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Comeback Kings? Oilers Best Bet to Force Game 7 vs Panthers
The Edmonton Oilers are the legitimate favorite in the NHL odds to go where few teams have gone when they host the Florida Panthers for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Friday night.
The Oilers trailed 3-0 in the best-of-seven series and remained alive in the last two games to give themselves a chance to become just the second team in league history to win four in a row after dropping the first three of the finals. Edmonton’s shown no reason it can’t do it.
Superstar center Connor McDavid has led the comeback, much like Tom Brady for the New England Patriots in the 2017 Super Bowl against the Atlanta Falcons. McDavid has scored four points in back-to-back games and the Panthers will have to show they can stop him to earn your sport bets.
Florida was blitzed 8-1 in Game 4 at Edmonton and fell behind by three goals before losing 5-3 at home on Tuesday. The Panthers seem to be reverting to 2021-22 form, when they were often an offense-first team with an inconsistent defense.
The Oilers get you solid value in the NHL future odds to win the series (+280) while Florida is -340.
Panthers vs Oilers Game Information
- Game: Panthers (3-2) vs Oilers (2-3)
- Location: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta
- Day/Time: Friday, June 21, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Panthers vs Oilers Live Streaming: ABC, NHL.com, ESPN+
Panthers vs Oilers Odds and Spread
Panthers vs Oilers Betting Trends
- Under bettors cashed at the sportsbook in the first two games of the series, but lost the last three with 24 total goals scored.
- The Panthers have covered the puck line in 32 of their last 47 road contests.
- Edmonton has covered the puck line in 26 of its last 46 home games.
- Florida forward Evan Rodrigues has four goals and two assists along with a +7 rating in the series.
- Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner had an .877 save percentage in the first eight games of the playoffs and a .912 in the past 13.
Oilers Stuart Skinner in Games 4 through 7 this postseason
Record: 9-0
GAA: 1.56
Save %: .938
Shutouts: 1 pic.twitter.com/bAOQJaeYyA— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 19, 2024
McDavid Having Jordan-esque Moments
Many NHL experts were wondering when the three-time Hart Trophy winner would put the Oilers on his back and win a title. McDavid may be doing it now, much like Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls in the NBA.
“When we’re against the wall, he puts us on his back and he plays,” Oilers veteran Corey Perry told reporters. “You see why he is the best player.”
The 27-year-old boasts 11 points in the series and eight goals along with an NHL-record 34 assists in the playoffs after managing one assist in the first two games of the series. McDavid is now the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (-225).
Two straight four-point games to stave off elimination in the #StanleyCup Final.
We have no words. #NHLStats: https://t.co/iaswBatDjY pic.twitter.com/NFeadJ47Gu
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 19, 2024
Coach Kris Knoblauch shuffled his lines in Game 4, moving Warren Foegele to the top unit with McDavid and Zach Hyman. Foegele had an assist while Hyman scored his first goal of the series and NHL-best 15th of the postseason.
It would not be a stretch to think McDavid can carry the Oilers two more games.
Betting Value Not on Panthers
Florida might be a good bet to end the series and win its first Stanley Cup if you could get more value in the odds. The Panthers are -105 to win Game 6 and the Oilers are -115.
No doubt the Panthers could find their game. They battled back and nearly tied Game 5 and are 7-3 on the road in the playoffs.
Coach Paul Maurice told reporters that his team has earned the lead in the series and now merely needs to protect it. The Panthers outscored the Oilers 3-1 at even strength in Game 5, allowing two power-play tallies, a short-handed goal and an empty-netter.
Maurice: “I’m watching Game 5 and I’m good with so much of it. I feel right about it on the bench. The bench is right. Then you have a bunch of things kind of go against you, but they weren’t thematic to the game.”
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) June 19, 2024
The biggest concern for Florida is goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who gave up 11 goals in the last seven periods after allowing two in the first eight of the series. It would not be a wild NHL prediction if “Bob” earned a shutout.
Special Teams Another Reason to Bet Oilers
The Oilers’ penalty kill has been as unbeatable as “Oppenheimer” was at the Oscars earlier this year.
Edmonton has killed off 43 of the last 44 power plays in the playoffs and is at 93.9 percent overall in the postseason. In addition, the Oilers scored the first goal of the last two games while short-handed. Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk called that “unacceptable.”
The Oilers have also woken up on the power play, going 3-for-11 the last two games after an 0-for-10 over the first three. Defenseman Evan Bouchard has been a big part of that, assisting on both goals with the man advantage on Tuesday.
Another #StanleyCup Playoffs assist record has fallen!
Evan Bouchard notched his 24th, 25th and 26th assists of 2024 to break Paul Coffey’s NHL record for most by a defenseman in a single postseason.#NHLStats: https://t.co/iaswBatDjY pic.twitter.com/LlHqLbCVQL
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 19, 2024
“Small steps,” Maurice told reporters. “We’ll start with not giving up short-handed breakaways and then we’ll move on.”
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.
Questions Of The Day
What is Edmonton’s home record in the playoffs?
7-4. The Oilers won three of the last four on home ice.
Who has the most shots in the series for Florida?
Vladimir Tarasenko. The veteran forward has 16.
