If the opening game is any indication, the second installment of the Panthers-Oilers Stanley Cup Final is poised to be an exhilarating contest.
Regardless, Edmonton holds a 1-0 series advantage heading into Game 2 on Friday night. The key question is whether the Oilers can secure another victory before the series shifts cross-continent to South Florida, or if the “Comeback Cats” will rally to even the score.
Here are some notable points on the matchup, based on available data, along with potential betting perspectives.
Key Matchup Details
Following their win in Game 1, the Edmonton Oilers are now the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, while the Florida Panthers` odds have adjusted. Leading candidates for the Conn Smythe Trophy (awarded to the playoff MVP) include Edmonton`s Connor McDavid, Florida`s Sergei Bobrovsky, Edmonton`s Leon Draisaitl, and Florida`s Aleksander Barkov.
Historically, the team winning Game 1 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final series has gone on to win the series 76% of the time.
The Oilers recorded 46 shots on goal in Game 1, which marks a franchise record for shots in a Stanley Cup Final game.
Florida has set a new Stanley Cup playoffs record with 51 road goals this postseason. They are also the first team in NHL history to score three or more goals in nine consecutive road games during a single postseason run.
Leon Draisaitl scored his third overtime goal this postseason, tying a single-postseason record previously held by other notable players.
Defenseman Mattias Ekholm became the 20th different Oilers player to score a goal this postseason, placing the team near the record for the most unique goal scorers in a single playoff run.
Stuart Skinner earned his 26th career playoff win, moving him to second place in Oilers history for playoff victories, trailing only Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr.
Florida`s Sam Bennett scored his 11th and 12th goals this postseason, breaking the Panthers` single-postseason record. His 11 road goals this postseason tied an all-time record for the most road goals in a single postseason.
Brad Marchand scored a power-play goal in Game 1, extending his unique streak of having at least one power-play goal in each of the past eight postseasons.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 42 saves in the losing effort in Game 1, the second-highest save total by a Panthers goalie in a Stanley Cup Final game.
Key Offensive Players
- Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers: GP: 17 | G: 6 | A: 22
- Sam Bennett, C, Florida Panthers: GP: 18 | G: 12 | A: 6
Betting Predictions for Game 2
- Sergei Bobrovsky over 24.5 total saves: Considering Edmonton`s high shot volume in Game 1, the Panthers` netminder is likely to face many shots again and is expected to exceed this save total.
- Eetu Luostarinen over 3.5 total hits: The physical forward has averaged over 4 hits per game during this postseason and played significant minutes in Game 1, suggesting he`s ready to continue playing a physical game.
- Corey Perry over 0.5 total points: Filling in on a top line and power play unit alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Perry has been contributing offensively recently and may continue to do so.
