2024 Stanley Cup Final odds, Game 1 picks: Panthers vs. Oilers predictions, best bets by expert on 48-24 run

For the second year in a row, the Florida Panthers will compete for the Stanley Cup championship when they face the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday in Game 1 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers (52-24-6), who lost in five games to the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2023 Finals, are coming off a six-game win in the Eastern Conference Finals over the New York Rangers. The Oilers (49-27-6), who last appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006, losing in seven games to Carolina, defeated the Dallas Stars in six games to win the Western Conference. The teams have split the last 10 meetings, but Florida has won both this season.

The opening matchup is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Florida is the -139 favorite (risk $139 to win $100) in the latest Oilers vs. Oilers odds. SportsLine consensus Panthers, while the over/under for total goals scored is 5.5. Before making any choice between Oilers vs. Panthers, be sure to check out SportsLine expert Matt Severance’s Stanley Cup Final predictions.

Severance is a well-connected writer and handicapper who has worked in the industry since 2005. He is an incredible 175-123-3 in 2023, taking profits on both total targets and spread picks. After joining SportsLine, Severance quickly established himself as a leading expert across multiple sports. He is 48-24 (+1,457) in his last 72 NHL puck picks and is 10-2 (+1,066) in all NHL Picks. Anyone who follows it has seen great returns.

Now, Severance has his eye on Lubricators vs. Panthers and just locked in his NHL picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see their picks. Here are the latest NHL Odds of and trends for Oilers vs. Panthers:

• Panthers vs. Panthers Money Line Oilers: Florida -139, Edmonton +117
• Panthers x Oilers over/under: 5.5 goals
• Panthers vs. Panthers puck line Oilers: Florida -1.5 (+185)
• EDM: The Oilers have reached under-game totals in 26 of their last 40 road games (+12.30 units)
• FLA: The Panthers have reached game totals under 61 of their last 103 games (+20.40 units)
• Panthers vs. Panthers Picks Oilers: See the picks at SportsLine

Why you should support the Panthers

Veteran center Aleksander Barkov, Florida’s former No. 1 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, is among the team’s scoring leaders this postseason. In 17 playoff games, he recorded six goals and 11 assists, including a goal and three assists in the series win over the Rangers. In a regular season game against the Oilers, he scored one goal on seven shots. He played in 73 regular season games, accumulating 80 points on 23 goals and 57 assists.

Also helping to bolster the Panthers is center Anton Lundell. The 22-year-old Finn was selected in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft. He has scored three goals and added nine assists this postseason, including a goal and two assists in the Rangers series. In 78 regular season games, Lundell recorded 13 goals and 22 assists. See which team to choose here.

Why you should support the Oilers

Center Connor McDavid has been a scoring machine this postseason. He leads Edmonton with 31 points, including 26 assists. He finished the regular season with 32 goals and 100 assists. He was a big reason the Oilers beat Dallas in the Western Conference finals, scoring three goals and adding seven assists in six games. In the decisive Game 6, he scored a goal and assisted in a 2–1 victory. He had two goals and an assist in the two regular season matches against Florida.

Also helping to boost Edmonton’s offense is center Leon Draisaitl. The 28-year-old has scored 10 goals and 18 assists this postseason, including two goals and two assists in the Dallas series. He powered Edmonton past Vancouver in the seven-game second-round series with three goals and nine assists. He scored one goal and assisted on three others in a 4-3 Game 2 overtime victory over the Canucks. In both regular season games against the Panthers, he had one assist. See which team to choose here.

How to Make Oilers vs. Oilers Picks Panthers

Compensation is skewed downward towards the target total. He also found a critical x-factor that makes him jump to one side of the money line. You can only see your picks on SportsLine.

So who wins the Oilers vs. Panthers and which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the money line to jump on Saturday, all from the expert who has made more than $1,400 on his last 72 NHL picks against the spreadand find out.