Tag: NHL Playoffs best bets

Stanley Cup Final: Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers Game 7 odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Monday’s Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers meet Monday for the decisive Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Puck drop from Amerant Bank Arena is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Oilers vs. Panthers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

The Panthers fired out to a 3-0 series lead, including a 3-0 win in Game 1 and a 4-1 victory in Game 2 on home ice. However, with a chance to put the Oilers away in Game 4, Edmonton pounded Florida 8-1.

In Game 5, the Panthers had a chance to secure the Stanley Cup on home ice, but lost 5-3. The Oilers forced the series back to Edmonton for Game 6, and they posted a 5-1 win to set up a winner-take-all Game 7 in South Florida.

After being outscored in the first 3 games by an 11-4 margin, the Oilers have outpaced the Panthers 8-5 in the past 3 outings, and now Edmonton goes for the reverse sweep.

The last time the Stanley Cup Final was decided in 7 games was 2019, when the St. Louis Blues went on the road to top the Boston Bruins. Prior to that, the Bruins won in 7 games in 2011 against the Vancouver Canucks. The home team is 7-2 in the past 9 Stanley Cup Final Game 7s dating back to 1971.

The Under has cashed at an 8-0-1 pace in the past 9 Game 7s in a Stanley Cup Final, and there have been 5 or fewer goals in 14 consecutive Game 7s in the final round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The last time we had more than 5 goals in a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final was a 4-3 victory by the Detroit Red Wings over the New York Rangers in 2OT April 23, 1950.

Oilers at Panthers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:56 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Oilers -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Panthers -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
  • Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Oilers +1.5 (-275) | Panthers -1.5 (+220)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 5 (O: -160 | U: +120)

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Oilers at Panthers projected goalies

Stuart Skinner (14-8-0, 2.47 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO — 2024 playoffs) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (15-8-0, 2.38 GAA, .903 SV%, 2 SO — 2024 playoffs)

Skinner turned aside 20 of the 21 shots he faced in Game 6 in Edmonton, and he has allowed just 5 goals on 86 shots, good for a 1.67 GAA and .942 SV% in the 3 victories.

Bobrovsky has dropped 3 straight starts in the postseason for the first time, and he has allowed 3 or more goals in 4 consecutive starts. He is a dismal 0-3-0 with a 5.06 GAA and .793 SV%.

It’s rather unusual, but Bobrovsky was not on the ice for practice Sunday. Coach Paul Maurice said it was an attempt to get Bobrovsky back into rhythm, as he did not practice on the day before games earlier in the playoffs.

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Oilers at Panthers picks and predictions

Prediction

Oilers 2, Panthers 1

Moneyline

The OILERS (-110) are worth a look in Game 7, as they look to complete the reverse sweep after falling into an 0-3 series hole. Edmonton is looking to become the first team since the Toronto Maple Leafs erased an 0-3 series deficit in the 1945 Stanley Cup Final.

Skinner, the 25-year-old Edmonton native, has allowed just 5 goals in the past 3 games. This could potentially be the first game of the series to be decided in overtime, but all of the momentum is on Edmonton’s side right now.

Puck line/Against the spread

The Oilers +1.5 (-275) will set you back nearly 3 times your potential return, if you just don’t believe Edmonton can complete the historic comeback and you need a little bit of insurance instead.

The Panthers -1.5 (+220) can’t be trusted, though, as they haven’t won by 2 or more goals since Game 2.

PASS.

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Over/Under

UNDER 5 (+120) is a solid value at plus-money.

Yes, the Over has cashed in each of the past 4 games, including 3 elimination games for the Oilers. But, we haven’t seen an Over result in 14 consecutive Games 7s in the Stanley Cup Final dating back to 1950, when the Red Wings and Rangers combined for 7 goals in a 2OT classic.

With powerful offenses and solid power-play units on both sides, playing an Under with such a low number is risky, but historically, scoring is at a premium in a Game 7 to decided a champion, and that’s 74 years of history you’d be going against with an Over play.

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Stanley Cup Final: Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers Game 6 odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Friday’s Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers Game 6 odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers meet Friday night in Game 6 of their best-of-7 Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers lead the series 3-2. Puck drop from Rogers Place in Edmonton is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Panthers vs. Oilers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

The Panthers are hoping the 3rd time is a charm. After building a 3-0 series lead, Florida has dropped the past 2 games as Edmonton has made this a series again.

The Panthers outscored the Oilers 11-4 in the 1st 3 games, while Edmonton was 0-for-10 on the power play. The Oilers have started to generate some offense on the man advantage, going 1-for-6 in Game 4, an 8-1 victory in Edmonton, and 2-for-5 in Game 5, a 5-3 win in Florida.

Connor McDavid put the Oilers on his back in Game 5, posting 2 goals and 4 points, and he has 3 straight multi-point performances in the past 3 outings, going for 3 goals and 10 points with a plus-5 rating and 3 helpers on the power play. In these playoffs, he has 8 goals and 42 points, smashing Wayne Gretzky’s previous record for assists in a postseason (31, 1988).

The Oilers are trying to force a Game 7 and become only the 2nd team in NHL history to erase an 0-3 hole to win the Stanley Cup Final. The Toronto Maple Leafs did it in 1942, stunning the Detroit Red Wings.

Panthers at Oilers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:09 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Panthers +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Oilers -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
  • Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Panthers +1.5 (-250) | Oilers -1.5 (+200)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

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Panthers at Oilers projected goalies

Sergei Bobrovsky (15-7-0, 2.35 GAA, .906 SV%, 2 SO — 2024 playoffs) vs. Stuart Skinner (13-8-0, 2.54 GAA, .898 SV%, 1 SO — 2024 playoffs)

Bobrovsky was a machine for most of these playoffs, but he has allowed 3 or more goals in 3 straight games, including 9 goals in the past 2 outings on just 39 shots.

It’s the most goals allowed in a 2-game span since allowing 9 goals in Games 3 and 4 of the 1st-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. And it’s the 1st time he has allowed 3 or more goals in 3 straight starts since Jan. 13-19.

Skinner has allowed just 4 goals on 65 shots in the past 2 games, and he has allowed 3 or fewer goals in 7 of his past 8 appearances since Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars.

It’s Skinner’s 1st time with 29 or more saves in consecutive games since Feb. 26-28 during the regular season.

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Panthers at Oilers picks and predictions

Prediction

Oilers 4, Panthers 3

Moneyline

The OILERS (-120) have the best player in the world, and McDavid is single-handedly carrying his team from the worst depths to the verge of forcing a decisive Game 7. It’s been a historic comeback, but there is still a long way to go.

Still, the fact this game is in Edmonton is a good sign. The Oilers offense has come alive with 16 goals in the past 3 games, including 13 in the previous 2 outings, after managing just a single goal in the 1st 2 games in Florida.

Puck line/Against the spread

The Panthers +1.5 (-250) will cost you 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not enough reward if you need some insurance.

PASS.

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Over/Under

OVER 5.5 (-115) is a strong play in Game 6.

Normally, as a series goes along, we see the offense tighten up, the goaltenders reign supreme, and the offense go into a bit of a dormant period. But this series, we’ve seen at least 7 goals in each of the past 3 outings after an average of just 3.5 goals per game in the first 2 installments. Keep striking while the iron is hot.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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Stanley Cup Final: Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers Game 5 odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Tuesday’s Edmonton Oilers Florida Panthers Game 5 odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers meet Tuesday in Game 5 of their best-of-7 Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers lead the series 3-1. Puck drop from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Oilers vs. Panthers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

The Panthers had a chance to secure the Stanley Cup in Canada in Saturday’s Game 4, but the host Oilers had other ideas.

Not only did Edmonton extend its season by at least 1 game, it dominated in an 8-1 victory while chasing Panthers G Sergei Bobrovsky for the 1st time in these playoffs. Bobrovsky allowed just 4 goals on 86 shots in the first 3 games in this series, but the Oilers scored 5 goals on 16 shots in 24:53 of action Saturday, so coach Paul Maurice switched gears with backup Anthony Stolarz entering the game.

The Oilers outshot the Panthers 35-33 in Game 4, but Florida dominated in the hits department with a 49-to-29 advantage. Edmonton finally scored on the power play, although it was still just 1-of-6. Still, the Oilers entered 0-for-10 on the man advantage in the first 3 losses.

C Mattias Janmark got things started with a shorthanded goal 3:11 into the game. He would add an assist on the Oilers’ next goal. C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was the goal scorer on the power play, with helpers from C Connor McDavid and C Leon Draisaitl.

McDavid scored his 1st goal of the series in Game 4, and he ended up with a 4-point night with 3 assists, too. He has 32 assists in the postseason, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s 1988 record of the most in a single playoff run.

All of the offensive support was welcome news for G Stuart Skinner, who turned aside 32 of 33 shots for his 1st victory since Game 6 against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final.

Oilers at Panthers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:06 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Oilers +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Panthers -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
  • Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Oilers +1.5 (-225) | Panthers -1.5 (+180)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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Oilers at Panthers projected goalies

Stuart Skinner (12-8-0, 2.51 GAA, .898 SV%, 1 SO — 2024 playoffs) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (15-6-0, 2.27 GAA, .909 SV%, 2 SO — 2024 playoffs)

As mentioned, Skinner kicked aside 32 of the 33 shots in Game 4. It was his most saves since stopping 33 of 34 shots in the 2-1 Western Conference Final clincher against the Stars in Game 6 June 2. He has allowed 3 or fewer goals in 6 of his past 7 starts.

Bobrovsky is still on track for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the postseason despite the disastrous Game 4 showing. Bob has allowed just 1 goal on 51 shots in 2 home games in this series, and he has allowed 4 goals on 74 shots in the past 3 outings at Amerant Bank Arena.

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Oilers at Panthers picks and predictions

Prediction

Panthers 3, Oilers 2

Moneyline

The PANTHERS (-135) are a good bet to get the job done, securing their 1st Stanley Cup championship in franchise history Tuesday. If you love hockey, it’s always a sad time seeing the 3-foot, 35-pound sterling silver Cup come out of that case, with the 2 men with white gloves carrying it out in all of its glory. That means hockey season is over, and that’s exactly what we’ll get in Game 5.

Puck line/Against the spread

The Oilers +1.5 (-225) will cost 2.25 times your potential return, and that’s a little too expensive if you’re looking for little bit of insurance and you just can’t bring yourself to back Edmonton straight up.

PASS.

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Over/Under

UNDER 5.5 (-115) is the play again in Game 5 after the high-scoring outing last time out.

Edmonton racked up 8 goals in Game 4, but it managed just 1 goal in the first 2 games in South Florida. Expect Bobrovsky to bounce back in a big way in this close-out game.

The Oilers have cashed Under at a 9-4-1 clip in the past 14 postseason games. For the Panthers, the Under is 5-2 in the previous 7 outings, and 10-3 in the past 13 contests.

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Stanley Cup Final: Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers Game 4 odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers Game 4 odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers meet Saturday in Game 4 of their best-of-7 Stanley Cup Final. Panthers lead series 3-0. Puck drop from Rogers Place in Edmonton is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Panthers vs. Oilers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

The Panthers fired out to a 1-0 lead after the first period in Game 3 thanks to a Sam Reinhart even-strength goal, his 9th of the postseason.

In the second period, Warren Foegele energized the crowd at 1:49 to level the score, but Vladimir Tarasenko, Sam Bennett and Aleksander Barkov scored 3 unanswered goals to give Florida a 4-1 lead heading to the room.

In the third, Philip Broberg and Ryan McLeod scored 2 goals to slice Florida’s lead to 4-3, but that’s as close the home side could get.

Now, Edmonton has its back against the wall, and the Lord Stanley’s Cup will be in the building. Will we see Craig Campbell and Phil Pritchard, the Keepers of the Stanley Cup, wearing their white gloves for a presentation of hockey’s famous chalice?

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Panthers at Oilers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Panthers +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Oilers -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
  • Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Panthers +1.5 (-275) | Oilers -1.5 (+220)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)

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Panthers at Oilers projected goalies

Sergei Bobrovsky (15-5-0, 2.07 GAA, .916 SV%, 2 SO — 2024 playoffs) vs. Stuart Skinner (11-8-0, 2.59 GAA, .893 SV%, 1 SO — 2024 playoffs)

Bobrovsky allowed 3 goals on 35 shots in Game 3, but the result in the win-loss category was still the same. He has the Panthers on the verge of the franchise’s 1st-ever Stanley Cup, needing just 1 more victory. He has allowed 4 goals on 86 shots in the 3 games, keeping Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid without a goal in this series.

Skinner allowed 4 goals on just 23 shots in the Game 3 loss on home ice, and he is 0-3 with a 3.13 GAA and .868 SV% in the Stanley Cup Final, which just hasn’t been good enough. However, it would help if his offense would give him a little bit of support, too.

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Panthers at Oilers picks and predictions

Prediction

Oilers 3, Panthers 2

Moneyline

The OILERS (-120) are looking to avoid the broom and force this series back to South Florida for at least 1 more game.

Edmonton can take a lesson out of the playbook of the Dallas Mavericks, who faced a series sweep in the NBA Finals Friday night. The Mavs fired out to a hot start in Game 4, and never looked back. The Oilers need to get off to a big start, and not let the Panthers get anything going. It will be easier said than done.

The Oilers not only need to shut down the Panthers early, and get off on the right foot, but McDavid, Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, etc. need to get going before it’s too late.

Puck line/Against the spread

The Panthers +1.5 (-275) will cost you nearly 3 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not enough reward.

If you like Florida, just play it straight up. Taking the Cats on the puck line for a little insurance is just too expensive and risky.

PASS.

Over/Under

UNDER 5.5 (-120) is the lean in Game 4, but be careful and go with a half-unit play at most.

We had a higher-scoring Game 3, with the first Over of the series. However, the first 2 games went low, and we should see that happen again in Game 4.

The hardest game to win is the last one, and the Panthers could have some nerves trying to get that elusive 16th playoff win. The Oilers will likely take few chances, as they don’t want to commit a miscue allowing the Panthers to have a breakaway and scoring chance to other way to make things more difficult for Edmonton.

We could see a low-scoring game, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see a 1-1 or 2-2 score, with the winner decided in overtime.

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Stanley Cup Final: Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers Game 3 odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Thursday’s Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Edmonton Oilers welcome the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final Thursday. Puck drop from Rogers Place is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ABC).. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Panthers vs. Oilers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

The Panthers have won 5 games in a row and taken a 2-0 series lead after taking down the Oilers 4-1 Monday and covering as -111 home favorites. C Evan Rodrigues found the back of the net twice for Florida while C Anton Lundell dished out 2 assists.

Edmonton has lost back-to-back games after Monday’s loss while failing to cover as a -103 road favorite. D Mattias Ekholm was the only Oilers player to score while C Connor McDavid and D Evan Bouchard were each credited with an assist. The Oilers have scored just 1 goal total in the Final.

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Panthers at Oilers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:55 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Panthers +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Oilers -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
  • Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Panthers +1.5 (-225) | Oilers -1.5 (+185)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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Panthers at Oilers projected goalies

Sergei Bobrovsky (36-17-4, 2.37 GAA, .915 SV%, 6 SO) vs. Stuart Skinner (36-16-5, 2.62 GAA, .905 SV%, 2 SO)

Bobrovsky has been one of the premier goalies in the NHL this season with his wins and GAA each earning him 3rd-best and his 6 SO tied for best. He has allowed just 1 goal in the first 2 games of this series with a .980 SV% in that span. He has allowed more than 2 goals just 1 time in his last 13 appearances.

Skinner was also one of the NHL’s top goalies this season with his wins tied for 3rd-best. He has struggled so far in the Final series allowing 2 or more goals in both games. He has a .888 SV% combined and has allowed 3 or more goals just 2 times in his last 10 appearances.

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Panthers at Oilers picks and predictions

Prediction

Panthers 3, Oilers 2

Moneyline

BET PANTHERS (+115).

The Panthers have started this series on a high note, outscoring the Oilers 7-1 in the first 2 games. They have also won 5 games in a row and have allowed 2 goals or fewer in 9 of their last 10 games. While heading to Edmonton will be a tall task, Florida has won 3 of its last 4 road games during the playoffs. Edmonton is just 3-4 in its last 7 games.

Puck line/Against the spread

PASS.

There is no value on the puck line for the Panthers.

Over/Under

BET UNDER 5.5 (-115).

The Panthers have hit the Under in 9 of their last 10 games while the Oilers have failed to hit the Over in 8 of their last 10. Both games in this series so far have hit Under 5.5 with the Oilers scoring just 1 goal combined. While you can expect a closer matchup Thursday, it will be equally as tough to score for both sides.

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Stanley Cup Final: Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers Game 2 odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Monday’s Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers Game 2 odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers meet Monday in Game 2 of the best-of-7 Stanley Cup Final series, which the Panthers lead 1-0. Puck drop from Amerant Bank Arena is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Oilers vs. Panthers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Florida took Saturday’s opener 3-0 as a -140 home favorite with the Under (5.5) cashing. The Panthers won Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Final by the same score, though it was on the road at the New York Rangers.

Against Edmonton Saturday, Florida C Carter Verhaeghe, the franchise’s leading scorer in Stanley Cup playoff history, netted the game’s 1st goal less than 4 minutes in. C Evan Rodrigues made it a 2-0 early in the 2nd period and C Eetu Luostarinen added an empty-netter late in the 3rd.

On the positive end for the Oilers, they outshot the Panthers 32-18 in Game 1 and have killed off 30 straight penalties. LW Zach Hyman, who leads Edmonton with 14 postseason goals, said after the loss that the key was to “not get frustrated,” adding that he liked his team’s game overall.

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Oilers at Panthers odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 11:43 p.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Oilers +118 (bet $100 to win $118) | Panthers -142 (bet $142 to win $100)
  • Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Oilers +1.5 (-230) | Panthers -1.5 (+188)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Oilers at Panthers projected goalies

Stuart Skinner (11-6-0, 2.47 GAA, .897 SV%, 1 SO — 2024 playoffs) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (13-5-0, 2.08 GAA, .915 SV%, 2 SO — 2024 playoffs)

Verhaeghe’s goal was allowed by Skinner on the 1st shot of the game, the 4th time that’s happened to the Oilers goalie this postseason and 11th overall this season, according to Sportsnet Stats. The 25-year-old sported a .922 save percentage in 6 games against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final.

Bobrovsky has allowed 2 or fewer goals in 11 of his past 12 postseason starts, a feat that has not been accomplished since G Jonathan Quick did so with the Stanley Cup winning Los Angeles Kings back in 2012. The 35-year-old recorded the 1st shutout in a Game 1 of a Stanley Cup Final since 2011 when Vancouver Canucks G Roberto Luongo blanked the Boston Bruins 1-0.

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Oilers at Panthers picks and predictions

Prediction

Panthers 3, Oilers 2

Moneyline

BET PANTHERS (-142).

Florida coach Paul Maurice complimented Verhaeghe and D Gustav Forsling’s journeys and how they had to “work and try and compete and fight” to get to the NHL. Forsling along with D Aaron Ekblad, the team leader in blocked shots (35) this postseason demonstrated in Game 1 their penchant for shutting down the opponent’s best players once again.

C Aleksander Barkov, who won the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward, has been hugely instrumental in the Panthers’ ability to safeguard their zone no matter the opponent. The captain can score as well — he is tied with LW Matthew Tkachuk for the team lead in postseason points with 19. Plus, C Sam Reinhart is the only Panther in team history with 60+ goals in the regular and postseason combined. He has 65 (57 regular season, 8 postseason), breaking RW Pavel Bure’s record of 57 set in 2000-01.

Expect the Panthers to travel north of the border for Games 3 and 4 with a 2-0 series lead as the Oilers are just not deep enough to pick up a win in South Florida.

Puck line/Against the spread

PASS.

Way too much juice (-230) to lay to take Edmonton getting 1½ goals.

If you want to roll the dice on Florida (-1.5, +188) winning by 2, go for it. Just don’t bet more than 1½ units between the puck line and the moneyline.

I’d rather play it safe and just bet on the Panthers’ ML bet.

Over/Under

BET UNDER 5.5 (-110).

Once the Panthers get the lead, expect all of their lines and defensive pairings to be able to limit the Oilers superstars offensively. Plus, Edmonton plays a much more defensive style under coach Kris Knoblauch than Jay Woodcroft, who was fired in November after a 3-9-1 start.

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Stanley Cup Final: Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers Game 1 odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s Edmonton Oilers at Florida Panthers Game 1 odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers meet Saturday in Game 1 of their best-of-7 Stanley Cup Final. Puck drop from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Oilers vs. Panthers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

The Oilers are back in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006, when Edmonton lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in 7 games. Edmonton polished off the Los Angeles Kings in 5 games in the 1st round, before taking care of the Vancouver Canucks in 7 games in the 2nd round. In the Western Conference Final, the Oilers upended the Dallas Stars in 6 games, including wins in each of the previous 3 outings. The Under is on a 7-2-1 run in the past 10 postseason games for the Oilers, too.

Connor McDavid leads the team 26 assists and 31 points in just 18 postseason games, while chipping in with 5 goals, including 2 on the power play, with 12 assists on the man advantage. Leon Draisaitl has 10 goals with 28 points, while notching 6 power-play goals, and Evan Bouchard is nipping at their heels with 21 helpers and 27 points to go along with a team-high plus-14 rating.

The Panthers are back in the Stanley Cup Final for the 2nd straight season. They lost to the Vegas Golden Knights last season, and Florida has lost both times in the Stanley Cup Final in franchise history.

Florida pounded the Tampa Bay Lightning in 5 games in the 1st round, while dropping the Boston Bruins in 6 games in the 2nd round. In the Eastern Conference Final, the Cats eased by the Rangers in 6 games, with 3 games going to overtime or beyond, with the final 5 contests decided by a single goal.

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Oilers at Panthers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:40 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Oilers +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Panthers -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
  • Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Oilers +1.5 (-225) | Panthers -1.5 (+185)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

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Oilers at Panthers projected goalies

Stuart Skinner (11-5-0, 2.50 GAA, .897 SV%, 1 SO — 2024 playoffs) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (12-5-0, 2.20 GAA, .908 SV%, 1 SO — 2024 playoffs)

Skinner was benched for 2 games in the Vancouver series, and he was taking some serious heat early in the Dallas series before finishing up strong. He has allowed just 4 goals on 76 shots in the past 3 games, all victories by the Oilers. He has now allowed 2 or fewer goals in 7 of the past 8 outings since Game 6 of the Vancouver Canucks.

Bobrovsky allowed just 5 goals on 74 shots in the final 3 games of the Rangers series, winning each outing while allowing 2 or fewer goals in the 3 starts. Bob has allowed 2 or fewer goals in 10 of the past 11 outings, too, with 5 goals allowed in Game 3 of the ECF as the lone exception.

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Oilers at Panthers picks and predictions

Prediction

Panthers 3, Oilers 2

Moneyline

The PANTHERS (-145) are a good play in the series opener. The difference in Game 1 should be experience. Florida can tap into last season’s valuable experience playing in the Stanley Cup Final, while the Oilers (+120) haven’t played for hockey’s biggest prize since 2006.

While Florida is 6-3 in 9 postseason home games, it has managed to win just 3 times in the past 6 outings at Amerant Bank Arena.

Puck line/Against the spread

The Oilers +1.5 (-225) will set you back more than 2 times your potential return, and that’s quite risky. While Florida has played 5 consecutive 1-goal games, if you need a little insurance, taking Edmonton is quite expensive, and there is very little value. If you like the Oilers, just play them straight up.

PASS.

Over/Under

UNDER 5.5 (-105) is a solid play in Game 1.

Both of these teams have red-hot goaltenders, and each side should feel each other out early in this series as they get acclimated to a new opponent.

This is for all of the marbles, and while Florida was at this level last season, Edmonton will likely have some nerves going into the series opener. Goals should be at a premium.

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Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers Game 6 odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Sunday’s Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers meet Sunday in Game 6 of their best-of-7 Western Conference Final, which the Oilers lead 3-2. Puck drop from Rogers Place is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Stars vs. Oilers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

The Oilers took Game 5 on the road 3-1 as +107 underdogs and the Under (5.5) cashed. Heading into the game, the talking heads and fans were down on Oilers G Stuart Skinner, but he was remarkable in the pivotal game, stopping 19 of 20 shots. Edmonton fired out to a 3-0 lead, scoring once in the 1st period and twice in the 2nd period, and held on for the 3-1 victory — the host Stars scored with 5:51 to go in the 3rd.

Edmonton C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins knocked in 2 power-play goals — for a 2-0 lead early in the 2nd — while D Philip Broberg added his 1st-career postseason goal as the Oilers stunned the Stars and their home crowd.

The Stars are 1-0 in elimination games this season, edging the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 7 in the opening round. Dallas is 4-9 in the past 13 games when facing elimination, while Edmonton is 4-0 in the past 4 closeout games, including 2-0 this postseason.

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Stars at Oilers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:29 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Stars +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Oilers -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
  • Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Stars +1.5 (-225) | Oilers -1.5 (+180)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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Stars at Oilers projected goalies

Jake Oettinger (10-8-0, 2.25 GAA, .917 SV% — 2024 playoffs) vs. Stuart Skinner (10-5-0, 2.60 GAA, .890 SV%, 1 SO — 2024 playoffs)

Oettinger has tailed off a bit, although his overall numbers are pretty good. The Dallas tendy has allowed 10 goals on 84 shots in the past 3 games, losing each of the past 2 outings. That includes 7 goals allowed on 58 shots in the past 2 visits to Edmonton.

After back-to-back losses in Games 2 and 3, the much-maligned Skinner bounced back with consecutive wins, allowing just 3 goals on 42 shots in Games 4 and 5 — he allowed 2 goals on 22 shots in Game 4.

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Stars at Oilers picks and predictions

Prediction

Oilers 3, Stars 2

Moneyline

The OILERS (-135) are a strong play at home against the Stars (+115) in this elimination game.

Edmonton carries the hopes of an entire nation on its shoulder, as Canada hasn’t had a Stanley Cup winner since 1993. It appears the Oilers are in good shape to play for Lord Stanley’s Cup as it has 2 chances to close out the Stars.

The Oilers have won both closeout games so far in these playoffs, and they’re a good play in front of the home fans in Game 6.

Puck line/Against the spread

The Stars +1.5 (-225) will cost more than 2 times your potential return — if you require a little bit of insurance and you can’t back Dallas straight up.

The Oilers -1.5 (+180) can’t be trusted, although they’re quite a tempting play for the chance to nearly double up. Still, this should be a tight, low-scoring battle in Alberta. Edmonton has been involved in 1-goal games in 9 of its past 14 postseason contests, although the past 4 games have been decided by 2 or more goals.

PASS.

Over/Under

UNDER 5.5 (-115) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.

The Under cashed in Game 5, and that’s typical as a series goes deeper. We see less wide-open play, and more physicality, hitting, defense and goaltending as a series rolls along.

The Under is 6-2-1 in the past 9 games for the Oilers. However, the Over is 6-1-1 in 8 postseason home games, so tread lightly.

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New York Rangers at Florida Panthers Game 6 odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s New York Rangers at Florida Panthers odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The New York Rangers and Florida Panthers meet Saturday in Game 6 of their best-of-7 Eastern Conference Final, which the Panthers lead 3-2. Puck drop from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Panthers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

The Rangers picked up a 5-4 win in overtime in Game 3, seizing back home-ice advantage after losing Game 1 on home ice. However, with Game 5 back at Madison Square Garden, the Panthers went to New York and held off the Rangers 3-2 to grab home-ice right back.

New York has its backs against the wall, traveling to South Florida for this elimination game. The Rangers are 6-2 in the past 8 when facing elimination since the 2022 postseason.

The Panthers have won the past 2 games by a 3-2 margin, including Game 4 in overtime at Amerant Bank Arena. Florida is 2-2 in closeout games in these playoffs, losing Game 4 at Tampa Bay with a 3-0 series lead, while falling 2-1 at home in a closeout Game 5 after leading Boston 3-1 in the series.

The Panthers have been involved in 7 one-goal games in the past 8 outings since Game 4 of the 2nd-round series against the Bruins. The Under is on a 7-1 run in their 8 games, too.

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Rangers at Panthers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:33 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Rangers +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Panthers -165 (bet $165 to win $100)
  • Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers +1.5 (-190) | Panthers -1.5 (+155)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +115 | U: -140)

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Rangers at Panthers projected goalies

Igor Shesterkin (10-5-0, 2.36 GAA, .927 SV% — 2024 playoffs) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (11-5-0, 2.27 GAA, .905 SV%, 1 SO — 2024 playoffs)

Shesterkin was on the short end in Games 4 and 5, although the losses certainly weren’t his fault. He allowed just 5 goals on 76 shots, good for a .934 SV%, which is slightly better than his numbers for the entire postseason.

Shesterkin allowed 2 goals on 36 shots in the 3-2 home loss in Game 5 against the Panthers, and he has allowed 3 or fewer goals in 6 of the past 7 outings.

Bobrovsky conceded 2 goals on 27 shots in the Game 5 win at MSG, and he has allowed 4 goals on 50 shots in the past 2 games since letting in 5 goals in Game 3 on just 23 shots.

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Rangers at Panthers picks and predictions

Prediction

Rangers 3, Panthers 2

Moneyline

NEW YORK (+140) is worth a look at a moderate underdog on the road in this elimination game. The Rangers have won 5 of 7 games on the road this postseason, with 4 of the past 5 road contests decided by a single goal.

When the Rangers have their backs to the wall, they seem to perform at their best. The past 8 times the Rangers faced elimination in the playoffs, they came through with flying colors.

Puck line/Against the spread

The Rangers +1.5 (-190) will set you back nearly 2 times the potential return, That’s quite expensive if you require a little bit of insurance and you can’t bring yourself to play New York straight up.

PASS.

Over/Under

UNDER 5.5 (-140) is quite pricey, but it’s the play in this elimination game.

The total has gone low in 4 of the first 5 games in this series. That’s a stunner considering the Over had been 19-0-1 in the previous 20 meetings dating back to 2016 before this series started.

The Panthers have averaged 2.8 goals per game (GPG) in 5 outings, while the Rangers have managed just 2.2 GPG in the series.

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Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars Game 5 odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Friday’s Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars meet Friday in Game 5 of their best-of-7 Western Conference Final, which is tied 2-2. Puck drop from American Airlines Center is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Oilers vs. Stars odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

The Oilers rolled to a 5-2 win in Game 4 as -130 home favorites Wednesday to knot up the series, rather than going into a 3-1 hole heading back to Dallas. C Connor McDavid led the way with 3 assists as Edmonton scored 5 unanswered goals after slipping behind 2-0 just 5:29 into the game.

After a pair of Under results in the first 2 games in Dallas, the Over cashed in both games in Edmonton.

Before the 2 Over games, the Under was 5-0-1 for the Oilers.

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Oilers at Stars odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:14 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Oilers +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Stars -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
  • Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Oilers +1.5 (-225) | Stars -1.5 (+185)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)

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Oilers at Stars projected goalies

Stuart Skinner (9-5-0, 2.71 GAA, .887 SV%, 1 SO — 2024 playoffs) vs. Jake Oettinger (10-7-0, 2.20 GAA, .919 SV% — 2024 playoffs)

Skinner was under fire after allowing 4 goals on just 21 shots in a 5-3 loss in Game 3, but he stabilized things in Game 4, turning aside 20 of the 22 shots he faced to set up this pivotal Game 5 back in Big D. Skinner allowed just 4 goals on 57 shots in the first 2 games in Dallas.

Oettinger was tagged for 4 goals on 28 shots in the 5-2 loss in Edmonton in Game 4. The last time he allowed 4 or more goals — in Game 5 against the Colorado Avalanche in the 2nd round when he gave up 5 — he rebounded by allowing just 1 goal on 30 shots in a Game 6 series-clinching 5-1 win.

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Oilers at Stars picks and predictions

Prediction

Stars 3, Oilers 2

Moneyline

The STARS (-130) are a strong play in Game 5 as they look to drive the Oilers (+110) to the brink of elimination, much to the chagrin of an entire nation. Edmonton is Canada’s hope for the nation’s 1st Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens won it all in 1993.

The Oilers are 5-3 in 8 games on the road in these playoffs, including a 3-2 double-overtime win at Dallas in Game 1 of this series.

Still, the safe play here is backing Oettinger and the STARS (-130).

Puck line/Against the spread

The Oilers +1.5 (-225) will cost more than 2 times the potential return. That’s way too much risk for not nearly enough reward, if you’re a little on the conservative side, but want some insurance on the road team.

If you like Edmonton, just bet it straight up.

PASS on a puck-line wager.

Over/Under

UNDER 6 (-120) is a strong play in this pivotal Game 5.

We saw the total go Under in the first 2 games in Texas, and it’s a good bet the total will go low again. Neither of these teams will want to do anything silly, making a mistake to allow the other side to get an odd-man rush going the other way. Each side should play it close to the vest as a loss means being pushed to the brink.

Look for goals to be at a premium in Game 5.

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