The Edmonton Oilers travel to Florida in need of a win on Monday night in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals to even the series against the Florida Panthers.
Game 2 gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with Florida slight favorites at home (-130 on ESPN BET) over Edmonton (+110). The total is set at 5.5 — Over 5.5 (-110), Under 5.5 (-110).
On the puck line, Florida -1.5 is +185, while Edmonton +1.5 is -250. See more about the best puck line bets and how to bet on hockey legally here.
After winning Game 1 convincingly, the Panthers are -250 to win the series, while the Oilers are +210 to raise the trophy at DraftKings.
Stanley Cup Finals Game 2 Betting Analysis
To start with the obvious, the biggest key to Game 2 is the play of Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who is coming off a 32-save shutout performance in Game 1.
Bobrovsky’s heroics allowed the Panthers to take a 1-0 lead on the series on a night when they were outshot 32-18. The stellar play from Bobrovsky in the series opener on Saturday night followed a strong finish by Bobrovsky and the Florida D to eliminate the New York Rangers 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Final.
Despite playing three overtime games against New York, Bobrovsky has given up two goals or fewer in 11 of Florida’s last 13 games, helping the Panthers win nine of those matchups.
The Connor McDavid-led Oilers, who finished fourth in the league in the regular season with 292 goals (3.56 per game), are a tough team to slow down, but Florida was up to the challenge in Game 1.
McDavid and Leon Draisaitl make Edmonton, which has scored a playoff-high 63 goals in 19 postseason contests (3.3 goals per game), dangerous, but Florida has to like its chances given the outcome of in Game 1.
Given the Panthers have won four playoff games in a row and have not only a hot goalie but home ice in Game 2, they’re good value at -130. Fans shouldn’t expect another Bobrovsky shutout, but the Under looks like a strong bet given the score has gone under 5.5 in nine of Florida’s last 10 games in the playoffs.
It’s also worth noting that in Edmonton’s series win over Dallas in the West, the total went under 5.5 four times in six games.
Pick: Florida Panthers ML (-130), Under 5.5 (-110) at ESPN BET
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
