Different season, but same Stanley Cup Finalists, as the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers matchup for a repeat of the 2024 finals (which was one of the better finals in recent years, as the Florida Panthers took a 3-0 series lead but ended up only claiming the Stanley Cup in a 2-1 win that won them the series 4-3).
Top-rated sportsbooks have set the Edmonton Oilers as favorites at -125, likely because they will be at home in games 1, 2 and 5. The Panthers, meanwhile, have been priced up at +110 NHL betting odds.
NHL Pick:
- Florida Panthers To Win Stanley Cup Finals (+110) at Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
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How Their Seasons Have Unfolded
Florida Panthers
The Panthers’ journey saw them dispose of their state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in Round One with a comfortable 4-1 series win. Next on their plate was the Toronto Maple Leafs, who gave them a proper ding-dong matchup, up until the final game, where they trounced them 6-1 to win the series in Game 7.
Next up was arguably their easiest game of the playoffs, a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, who never even got into first gear throughout the series.
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers had an uphill battle from the get-go with the Los Angeles Kings taking a 2-0 series lead. Still, the Oilers kicked into gear and duly delivered a 4-2 series win, taking four games on the trot.
The next game saw the Oilers come up against the team from Sin City, the Las Vegas Golden Knights. The Knights’ armor didn’t appear to be too formidable, as the Oilers thumped them 4-1 in the series.
The final game of the series was the only 0-0 scoreline at the end of regulation in this year’s playoffs, but the Oilers broke through with a goal from Kasperi Kapanen to send them into the Western Conference Finals for a matchup against the Dallas Stars. The Oilers had just as easy a time in the Conference Finals as their Stanley Cup Final counterparts, defeating the Stars 4-1 in the series — another dominant performance.
Tactical Matchups
The Panthers and Oilers are playing the same style of hockey that they played last season. However, it’s not that no other team plays these systems; it’s just that these two teams have just mastered their trade. With a little luck along the way, as well as a few too many easy series victories, both teams have made it this far. Both teams deserve to be in this season’s finals.
The Panthers like to press the puck and force the opposition into the board, setting up the opponents from getting out of their own half or simply applying the same tactics to win the puck back in the defensive position. Everybody has to work hard on this system, and it’s treated them well thus far with back-to-back Stanley Cups, as well as their 3rd finals in a row.
The Oilers have quality attackers in Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, two of the best in the NHL right now. With a strong supporting cast, they have massively improved from last season. The Oilers like to get their defensive players forward and very much involved in attacking, as well as using some set plays to open up the defense when attacking, or to close them down hard to try to win the puck back on the counterattack.
Edmonton Oilers Revenge Tour?
Can the Oilers spoil the Panthers’ back-to-back Stanley Cups in this season’s finals? Well, we do like their chances given the fact that this team is much better than last season’s. They are playing some strong hockey right now, including their goaltender Stuart Skinner (which hasn’t always been the case).
The problem with the Panthers is that they can dig their heels in. They are a dogged team and it takes a lot to beat them; they don’t mind getting into a slog. The issue for us with betting the Oilers is they do mind getting into a slog, and yes, they have improved in recent seasons, but over the best of seven, we would likely look to bet the Panthers. It does help that they are plus money, and we wouldn’t like to lay the Oilers as low as -125.
It’s a tough finals to call, the Oilers could come out on top, but we think the Panthers will win this 4-2.
If Stuart Skinner gets rattled and his performance drops, it could be easier than they think, but at the very least, we expect to see six games in another competitive finals. But please do prove us wrong, Connor McDavid and co.
NHL Pick:Â Florida Panthers To Win Stanley Cup Finals (+110) at Bet365
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