Stanley Cup Finals: Panthers vs. Oilers, a match with a reserved forecast
Bookmakers anticipate a very even matchup in the Stanley Cup Finals rematch between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers.
On Thursday, ESPN BET opened betting with both teams, Panthers and Oilers, at -110. Although the odds fluctuated overnight, with Edmonton positioning itself as the favorite in some sportsbooks, the competition remains tight.Last season, the Panthers defeated the Oilers in seven games to win their first Stanley Cup. The opening price for this year’s finals suggests another intense battle.
The first game will be played on Wednesday in Edmonton, where the Oilers start as favorites with -120 to win the first match.
Florida reached its third consecutive Stanley Cup Final after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in five games, while the Oilers eliminated the Dallas Stars on Thursday in the Western Conference Finals.The Panthers began the season as favorites to win the Stanley Cup and remained among the top contenders throughout the season. They are looking to become the tenth franchise in NHL history to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
The Oilers were also considered favorites for the Stanley Cup in the betting houses and attracted a lot of support from the public. Before the playoffs, more bets had been placed and more money had been wagered on Edmonton winning the Cup than on any other team in multiple betting houses. At DraftKings, approximately 21% of all bets placed on the odds from the betting houses to win the Stanley Cup were for the Oilers.
The Panthers beat the Oilers twice this season, and both games were decided by a single goal. Connor McDavid of Edmonton is the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy at -110, followed by Florida’s goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky, at +250 on ESPN BET.
