Will Oilers beat Panthers in Game 3? | Patrick Cantlay leads at U.S. Open

Good afternoon, sports fans.

The Stanley Cup Final resumes tonight with the series in Edmonton for Games 3 and 4. The Panthers hold a 2-0 series lead, but the Oilers are hoping that home ice and a taxing flight north of the border for their opponent could potentially help turn the tide in the series. While Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov was injured when he was hit up high by Leon Draisaitl in Game 2, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice confirmed that Barkov will play. Consider this a sneak preview for the type of expert analysis and insight you will receive as a SportsLine subscriber.

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All times Eastern |Game odds via SportsLineconsensus

PATRICK CANTLAY SITS ATOP U.S. OPEN LEADERBOARD

The U.S. Open got underway on Thursday, and Patrick Cantlay currently sits atop the leaderboard with the opening round winding down. Cantlay shot a brilliant 5-under 65 to lead the pack at Pinehurst. Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and others are still on the course, but it's all but certain that this will be the first time that Cantlay has finished Round 1 in the top 10 over his last eight starts at the U.S. Open. Ludvig Aberg also had a tremendous opening round and sits just one shot behind Cantlay after carding a 4-under 66. CBS Sports golf writer Chip Patterson has more on the historic opening rounds that both Cantlay and Aberg put together.

• Patterson: "While the field average is currently a couple strokes over par (and rising), clubhouse leaders Patrick Cantlay and Ludvig Aberg have put together two of the lowest individual rounds in U.S. Open history at this course. Cantlay's 65 ties the record set by Martin Kaymer, who did it twice on the way to winning in 2014, and Ludvig's 66 is tied for 4th along with Daniel Berger (2014) and Peter Hedblom (2005)."
  

Stanley Cup Final -- Game 3: Panthers at Oilers, 8 p.m. | TV: ABC

• The Pick: Oilers (-137)
• Key trend: The Oilers are 4-1 in their last five home games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

SportsLine expert Jeff Hochman is 20-7 in his last 27 NHL picks.

• Hochman: "The Florida Panthers have not played a road game outside the Eastern time zone since March 12th. They experienced a three-hour flight delay due to severe storms and will have to play less than 24 hours after arriving in Canada late Wednesday night. With the Oilers down 2-0 in the series, the urgency and the home crowd will propel Edmonton to victory. Edmonton likely won't commit 45 penalty minutes again, so the Oilers definitely can win this contest."

Here's what else SportsLine is saying about the game:The Projection Model has "A" picks on the spread and total, while having a "B" pick on the moneyline.Get one week of picks from SportsLine completely free with the promo codeNEWSLETTER*.Sign up here to get started!

Cubs at Rays, 6:50 p.m. | TV: MLB.TV

• The Projection: Rays (-101)| Grade: B -- Moderate

SportsLine's Projection Model has "B" grades on the moneyline, spread, and total for the contest. The Rays are 2-1 in their last three games against the Cubs, so we'll back that trend to continue at home in this spot.

SportsLine expert picks:Our staff has combed through the Thursday night MLB slate and offered their best plays as the season continues.Get one week of picks from SportsLine completely free with the promo code NEWSLETTER*.Sign up here to get started!

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