2025 Stanley Cup Final: Best Bets as Panthers, Oilers Meet Again

The 2025 Stanley Cup Final delivers a rematch between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers.

Last year, the Panthers held off the Oilers in seven games. This time around, Edmonton owns home-ice advantage, and oddsmakers installed the star-powered team as favorites — listed at -128 at FanDuel and -120 at DraftKings — on the eve of Game 1.

Florida knocked out the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games in the first round, followed by eliminating the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in the second round. The Panthers finished off the Carolina Hurricanes in five games in the Eastern Conference finals.

The Oilers overcame a 2-0 series deficit to stun the Los Angeles Kings in six games in the first round. Edmonton needed five games in each of the last two rounds to bounce the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars.

Here’s a look at some of the best bets for the Stanley Cup Final:

Under 35.5 total goals in series (-115 at DraftKings)

The Panthers and Oilers combined for 41 goals in last June’s Stanley Cup Final. With the series going seven games, that’s an average of 5.85 goals per contest. However, Edmonton scored 18 goals in its three wins and just five in its four losses.

After combining for 51 goals in the first round against Los Angeles, the Oilers combined for 26 goals against Vegas and 33 in the conference finals against Dallas.

In the two series that finished in five games this postseason, Florida and its opponents totaled 31 goals apiece.

Since allowing 16 goals in the first round against the Kings, the Oilers have given up an average of 2.23 goals per game over the last 13 contests.

Carter Verhaeghe most goals in series (+1100 at DraftKings)

The top two favorites in this category are Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, who combined for three goals in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

Florida’s Carter Verhaeghe has scored three goals over the last two Stanley Cup Final appearances — tied with teammates Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart.

Verhaeghe has recorded 30 playoff goals over the last five seasons, the most of any Panther during that span.

McDavid has netted six goals this postseason, while Draisaitl has scored seven. However, McDavid was held without a goal in two regular-season matchups with the Panthers.

Series correct score: Panthers 4-2 (+450 at DraftKings)

The Panthers have played without home-ice advantage throughout this postseason and managed a third consecutive Eastern Conference championship.

Historically, the last time two teams made it to the Stanley Cup Final without home-ice advantage in any of the first three rounds was 2012. In that matchup, the Kings defeated the Devils — although New Jersey held home-ice in the Final.

That’s one precedent, but Florida is 4-2 in its last six Stanley Cup Final home games, including matchups against the Golden Knights and Oilers.

If the Panthers can manage a split in Edmonton — where they won earlier this season — there’s no reason to think they can’t take care of business in South Florida.

The Oilers are 6-1 in their last seven road contests, but struggled to score in Florida in last year’s Final. Edmonton managed just two goals in three road defeats, while erupting for five goals in the lone win in Sunrise.