The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers meet in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night. The game is being played at Rogers Place in Edmonton with puck drop set for 8:00 PM ET. This is a rematch of last year’s final, which Florida won in seven games.
Both teams finished third in their divisions. Edmonton went 48-29-4-1 and Florida finished 47-31-4-0. This is the first time since 2009 that the same two teams are meeting in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals. Florida won the last regular season meeting between these two teams back in February by a score of 4-3.
Oilers Preview – Can the Top Line Lead the Way?
The Oilers are coming into this game with momentum after a 4-1 series win over Dallas in the Western Conference Final. Connor McDavid had nine points in that series and now has 26 total points this postseason. Leon Draisaitl has helped carry the top line, combining with McDavid for most of the Oilers’ scoring chances.
Edmonton has been scoring often, averaging over 4 goals per game in their last 14 contests. At home, that number jumps to almost 5 goals per game. The Oilers are also getting production from their second and third lines, which has helped stretch defenses and wear teams down.
Stuart Skinner will need to be sharp in net. He is going up against one of the league’s best goaltenders in Sergei Bobrovsky. Skinner’s play was steady in the Dallas series, but he will need to improve against Florida. The Oilers have a 51.9% Corsi For rate in the playoffs, showing decent puck control but still behind Florida.
Panthers Preview – Can the Defense Stay Strong Again?
Florida beat Carolina in five games to get here and has been great on the road all playoffs, winning 8 of 10 games. The Panthers are strong defensively, and Bobrovsky has a shutout in each round so far. Their defensive game has been one of the best all postseason.
Florida’s possession numbers have been strong. Their 53.7% Corsi For rating shows they are controlling the puck more than their opponents. Aleksander Barkov leads the team with 17 points in 17 games and just won his third Selke Trophy for his defensive play. He’s also added three goals and four assists against Carolina.
The Panthers have added more scoring depth compared to last year. They’re still known for defense, but players like Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe have chipped in offensively. The team is also more physical than Edmonton and will look to slow down the Oilers with tight checking and strong neutral zone play.
Betting Prediction
Edmonton is the slight favorite at -131 on the moneyline, while Florida comes in at +116. The total is set at 6.0 goals. Public betting is leaning toward Edmonton and the over. Trends show both teams have hit the third-period under often this season, but full-game totals have gone over when they meet.
Edmonton’s home ice and recent scoring streak give them a good shot to win Game 1. Florida has been great on the road but may need time to adjust to Edmonton’s pace. The Oilers should come out fast, and their offense has the edge in this spot. Final score prediction is Edmonton 4, Florida 3. Look for Edmonton to cover the moneyline and the game to go over the total.
Pick: Oilers -131
