Written by Graeme on Wednesday, June 4th, 2025
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Tonight will see a repeat of last years Stanley Cup finals, as the Edmonton Oilers take on the Florida Panthers.
Things are a bit different this go-roun, with the Edmonton Oilers having home advantage.
Both teams proved how difficult it is to win 4 in a row in the playoffs last year. The Panthers went up 3-0, and then the Oilers responded with an 8-1 thrashing. They forced a Game 7, where the Panthers won a tight one 2-1.
Will home advantage make all the difference for the Oilers this time around?
Will the Oilers be the first Canadian team in over 30 years to win the Stanley Cup?
We’re about to find out, as the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals kick off tonight!
Oilers vs Panthers Series Betting Tips
Scott: The Oilers got here by beating the Kings in 6 games, the Knights in 5 games and then getting by the Stars in 5 games.
McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins and Bouchard are all over a point per game in this postseason. They also have gotten help from Perry, Kane and Brown.
Goaltending has been a problem for the Oilers. Skinner has played 10 games and has 6 wins, a 2.53 GAA and a .904 save percentage.
The Oilers played in the Finals last season so they have a better idea of what they are getting themselves into this year.
The Panthers got here by beating their rivals the Lightning in 5 games, the Maple Leafs in 7 and then the Canes in 5 games.
The don’t like tired at all after winning the Cup last season. They are led by Reinhart, Tkachuk, Verhaeghe, Bennett, Marchand, Lundell and Barkov. They are also getting plenty of help from their depth guys. They have Jones, Ekblad, Luostarinen, Schmidt and Rodrigues who have all contributed to the teams success.
Bobrovsky has been great for the Panthers. He has a .912 save percentage and a 2.11 GAA.
This is the 3rd year in a row that the Panthers have made it to the finals so experience is definitely on their side.
This is a rematch from last year’s Finals but this time the Oilers have home ice advantage. Last year the Panthers won the first 3 games but the Oilers won the next 3 to force a game 7.
Tough spot for me here. I want the Oilers to win as it would be awesome for Canada to finally bring the Cup back home but I don’t see them beating the Panthers. So I hope I’m wrong here but Panthers to win the Stanley Cup is my pick.
Graeme: I know we’re not betting Game 1, but I do want to throw out there that I like the Panthers tonight. I’ve mentioned a lot throughout the playoffs that the Oilers have been riding the momentum wave, and that will have been cut short due to the break. I think the Panthers get first blood in this one.
If we look at the metrics for the playoffs so far – Oilers have 16 games, Panthers 17. In 5 vs 5, Panthers slight Corsi advantage but it’s minimal. Fenwick the same. Scored more, created less, conceded more, and glower xGA/60.
In all situations – still pretty similar to be honest. Nothing too noteworthy about the differences.
It’s all going to come down to that Oilers goaltending. If Skinner can keep it going, that will be huge for them but so much of that is also about their defense, and that they keep playing the way they are under him.
But when I look at these two teams – and it’s close – there’s just something about the Panthers that really stands out to me. They have looked like Stanley Cup winners from the get-go. Even in that series with the Leafs. That was primarily down to Bobrovsky shitting the bed for a couple of games.
Oilers meanwhile had that erratic series with the Kings. They stood out most to me against the Knights. The Stars series was such a weird one where Skinner was flying but the Stars just couldn’t get going.
Anyway I agree with Scott – Panthers to win the cup.
But I hope I am wrong.
Skinner has been absolutely amazing the past couple weeks lol and people keep calling him a problem
Pickard also should be available within the next game or 2 and has won 6 straight if they need him
OH CANADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I made the bet days ago for the Oilers winning the Cup in 5 games, Florida winning Game 3 only. Florida has been playing pretender teams who didn’t belong in the playoffs, and to my mind they aren’t standing above any Top 10 NHL teams. The Panthers have had some serious problems getting past those pretender teams, teams far less of a challenge than LA, Vegas and Dallas, for depth, talent, speed and 200′ play. I see the Oilers grinding the crap out of the Panthers, out-skating them, out-playmaking them, out-checking them, out-crushing them into the boards them, LOL, and having more composure and resolve, NOT being suckered into the penalty box. The Panthers methods, abilities, strategies and weaknesses are AN OLD STORY, no mystery to any NHL team now. They had their brief day and that’s over now. There’s a bigger, better, bolder, finely tuned up team on the ice, from the North.
Oilers in 5.
Puhhh… tough one to call with two really good and well deserved teams in this SC final!
Although I do like Florida to come out strong in this first game and try to flip the home match advantage. They have done it in round 1 and conference finals where they Go away and in game 1. Clinch the mental advantage along with the home game adv.
And I just think Florida have more Lines with top performing players.
Hmmm it Will be small bets just to see how they play this out. Full speed or tactical. Hope for full throttle 🥳😎
LFG! Lord Stanley we are near!
Panthers ml, reg,-1 🥳