Probably the top competition for clubs in hockey is the Stanley Cup. We are at the finals (best of 7) where the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers will have a repeat of last year’s series which were won by the Americans by 4-3. The first match will be played on Jun 06 and the second on Jun 08. We are going straight to the third one which will show which way the pendulum will swing. This one is set to begin at 00:00 GMT on Jun 10 at the Amerant Bank Arena.
Probably not a repeat of 2024
The same teams reached the final last year too. In a most dramatic sequence of events, Florida won the first 3 matches and were presumed to sweep their opponents. However, Edmonton fought back, won the next three and drove the series to the seventh and final match. We do not expect that it will be the same this year even though the Panthers have won both encounters of the regular season (4-3 at home and 5-6 away).
What we can learn from the last matches is that both teams score plenty. In the last confrontations between the two, we had a total of 7, 11, 3, 6, 8, 9, 7, 5 and 3 goals scored totally. So, it would not be that much of a stretch to look for the odds for a total of 7 or more goals. Either with or without a combination that will say that both sides with score. After all, only 1 in 11 matches ended without both sides scoring.
Statistics and numbers do not matter
When any team in any sport reaches the final game that settles the owner of the title, the only things that matter are the motivation and the condition of the players at the time of each separate match. On this account we may have to give Edmonton an extra due to their thirst for revenge after last season’s loss at the last game. A lot will depend on what we will see at the first two matches.
Update
After the first two games of the series the score is 1-1. The Oilers won the first by 4-3 while the Panthers won the 2nd by 5-4. So, we have balance in everything. The fact that both confrontations went to extra time is a dead giveaway of what to expect. And that’s probably a series that will go all the way to the seventh game.
Tough nut to crack
That’s the deduction from the first two confrontations. The two sides are rather evenly matched, and there should not be an easy night in any of the remaining encounters of the series. For us it makes no sense to offer only @1.77 for a Florida win at the third game and @2.16 for Edmonton on a moneyline. It makes a lot more sense to offer @2.21 and @2.74 on 1X2.
What we will do here is consider that both previous matches went in extra time. A third occurrence for a draw pays a quite alluring @4.17. However, it is rather unlikely for the outcome to happen again. Therefore, we will suggest to those that open an account at the best betting platform, to go for the win of the home side in regulation time. It does seem like the most probable outcome.