If the first game of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final is anything to go by, the series between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers promises to be thrilling.
Edmonton currently holds a 1-0 series lead going into Game 2 on Friday night. Will the Oilers secure another win before the series moves across the continent to South Florida, or will the `Comeback Cats` bounce back to tie things up?
Here are some key notes on the matchup and insights for betting:
Matchup Notes
Following their Game 1 victory, the Edmonton Oilers are now the favorites to win the Stanley Cup according to betting odds, while the Panthers` odds have shifted. Edmonton`s Connor McDavid is the leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP), ahead of Florida`s Sergei Bobrovsky, Edmonton`s Leon Draisaitl, and Florida`s Aleksander Barkov.
Historically, the team winning Game 1 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final series has gone on to win the series 76% of the time (65-20 record), including the last four and ten of the previous thirteen series.
The Oilers registered 46 shots on goal in Game 1, which is their highest total ever in a Stanley Cup Final game.
Florida has set a new Stanley Cup playoffs record with 51 road goals this postseason. They are also the first team in NHL history to score three or more goals in nine consecutive road games in a single postseason.
Leon Draisaitl scored his third overtime goal this postseason in Game 1, tying a single-postseason record.
Defenseman Mattias Ekholm became the 20th different Oilers player to score a goal this postseason, tying for the third highest number of unique goal scorers for a team in playoff history.
Stuart Skinner earned his 26th career playoff win, surpassing Bill Ranford for second place in Oilers history behind only Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr.
Florida`s Sam Bennett scored his 11th and 12th goals this postseason, breaking the Panthers` single-postseason record. Eleven of his goals have been scored on the road, tying the all-time record for most road goals in a single postseason.
Brad Marchand scored a power-play goal in Game 1, extending his streak of having at least one power-play goal in each of the past eight postseasons.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 42 saves in the Game 1 loss, the second-most saves by a Panthers goalie in a Stanley Cup Final game.
Key Players
Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
GP: 17 | G: 6 | A: 22
Sam Bennett, C, Florida Panthers
GP: 18 | G: 12 | A: 6
Betting Picks for Game 2
Sergei Bobrovsky over 24.5 total saves (-110): Given that Edmonton fired 46 shots on net in Game 1 and will be playing at home, it`s reasonable to expect Bobrovsky to face a high volume of shots again. He needs to stop 25 shots to exceed this total.
Eetu Luostarinen over 3.5 total hits (-134): This physical forward for the Panthers has averaged 4.6 hits per game in the playoffs. He played over 21 minutes in Game 1, suggesting he is healthy and will continue to play his hard-hitting style. Seeing an opponent like Evander Kane register nine hits might also provide added motivation.
Corey Perry over 0.5 total points (Even): The veteran forward is on a three-game point streak entering Game 2. Playing on the top line and power play alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl gives him plenty of opportunity to record at least one point.
