CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Edmonton Oilers and NHL MVP Connor McDavid will take on the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals tonight. Edmonton is chasing its sixth championship, its first since 1990, and a first for future Hall of Famer McDavid.
Florida, making a return trip to the Final, is seeking its first cup.
Here’s a look at the series odds and Saturday morning Game 1 odds, according to BetMGM:
Series result odds
Panthers 4-0: +1100
Panthers 4-1: +575
Panthers 4-2: +475
Panthers 4-3: +400
Oilers 4-0: +1300
Oilers 4-1: +750
Oilers 4-2: +450
Oilers 4-3: +550
Game 1 preview
When: Tonight, 8:10 p.m.
Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Fla.
TV: ABC
Moneyline: Oilers +120; Panthers -145.
Spread: Oilers +1.5, -225
Over-Under: 5.5 -115
Things to know
Forward Matthew Tkachuk is Florida’s leading playoff scorer with 19 points. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has given up 38 goals in the whole playoffs and has a 2.20 goals-against average.
Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl has 28 playoff points. McDavid has 31 to lead the league.
The Oilers have converted on 37.3% of their playoff power-play chances, a league best.
What they’re saying
Oilers wing Connor Brown on the styles of play:
“It’s pretty cool to be in Edmonton where it’s live-and-die hockey and then come down here where it’s a little different down here in South Florida. They play an in-your-face style of game and they pressure and they play on their toes, and so do we, so it’s going to make for some fun hockey.”
Oilers general manager Ken Holland:
“You don’t fluke this league. You need skill, and you need an engine and that engine of that group of players have got to drive your team on and off the ice.”
Panthers forward Sam Bennett:
“We’re ready this year. We have that bitter taste in our mouth still. Our mindset this year is completely different than last year. It was a little bit happy to be there, enjoying the experience. This year it’s all business. We have one goal in mind, and we’re not going to be satisfied until we accomplish that.”
Panthers wing Nick Cousins:
“You have to find that fine line. We have to make sure that we’re physical and clean and getting in on the forecheck because that’s our DNA, that’s our style of game.”
Oilers wing Evander Kane:
“There’s going to be some more nastiness. Both teams have some passionate players on each side. I think there’s going to be some intangibles that guys have on both teams that are going to play out and maybe tip a team over in the right way and tip a team over in the wrong way.”
- Information from the AP was used in this post.