Panthers vs. Oilers Prediction Tonight: Game 1 Odds & Goalscorer Picks

The Stanley Cup Final gets underway tonight, who will light the lamp red and lead their team to a pivotal Game 1 victory?

Gary Pearson

Last updated: June 4, 2025 2:55 PM EDT • 4 min read

Panthers vs. Oilers Prediction: Tonight's Stanley Cup Final Game 1 Odds & Goalscorer Picks — Pictured: Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe celebrates with center Sam Bennett and defenseman Gustav Forsling. Photo by Sam Navarro via Imagn Images.

The puck drops for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers in just a couple of hours. We have our Panthers vs. Oilers Game 1 prediction and goalscorer picks as Edmonton seeks redemption for last year's defeat.

The action from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, starts at 8 p.m. ET (TNT).

The Oilers are the favorites across our best sports betting sites, and our NHL picks analyze their chances of getting off to a much better start than last year's edition while providing two goalscorers for the opening salvo.

💰 Panthers vs. Oilers picks for Game 1 tonight

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✅ Against the spread pick: Panthers +1.5 (-210 via Caesars) ⭐⭐
✅ Moneyline pick: Oilers (-130 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅ Over/Under pick: Under 6.5 goals (-125 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

🏒 Game 1 prediction & best bet

🎯 Score prediction: Oilers 3, Panthers 2

Despite five of six series openers featuring either team having hit the Over, I'm going with the Under in Game 1. The Panthers won last season's opener 3-0. While I don't expect such a low total, the Oilers and Panthers have showcased their defensive prowess lately.

In addition, Sergei Bobrovsky and Stuart Skinner were in top form before the respite.

I backed the Oilers in my Stanley Cup Final prediction, and winners of the opener in the final have lifted the Holy Grail over 75% of the time. Rogers Place will be rocking, which has helped the Oilers to a 6-1 home record.

Edmonton lost two of three series openers, with the only exception coming in Sin City against the Vegas Golden Knights. However, Wednesday's opener will mark the first time the Oilers host Game 1. Kris Knoblauch's team is 12-2 in the last 14 playoff games, and I expect them to be at their best.

They've had enough time to stew over last season's heartbreaking loss to the Cats and won't want to use up any of their four lives in a building where the Oilers are as irrepressible as formidable.

Skinner won his previous three at Rogers Place, allowing two goals. Meanwhile, the Panthers have won four in a row on the road and eight of 10 in the playoffs, so they're due for a defeat.

✅ Best bet: Oilers ML (-130 via BetMGM)

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🥅 Our best goalscorer props for Panthers vs. Oilers Game 1

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🚨 Connor McDavid ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm backing the legend to make his mark on the final early. This series means everything to McDavid and his legacy. And I have no doubt he'll be at his best, which is a terrifying prospect for any team, including the Panthers. McDavid scored three goals in last season's Stanley Cup Final. A winning $10 bet will profit $15.

💰 Best odds: +150 via FanDuel

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🚨 Carter Verhaeghe ⭐⭐⭐

Scoring in three straight games against the Oilers, Verhaeghe loves playing McDavid and Co. He has six goals in these playoffs, including the series winner against the Carolina Hurricanes. He also lit the lamp twice in last year's Stanley Cup Final. A winning $10 bet will profit $26.50.

💰 Best odds: +265 via DraftKings

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📈 Panthers vs. Oilers odds

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🏒 Stanley Cup Final expert picks

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Panthers vs. Oilers Game 1 prediction & goalscorer props
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Written By:
Gary Pearson

Gary Pearson has written professionally since 2010, focusing on sports betting since 2014. Before entering the sports betting space, he contributed to the Canadian Press, FanSided, the Hockey Writers, the Calgary Herald, and other publications. His work has also been featured in Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report. Gary, who consumes sports like a blue whale devours plankton, has a penchant for writing predictions and analyses across several sports, including hockey, soccer, football, tennis, and more. He bets regularly, preferring single-game picks, props, and live betting. While there isn't a sport he has yet to dabble in, Gary prefers betting on soccer, hockey, and football. He studied at various post-secondary institutions, including the University of Calgary, SAIT Polytechnic, and Griffith University, located in Brisbane, Australia. Gary has a marketing degree and completed his bachelor's degree in journalism at Griffith University. He feels strongly that life experience is as essential as post-secondary education, helping formulate more accurate predictions and analyses. Gary believes that competing at a high level of amateur sports during his formative years helped him better understand an athlete's psyche and the nuances and complexities of a team's dynamic, both on and off the playing surface. He feels that knowledge is immeasurably important when offering his analytical expertise. He has lived on five continents and currently resides in Canada.