Oilers vs. Panthers Game 2 Prediction: Stanley Cup Playoff Odds
The Edmonton Oilers were in control for large portions on Saturday night, but they couldn’t solve Florida netminder Sergei Bobrovsky in a 3-0 loss to the Panthers. Can Edmonton earn a crucial road split in Game 2 on Monday, or will Florida win a fifth straight playoff game?
The Panthers opened as -135 favourites to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 5.5.
Oilers vs. Panthers NHL Betting Odds
The Oilers have now lost all three games against Florida this season, but 62 per cent of early betting action is still coming in on Edmonton to win Game 2. It’s a similar split on the total, with 66 per cent of bettors taking the Under. Keep in mind, teams that win Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final have gone on to win the series 76 per cent of the time.
After winning Game 1, the Panthers have shifted from -130 to -250 on the series line. The Oilers are +210 to win the series after opening at +100. Oddsmakers now think this will be a short series, with the favoured exact result being a Florida win in five games at +350. The biggest long shot is Edmonton winning the next four games at +1600.
The NHL futures board lists Bobrovsky as a +220 favourite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, followed by Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov at +270 and Edmonton captain Connor McDavid at +300.
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton threw everything they had at Florida in Game 1, but couldn’t generate any offence despite outshooting the Panthers 32-18, including 12-4 in the first period alone. Early on, it looked like the Oilers would dominate the game until Florida found the back of the net with their first shot. Edmonton’s lethal power play had a lot of opportunities, but ultimately finished 0-for-3 on the night. McDavid, who leads the playoffs with 31 points (5G, 26A), played 25:19 in Game 1, the most of any forward on either team. He finished with six shots on goal, so you might want to circle McDavid Over 3.5 shots (-110) in Game 2.
It’s tough to blame Stuart Skinner for any of the goals in Game 1 (the third was an empty-netter), but at some point he is going to have to steal a game like Bobrovsky did on Saturday. Skinner has allowed a goal on the first shot he has faced four times in the playoffs and 11 times this season, which has to be demoralizing for the team. The 25-year-old rebounded from a tough second round against Vancouver to post a .916 save percentage in the Western Conference Final against Dallas, so there’s still a belief the Oilers’ netminder can turn things around.
Florida Panthers
It wasn’t Florida’s best game on Saturday, but they did enough to win. Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues scored even-strength goals, while Eetu Luostarinen potted the empty-netter. Barkov (6G, 13A) recorded two assists and now shares the team lead in playoff points with Matthew Tkachuk (5G, 14A) at 19. Verhaeghe, who leads the team with 10 goals, is a +300 favourite to lead the series in goals.
On a team of stars, Bobrovsky stood out in Game 1 as he turned aside 32 saves for his second shutout of the postseason. Bobrovsky, who has a 2.08 goals-against average and .915 SV in the playoffs, has allowed two goals or fewer in 11 of his last 12 starts as the 35-year-old two-time Vezina Trophy winner looks to lead the Panthers to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
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