The Panel Picks: 3 Predictions For Oilers vs Panthers 2024 Stanley Cup Final

Our Stanley Cup Finals Picks

• The Panel Tip 1: Florida Panthers To Win The Stanley Cup @ -130 With BetMGM 
• The Panel Tip 2: Matthew Tkachuk To Win The Conn Smythe @ +550 With FanDuel
• The Panel Tip 3: Leon Draisaitl Most Series Points @ +330 With DraftKings

The Stanley Cup Final has arrived as the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers clash on Saturday night.

Florida remains slight favorites at -130 with sports betting sites to secure their first ever championship, and given their experience in getting back to this stage, it is hard to overlook them.  

The Panthers held the New York Rangers off in six straight games to take home the Prince Of Wales trophy. This was after defeating the Tampa Bay Lighting in five games and Boston in six. 

Edmonton (+110) has had quite the roller coaster road in this NHL postseason. They were given up several times in their run but even managed to defeat the Dallas Stars in six games despite only netting 10 shots in the clincher.  

Kris Knoblauch’s side expect to be underdogs again versus a Florida team returning for unfinished business. Can Connor McDavid and Edmonton buck the oddsmakers to win their first Stanley Cup in 34 years? 

The Panel have checked out the stats, guides and key players ahead of the series to come up with three betting predictions.

Panthers To Capture Their First Crown 

Florida has now gone back-to-back with Stanley Cup Final appearances. The state of Florida has seen either Tampa Bay or Florida in the past five championships. The Panthers are tops with hockey betting sites at -130 to bring Lord Stanley’s Cup home.

Paul Maurice and his team have rolled into the Stanley Cup Final with little adversity. The Panthers did win three straight games against the New York Rangers and have shown a great ability to close out contests.  

Florida ended their season sputtering but still finished with a 52-24-6 mark. It was enough to win the Atlantic Division but not the President’s Trophy. Much like 2023, their playoff run tells a different story. 

It’s clear that Florida, led by Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov, has that big game fight in them. 

Many believed that the Panthers were the team to come out of the East, but their penchant for taking penalties might ruin their chances versus the New York Rangers. It did not. 

NHL betting experts like Florida not just for their ability but also for their experience from last year. The Panthers are far more composed, while some believe Edmonton carries the weight of Canada on its shoulders. No Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.

The other question may be which Edmonton team we see. Will Stuart Skinner save everything in sight, or will Skinner be like he was in the first eight games—an undisputed sieve? 

With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, it is difficult to count out the +110 underdogs entirely. The Oilers possess a special teams that has been incredible all postseason (37.3% Power Play, 93.9% Penalty Kill). 

Florida did slow down a potent New York Rangers’ power play to a crawl. If any team can come up large in the prime moments, it is the Panthers.

The Panel believes this will be a close series, but one in which Florida can wear down Edmonton just enough. Expect the Oilers to make it interesting, but the Panthers will win the crown, err, cup. 

The Panel Tip 1: Florida Panthers To Win The Stanley Cup @ -130 With BetMGM 

Matthew Tkachuk To Win The Conn Smythe

This will not be easy, but Matthew Tkachuk has still been dominating for Florida when it counts the most. 

He leads the Panthers with 19 points in 17 games, but his improved discipline only adds to his value on the ice. 

Even if the Panthers' scoring is more balanced, he is the key cog. Sam Reinhart leads the team with eight goals. Barkov is up there with 17 points, but Tkachuk's engine makes the Panthers roar.  

When it comes to the games that matter, Tkachuk rises to the occasion. Against Tampa Bay and Boston, the center scored the first goal of each series. He set the tone and expects to again versus Edmonton. 

The American scored only a goal and five points against the Rangers but generated many chances. According to our experts, his odds of +550 make him a solid bet to win the Conn Smythe. 

The Panel Tip 2: Matthew Tkachuk To Win The Conn Smythe @ +550 With FanDuel

Leon Draisaitl Most Series Points

This series represents the final act of what has been a long six-month regular season and almost two-month playoff campaign.  

Both will be game to reign supreme in the final outcome. However, could a German lead the series in points? 

Leon Draisaitl is second in the playoffs in points with 28, right behind Connor McDavid’s 31. He has 10 goals and a league-leading six on the man advantage. 

With Aleksander Barkov hyper-focused on Connor McDavid, that might give a few more opportunities to Draisaitl.

Since most of the offense is thrust toward McDavid and Draisaitl, few would be surprised by this projection. Some reports suggest this is risky as McDavid appears to be getting healthier. However, so is Draisaitl.

Florida may be too balanced regarding accumulating points in this series. The Panthers’ goal has been the Stanley Cup. Edmonton may fall prey to being too happy to be there.   

Given Edmonton’s ability on special teams, look for Draisaitl to shorten in the market as the weekend approaches and be the favorite to lead the series in scoring.

The Panel Tip 3: Leon Draisaitl Most Series Points +330 With DraftKings