Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Game 1: Picks, Predictions and Odds

Finally, the Stanley Cup Final kicks off in Sunrise, Florida, with the Florida Panthers facing the Edmonton Oilers.

Let’s dive deep into Game 1 picks and predictions.

Read the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Final series preview from Daily Faceoff on site.

Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Game 1 prediction

The Florida Panthers head into this series firing on all cylinders. Every aspect of their game is on point.

They have an all-star caliber goalie. They're getting great defensive play from guys like Gus Forsling, Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour. They have elite forwards in Alex Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sam Reinhart. On top of all that they have the second-best penalty kill and the sixth best power play in the playoffs.

The Panthers are also built for the playoffs. Not only do they have a ton of high-end talent, but they also have a lot of tough players who make the opposing team’s life miserable. Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Nick Cousins, Ryan Lomberg (when he's in the lineup) - this team is built for the playoffs.

The Oilers might not be as deep as the Panthers, but they certainly have the advantage when it comes to high-end talent. The Oilers feature five of the top seven scorers in the playoffs. Edmonton has four players ahead of the top Panther scorer, Tkachuk.

Special teams have played a huge role in getting the Oilers to where they are today. Edmonton has the top power play and penalty kill in the playoffs. If they can keep that up, they're going to win this series.

So much of Game 1, and this series as a whole, is going to depend on the officiating. If they let the two teams play, the Panthers will have the advantage. If they call it tight, and there are a lot of penalties, Edmonton will have the advantage.

The Oilers will take Game 1 on the road. They've shown an ability to win any way you want in the playoffs. They can go end to end and outscore their opposition. They can play shut down defence. They can play tough, in-your-face hockey.

They're going to head into Florida and upset the Panthers in Game 1 thanks to a strong power play and an incredible performance from their top players.

Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Game 1 picks

Money Line: Edmonton Oilers (+115)

Alternative Puck Line: Edmonton Oilers -1.5 (+240)

Anytime Goalscorer: Leon Draisaitl (+165)

Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Game 1 odds

EDM Oilers	+115 ML
FLA Panthers	-135 ML
Puck Line	FLA Panthers -1.5
Total Goals	O/U 5.5

Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Game 1 player props

Anytime Goalscorer

Zach Hyman (EDM Oilers)	+130
Sam Reinhart (FLA Panthers)	+130
Leon Draisaitl (EDM Oilers)	+165
Connor McDavid (EDM Oilers)	+165
Carter Verhaeghe (FLA Panthers)	+175
Matthew Tkachuk (FLA Panthers)	+190

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Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.