he’s felt like somewhat of a non-factor throughout the playoffs. Part of me wonders if his injured ankle is still causing him problems.

Cam Lewis: If we had done this a little earlier, my answer would have been Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who doesn’t have any points through two games against the Panthers after an excellent showing in the Western Conference Final. But now that we know he’s a game-time decision for Game 3, the Oilers could be looking for other players to step up in his absence.

Baggedmilk: Trent Frederic. He has the same number of goals as Jeff Skinner despite playing 16 more games. I also need more out of Nuge, but today’s news that he’s questionable may make that a little harder than anticipated.

Tyler Yaremchuk: I thought Adam Henrique had some really nice games in the early rounds but he’s been pretty invisible through two games of this Cup final.

I mentioned him as an under the radar player coming into the series and I’d love to see him find a way to contribute.

Zach Laing: Continue to wear down the Panthers’ big guns. Florida is doing things the Oilers have seen against other teams in these playoffs, in that they’re really shortening the bench. Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling, Seth Jones and Nikko Mikkola have already played a ton of hockey in this series. Florida isn’t really using their fourth line much at all.

Cam Lewis: Just take things one game at a time. Just like the Panthers had to forget blowing a 3-1 lead before losing in overtime in Game 1, the Oilers need to forget the double overtime victory in Game 2. This is a heavyweight matchup in the Stanley Cup Final and each game is going to be its own battle.

Baggedmilk: Take better care of the puck. The Oilers got carved in the second period because of sloppy execution on the breakout, and that cannot happen. Oh, and maybe don’t allow at least one breakaway per period. Please.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Cleaner zone exits. They cannot keep giving the Panthers second, third and fourth opportunities in the offensive zone.

Clean exits, less icings and attacking the Panthers blue line with speed will lead to less stress in the d-zone and more scoring chances at the other end. Simple as that.

Zach Laing: Sam Bennet for the Panthers and Evan Bouchard for the Oilers.

Cam Lewis: Leon Draisaitl is making a great case for himself with three goals in the first two games of the series, while Sam Bennett seems like the clear choice for Florida with his playoffs-leading 13 goals. Both goalies have looked very solid so far, as well.

Baggedmilk: McDavid is the answer. Now we need the series result to match the individual win.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Connor McDavid and Sam Bennett but I will say, if Leon Draisaitl can have a few strong games his case will get pretty interesting.

Probably need like 2 more multi-goal games and another big signature moment though.

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.