Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Stanley Cup Final Game 6 Prediction, NHL Odds
The Florida Panthers are so close they can taste it as they sit one win away from a second consecutive Stanley Cup championship following an impressive 5-2 win in Edmonton on Saturday. Standing in the Cats’ path is an Oilers team that seems to thrive when they are counted out.
Will Florida hoist Lord Stanley on Tuesday, or can Edmonton send the Cup Final to a Game 7 for the second straight year?
The Panthers are -150 favourites to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 6.5.
Oilers vs. Panthers NHL Betting Odds
No one thought this would be a low scoring series, but you would think based on how elite both these teams are that at least one game would be a tight, low scoring affair. That just hasn’t been the case as the teams have combined for seven or more goals every game this series.
The high scoring has led to the Over hitting in all seven games played between Edmonton in Florida this year in the playoffs and regular season.
With a 3-2 series lead, it’s no surprise the Panthers are -350 favourites to win the Stanley Cup on the NHL futures board. The Oilers are +280 underdogs.
If you’re an Edmonton fan grasping for hope or a bettor looking for a good scoop, eight teams in NHL history have rallied in Game 6 to force a seventh game which they won. That includes Sidney Crosby and the Pens in 2009, who defeated Detroit after losing the year before. Ironically the last team to accomplish the feat was Boston in 2011, which current Panther Brad Marchand was a member of.
The Conn Smythe is an interesting battle ahead of Game 6. While Sam Bennett is a -175 favourite to win, I like the dark horse of Brad Marchand at +375. Marchand has scored in four of five in this series, including a couple of massive game-winners.
Of course, if you think Edmonton can make a comeback, Connor McDavid offers tremendous value at +750. It would certainly draw a comparison to Crosby’s first Cup in 2009, although Evgeni Malkin won the Conn Smythe that year. Draisaitl is also +750 to win the Conn Smythe if you expect a repeat of 2009.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers need to get back to the basics and focus on a much better start in Game 6. Edmonton has given up at least two goals in the first period of every game this series and that’s simply not sustainable against a team like Florida.
When it comes to the injury front, it’s worth monitoring the status of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ahead of puck drop on Tuesday. Nugent-Hopkins is clearly dealing with an injury and missed practice on Monday. The former first overall draft pick, who has six goals and 20 points in 21 playoff games, will likely play, although he’s definitely not at 100 per cent.
It looks like the Oilers will turn back to Stuart Skinner, who was in the starter’s net at practice on Monday. Calvin Pickard got the start in Game 5 after Skinner was pulled from his last two starts. In 14 playoff starts this year, Skinner has a 2.99 goals-against average, .891 save percentage and three shutouts.
Florida Panthers
Brad Marchand continues to turn back the clock, scoring twice in Game 5. Marchand is up to six goals in the Stanley Cup Final and 20 points in 22 playoff games this year. Sam Bennett has been equally clutch with a playoff-leading 15 goals, including five in the Final.
For perspective on how good Marchand and Bennett have been, let’s look at the stats. They are the first players since 1981 with at least five goals each in the same Cup Final and the first teammates to do it since 1973. Marchand is also the first player to score six goals in a Cup Final since 1988.
Backstopping Florida’s success has been Sergei Bobrovsky, who has clearly been the best goalie in this series. Bobrovsky has finished with a save percentage of .905 or better in four of five games while facing an average of 36.2 shots per game. For comparison, Skinner has only had a save percentage great than .900 in one game.
EDM
FLA