The 2025 Stanley Cup Final is set to begin Wednesday, with Game 1 featuring a matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers. This highly anticipated series is a rematch of last year`s championship, which saw Florida claim the title in seven games.
Both teams navigated challenging paths to return to the Final. The Panthers advanced from the Eastern Conference by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in a five-game series. The Oilers reached the Final after rallying in five games against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final. Puck drop for Game 1 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Betting Insights for Game 1
Looking at the betting odds for Game 1, Edmonton is listed as a -130 favorite on the money line (risk $130 to win $100), while Florida is the underdog at +110 (risk $100 to win $110). The over/under for the total number of goals scored is set at 6. On the puck line, the Oilers are -1.5 with +185 odds.
Key Betting Picks
Based on analysis (referencing the underlying source`s method implicitly), key betting picks for Game 1 include:
- Florida Panthers covering the puck line at +1.5 (-226)
- The total number of goals scored going Over 6 (-120)
Rationale Behind the Picks
Panthers on the puck line +1.5 (-226): Florida enters the series with the benefit of an extra day of rest. They have demonstrated strong performance on the road during the playoffs, winning five consecutive away games. Historically, recent matchups between these teams, including games from the previous Stanley Cup Final, have been tightly contested, with the Panthers winning the last three straight against the Oilers by a single goal each time. This trend suggests Game 1 is likely to be close, making the +1.5 puck line for Florida an appealing pick.
Over 6 goals (-120): Both teams have seen recent playoff games trend towards higher scoring, with the Over hitting in two of their last three contests. Their regular season meetings also featured more than six goals scored in each game. While goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky and Stuart Skinner are key, both have playoff averages of over two goals allowed per game. Offensively, both teams are potent: Edmonton is averaging 4.06 goals scored per game through 16 playoff games, and Florida is averaging 3.88 goals per night. These offensive capabilities point towards a high-scoring start to the series.
