Connor McDavid and his Edmonton Oilers enter Amerant Bank Arena for the first time since their unforgettable 2024 Stanley Cup series, looking to take down Aleksander Barkov and the Panthers.
These two met back in December in Edmonton for what was an extremely fun contest, where the Panthers stole a 6-5 victory on the road.
We may not see the same fireworks and goals that game had, but it seems like a safe bet we will see the same intensity and passion.
When these two last met, the game ended with 11 total goals, all scored in regulation. We may not see the goal total jump back to 11 goals, but expect to see lots of offensive action and results.
This game features two of the top three goalscorers in the NHL, Leon Draisaitl (43) and Sam Reinhart (31). It also features two of the top four point producers in Leon Draisaitl (87) and Connor McDavid (73) and multiple players who are some of the NHL's best offensive catalysts.
The Oilers and Panthers both currently score at a 3.3 goals per game rate, which is good enough for sixth and seventh best respectively.
Lately, Edmonton has had major issues keeping the puck out of the net and fixing things against a dominant team like Florida seems very unlikely.
In their last four games overall, Edmonton has given up 22 goals. It is clear their defensive efforts are not working as of late, and it’s possible that Florida can continue to fill Edmonton’s net, frustrating the team.
Because of that, it makes sense to back Over 6.0 total goals in this 2024 Stanley Cup Final rematch.
It may seem like an easy pick to expect the NHL’s best player to score in a game, but McDavid has not been scoring at all as of late. The dynamic forward has not scored a goal in five games, with just one goal in his last eight outings.
McDavid has 22 goals on the year which is impressive, and in the 4 Nations Face-Off he was electric with his usual scoring touch. He is not struggling this season by any means, but he and his team are in a rough spell.
This is a big-time game where the Oilers desperately need a strong performance. Their captain and best player needs to lead the way, and McDavid usually shows up in big moments, so I think he will find the back of the net.
This is a very important matchup for many reasons. Florida has won three of its past four games, but they are in an extremely tough battle for first in the Atlantic Division with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
They are playing strong, on home ice, and have played just two games since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off, while Edmonton has played three, which were all on the road.
Florida looks set to pounce off the puck drop and take it to a reeling Oilers team that has lost four straight. This strong start and expected consistency throughout the game should have them be the first team to hit two goals.
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EDM Oilers | +100 ML |
FLA Panthers | -120 ML |
Puck Line | FLA -1.5 |
Total Goals | O/U 6.0 |
Sam Reinhart (FLA Panthers) | +125 |
Leon Draisaitl (EDM Oilers) | +125 |
Connor McDavid (EDM Oilers) | +155 |
Aleksander Barkov (FLA Panthers) | +165 |
Carter Verhaeghe (FLA Panthers) | +180 |
Zach Hyman (EDM Oilers) | +190 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.