Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final will feature the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. This series marks a rematch of the previous year`s Final, where the Panthers claimed victory in seven games. Florida advanced by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in a five-game Eastern Conference Final, while Edmonton secured their spot by winning their Western Conference Final series against the Dallas Stars, also in five games. The game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
According to the latest odds for Oilers vs. Panthers, Edmonton is listed as a -130 favorite on the money line (meaning a $130 bet wins $100), while Florida is the underdog at +110 (a $100 bet wins $110). The total number of goals expected (over/under) is set at 6. On the puck line, the Oilers are favored at -1.5 with odds of +185. SportsLine`s projection model has also provided its analysis for this game.
Here are some recommended bets for Wednesday`s Oilers vs. Panthers game, based on the model`s analysis (note that odds may change):
- Panthers +1.5 on the puck line (-226)
- Over 6 total goals (-120)
Analysis of the Picks
Justification for the Panthers pick: Florida benefits from an extra day of rest and has been strong on the road in the playoffs, winning five consecutive away games. They also have a recent edge against Edmonton, having won the last three matchups (including from last season`s Final) by a single goal each. The SportsLine model predicts Florida covering the +1.5 puck line in over 70% of simulations.
Reasoning for the Over pick: Recent playoff trends show the Over hitting in two of the last three games for both teams. Furthermore, their regular-season games this year both saw more than six goals scored. Neither goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky nor Stuart Skinner, boasts a goals-against average below 2 in the playoffs. Offensively, Edmonton has been potent, averaging 4.06 goals through 16 playoff games, while Florida isn`t far behind at 3.88 goals per game. These offensive statistics point towards a potentially high-scoring Game 1.
Elton Marrow 
Torin Vale