Sunrise, FL – The stage is officially set for a blockbuster rematch in the Stanley Cup Final as the defending champion Florida Panthers take on the Edmonton Oilers. Despite Florida’s triumph last year, the Oilers enter as slight betting favorites. However, a major injury blow to Zach Hyman could shift the momentum back toward the Panthers.

Edmonton Team Total Under 3.5 Goals

The Oilers have showcased one of the most potent offenses this postseason, ranking second in Expected Goals For in All Situations with an average of 3.58 per game. But heading into Game 1, the team faces adversity with Zach Hyman ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs. Hyman has been a crucial scoring option, contributing 0.52 Expected Goals per game.

His absence could allow the Panthers to focus their defensive coverage more on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, two of the league’s most dangerous forwards. Florida leads all playoff teams in Expected Goals Against in All Situations, backed by elite goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky, who owns a .912 Save Percentage and 2.11 Goals Against Average in the postseason.

Game 1 Starting Goalie Comparison

• Florida Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky (.912 SV% in playoffs)
• Edmonton Oilers: Stuart Skinner (.904 SV% in playoffs)

Top Prop Bet: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Anytime Goalscorer (+275 at BetMGM)

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has emerged as a consistent threat for the Oilers this postseason, ranking eighth overall in Expected Goals and second on the team behind only McDavid. With 6.6 Expected Goals, he’s been instrumental in the Oilers’ offensive success and presents solid value at +275 to score in Game 1.

Prediction: Oilers Backed to Win Game 1 and Series

While the Panthers dominated early in last year’s final through an aggressive counter-attack, the Oilers eventually adapted and flipped the series. This time around, expectations are high for Edmonton to come in better prepared from the start.

Stuart Skinner has been a rock in net recently, allowing more than one goal in only two of his last seven starts. The Oilers are 6-1 at home in the playoffs, with their sole loss coming in a close 4-3 game against Vegas in Round 2. With momentum and home-ice advantage, the pick is for Edmonton to take Game 1 and ultimately lift the Stanley Cup.

Panthers Prop Bet: Matthew Tkachuk Anytime Goalscorer

Though it’s been a relatively quiet postseason for Matthew Tkachuk, the Panthers’ star still carries strong goal-scoring metrics with an Expected Goals Average of 0.47 and over three shots on goal per game. With Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner posting a .896 Save Percentage and 2.81 GAA during the regular season, Tkachuk is positioned well to break his dry spell.

Game Info:

• Matchup: Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers
• Time: 8:00 PM EST
• Location: Rogers Place, Edmonton
• Series Format: Best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final

The rematch begins with high stakes and a number of game-changing storylines already in motion.