The NHL season`s most significant event is set to start. The Edmonton Oilers will face off against the reigning champions, the Florida Panthers, in Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. This final series is a repeat of last year, where the Panthers initially led 3-0 but had to survive a strong comeback effort from the Oilers, ultimately securing their first franchise championship with a 2-1 win in Game 7.
This marks the 11th time in NHL history that the same two teams have met in the Stanley Cup Final in consecutive years, the fifth occurrence in the expansion era, and the first since the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins played for the trophy in 2008 and 2009. Florida reaches the Final for the third year in a row, having been defeated by the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in 2023. This also means a team from Florida has been in the championship series for the sixth straight postseason, following the Tampa Bay Lightning`s three-year run from 2020 to 2022.
This is Edmonton`s ninth trip to the Stanley Cup Final since joining the NHL from the World Hockey Association in 1979, and their third appearance since winning their fifth title in 1990. The Oilers aim to prevent Florida from becoming only the third team in the salary cap era (since 2005-06) to win consecutive Cups, a feat previously achieved by the 2016-17 Penguins and the 2020-21 Lightning.
Since being the first overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, Oilers superstar Connor McDavid has accumulated numerous individual honors, including five Art Ross Trophies, three Hart Trophies, a Maurice Richard Trophy, and last year`s Conn Smythe Trophy. The one significant trophy missing from his collection is the Stanley Cup, and the 28-year-old is seeking to win it in his second Final appearance.
While fans heavily invested in either the Panthers or Oilers are keenly interested in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, casual hockey viewers might find it less engaging. However, the recent rise in sports betting allows even those with less team allegiance to become more involved in the series.
Don`t worry if you`re not an experienced or frequent sports bettor. Newcomers and casual observers can often feel intimidated by sports wagering. This guide explains some fundamental aspects of hockey betting, helping you engage with and enjoy the 2025 Stanley Cup Final even more.
Understanding Hockey Betting Fundamentals
A crucial initial step for anyone looking to bet on the NHL, or any sport, is to explore different sports betting platforms. These platforms often provide varying welcome bonuses, such as matched deposits or risk-free bets. Using multiple sportsbooks also allows you to compare lines and odds. For example, the total goals set for the Oilers vs. Panthers Game 1 might be 6 at one platform and 6.5 at another. Always compare options to find the most advantageous odds for your wager. New players can often utilize welcome offers to receive bonus funds, giving them a head start in hockey betting.
After choosing a betting platform, familiarize yourself with the available wager types. NHL sections typically display upcoming Stanley Cup Final games with odds presented using +/- values. `Plus-money` odds (+110) indicate the potential profit on a $100 bet (a $110 profit). `Minus-money` odds (-130) show the amount needed to wager to achieve a $100 profit (bet $130 to profit $100). These odds are primarily associated with three core betting formats:
- Puck Line (Spread): Represents the goal handicap. Typically -1.5 goals for the favorite, meaning they must win by at least two goals. The underdog (+1.5) wins the bet if they win the game outright or lose by only one goal.
- Total Goals (Over/Under): A bet on the combined score of both teams. If the set total is 5.5, betting `Over` requires six or more goals, while `Under` requires five or fewer.
- Moneyline: A simple wager on which team will win the game outright. As there are no ties in NHL playoffs, there are no `pushes` (returned bets) on moneyline wagers.
Additionally, some platforms offer a three-way moneyline, allowing bets on either team to win specifically within regulation time, or on the game ending in a tie after regulation (e.g., odds for Oilers win, Panthers win, or Tie at the end of 60 minutes).
When betting on the Over/Under total in the NHL, note that goals scored in overtime are included in the final count. In the regular season, the single goal awarded for a shootout victory also contributes. For instance, if the total is set at 5 and the game is 2-2 after regulation, finishing 3-2 after a shootout, the total is recorded as 5. In this case, an Over or Under 5 bet results in a `push,` where the wager is refunded.
Exploring NHL Prop Bets
Prop bets, or proposition bets, offer additional excitement for NHL wagering. These can involve wagers on team performance, individual player statistics, or specific game events.
Player prop bets are a common category. Although NHL player props don`t feature the high point or yardage numbers seen in NBA or NFL, they provide numerous possibilities. A popular option is betting on a player to score a goal at any point in the game, similar to an `anytime touchdown scorer` bet in football. If your chosen player scores, the bet wins.
Other player prop options include betting on total points (like Connor McDavid Under 1.5 points), total shots on goal (e.g., Matthew Tkachuk Over 2.5 shots), total saves for a goaltender (such as Sergei Bobrovsky Under 28.5 saves), and many others. Bets on assists and blocked shots are also frequently available.
Team-specific prop bets are also available, including wagers on which team will score the game`s first goal, the total number of goals a specific team will score, or their total shots on net.
More unique options fall under game prop bets. You can bet on whether the game will go into overtime, predict the exact score of a specific period (e.g., Oilers leading Panthers 2-1 after the first period), or wager on combined outcomes like both teams scoring a certain number of goals (e.g., both teams scoring 3 or more goals).
Understanding NHL Parlays
Parlay bets are popular in the NHL, just like in many other sports. A parlay involves combining multiple individual bets into a single wager. To win a parlay, every single selection within it must be correct.
Here`s an illustration of a multi-game parlay from a day with several NHL matchups (applicable during the regular season or early playoff rounds with concurrent games):
- Golden Knights to win (moneyline)
- Maple Leafs -1.5 goals (puck line)
- Capitals vs. Hurricanes total goals Over 5.5
For this parlay to win, all three outcomes must occur.
Bettors can also create same-game parlays, combining multiple selections from a single game. This is the primary parlay option for the Stanley Cup Final, as only one game is played at a time. For example, a same-game parlay for an Oilers vs. Panthers matchup might combine:
- Panthers to win (moneyline)
- Oilers score Over 3.5 goals
- Leon Draisaitl to score a goal anytime
Keep in mind that each betting platform has its own unique calculations for same-game parlay odds, making it beneficial to compare different betting apps.
On days with multiple games (during the regular season or earlier playoff rounds), you can construct parlays across different contests, incorporating various prop bets. For instance, you could select an anytime goal scorer from each game, though this type of parlay is particularly challenging to win.
Exploring NHL Futures Bets
Futures bets are another common betting type, offering options for NHL teams and players well in advance. While fewer long-term futures directly apply to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final now that it`s here, let`s review some typical examples.
Futures bets are long-term wagers placed on outcomes that will be decided later, often at the end of the season or postseason. They pay out if a player or team meets a specific goal or wins an award. A popular team futures bet in the NHL is on which team will win the Stanley Cup (e.g., Panthers listed at +550 odds). If the chosen team wins the championship, the bet is successful.
Examples of team futures include betting on the Stanley Cup winner, conference winner, a team`s final point total relative to a set line (over/under), whether a team will make the playoffs, or which team will win its division. Player futures involve wagers like total points or goals scored over the season, or predicting winners of end-of-season awards.
Betting on the Conn Smythe Trophy winner (awarded to the playoff MVP) is a common futures option during the postseason. While typically given to a player on the championship team, Connor McDavid notably won it last year as a member of the losing Oilers – becoming just the sixth player in NHL history to do so. Entering the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, he leads all players with 26 points and is considered the favorite to win the award again.
Betting Specifically on the Stanley Cup Final
Odds for winning the Stanley Cup are released by sportsbooks starting in the preseason, allowing users to place long-term bets on the eventual champion. These odds fluctuate throughout the season, so comparing them at different times and across different platforms is advisable.
Betting on the NHL playoffs, including the Stanley Cup Final, operates much like regular-season betting. Key differences include the option to bet on the outcome of each specific series (e.g., predicting the Oilers will defeat the Panthers) and wagering on the Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
For series winner bets, you can also predict the exact series length (e.g., Oilers winning in six games). This bet only wins if the chosen team secures the victory in precisely that number of games.
Understanding Live Betting
Live betting, or in-game wagering, is available for NHL games, just like many other sports. This allows you to place bets while the game is actively being played. As the game progresses, sportsbooks constantly update odds for puck lines, moneylines, totals, and various other markets. Moneyline and total bets are among the most common live wagering options.
Live betting can be advantageous if you prefer to observe the game`s flow before committing a wager. For example, if a team is dealing with recent key injuries or a coaching change, watching their performance on the ice before placing a bet can provide valuable insight.
Key Tips and Strategies for NHL Betting
The NHL is known for its unpredictability, so consistently betting on the -1.5 goal spread for every favorite is generally not a winning strategy. Here are some fundamental hockey betting tips:
- Verify Starting Goaltenders: While starting goalies are more predictable in the playoffs (usually the team`s primary starter), injuries or recent poor performance can lead to changes. Always confirm who is starting before betting and consider how the odds align with that specific goaltender`s recent form.
- Monitor Key Player Injuries: Staying informed about player injuries is essential. This is particularly important for star players, top goal scorers, and members of the power-play units. Following team reporters on social media can provide valuable context. Since hockey players often play through minor injuries, understanding if a key player is playing at less than full strength can offer insight that might not be fully reflected in the betting odds.
- Consider Rest Schedules: Pay attention to potential rest advantages. In the regular season, one team might be playing the second game of a back-to-back while the other had a day off. In the playoffs, look at the time elapsed since each team`s previous series concluded. Sportsbooks may not always fully factor in these scheduling differences immediately, making them potential areas to find value, often identified early on by experienced bettors.
Elton Marrow 
Torin Vale