Game 1 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final begins on Saturday when the Florida Panthers host the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. The Panthers are making their third appearance in the Stanley Cup Final and second straight after losing in five games to the Vegas Golden Knights last year. Edmonton has reached the Stanley Cup Final for the eighth time in franchise history but first since 2006 when it was defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games. The Panthers won both 2023-24 regular-season meetings between the teams.
Opening faceoff is set for 8 p.m. ET. Florida is a -139 favorite (risk $139 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Panthers vs. Oilers odds from SportsLine consensus, while the Oilers are the +117 underdog. The over/under for total goals scored is 5.5 (see the latest lines on our NHL odds page).
Before making any Oilers vs. Panthers picks, you NEED to see the latest NHL predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
This model simulates every NHL game 10,000 times, taking into account factors like current form, individual matchups, injuries and short- and long-term trends when making NHL picks. It entered the 2024 NHL playoffs on a 7-4 run on top-rated puck-line picks.
The model knows Florida clamped down defensively after its 5-4 overtime loss to New York in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final, allowing a total of five goals over the last three contests. Left wing Matthew Tkachuk, who recorded 24 points in 20 games last postseason, leads the Panthers with 19 points in 17 outings. Carter Verhaeghe is Florida's top goal scorer in these playoffs with nine, while fellow center Sam Reinhart - who netted a career-high 65 tallies in the regular season - has scored eight times.
It also is aware that Edmonton has tightened up in its own end even more than Florida, giving up only four goals over its last three contests after losing 5-3 to Dallas in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final. The Oilers have been tremendous on special teams this postseason, ranking first on the power play (37.3%) and on the penalty kill (93.9%). Edmonton has the top four players in points during the playoffs, with superstar center Connor McDavid leading the way with 31, while left wing Zach Hyman (14) and center Leon Draisaitl (10) are the top two in goals.
Now, the model has set its sights on Panthers vs. Oilers in Game 1 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. We can tell you it's leaning Over on the goal total, but it also says one side of the money line has ALL the value! You ABSOLUTELY need to see it before locking in any NHL picks of your own.
So who wins Panthers vs. Oilers on Saturday, and which side of the money line has ALL the value? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Oilers vs. Panthers money line you should be all over on Saturday, all from the model that has simulated this matchup 10,000 times!
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