- The Stanley Cup Final will begin on Saturday night.
- The Panthers are favorites to win the Stanley Cup (-130).
- Edmonton is a +110 underdog to win the Stanley Cup.
The Stanley Cup Final will begin on Saturday when the Panthers host the Oilers in Game 1 at Amerant Bank Arena.
The Panthers are entering the Stanley Cup Final as a -130 favorite. After an excellent regular season that saw them win the Atlantic Division, the Panthers have remained dominant this playoffs. They have knocked out some tough opponents in the Lightning, Bruins, and Rangers. Now, they will look to make up for last season’s Stanley Cup Final loss and win this year against Edmonton.
The Oilers, on the other hand, are entering this series as the +110 underdog. Edmonton’s road to the Stanley Cup has also had some challenges, as they defeated the Predators, Canucks, and, most impressively, the favored Stars. Now, they will look to upset the Panthers and give a Canada their first Stanley Cup since 1993.
There are reasons to believe that both of these clubs can win. Here’s a look at the Stanley Cup odds and my prediction for the series.
Panthers vs. Oilers Series Odds
- Panthers -130
- Oilers +110
Panthers vs. Oilers Series Prediction
This series has the potential to be incredibly tight. The Panthers and the Oilers have excellent rosters and enough star power to finish the job. However, when comparing these two clubs, it is understandable why the Panthers are viewed as favorites now.
The Panthers have a lot of stars on their roster, led by Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Brandon Montour, Sergei Bobrovsky, Sam Bennett, and Aaron Ekblad. That’s an outstanding core alone, but their NHL-best depth makes the Panthers even more dangerous. It is hard to find a single weak part of their roster. Yet, besides having excellent skill throughout their lineup, they also have a lot of toughness, and they almost always wear down their opponents.
The Panthers also have an advantage when it comes to their goaltending. Bobrovsky has been solid all postseason, while Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner has struggled with consistency. Skinner’s struggles have also led the Oilers to go with Calvin Pickard multiple times this postseason.
However, the Oilers are no walk in the park, either. While the Panthers have better depth, the Oilers have an advantage regarding their superstar talent. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are nothing short of dominant and have the power to steal games for the Oilers at any time. They also have star defenseman Evan Bouchard, who is third in playoff points behind McDavid and Draisaitl with 27 in just 18 games. That kind of production from a defenseman is extremely rare. They also have other stars like Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evander Kane.
Ultimately, this series could go either way. The Panthers have the more complete roster on paper, but the McDavid/Draisaitl duo in Edmonton can always steal a series. Yet, if I have to choose a winner, I think the Panthers will win this year in a very close series.
Stanley Cup Prediction: Panthers in 7 Game (+400)
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