Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid makes his Stanley Cup Final debut Saturday in Game 1 against the Florida Panthers. McDavid is the betting favorite in the Conn Smythe odds, and he’s pacing the postseason with 31 points.
Florida slowing down No. 97 in Game 1 will be priority No. 1, and our free NHL picks for McDavid call for the Panthers to keep the star in check in the series opener.
Connor McDavid prop picks for June 8
- McDavid Under 1.5 points (-125 at BET99)
- McDavid Under 0.5 power-play points (-145 at BET99)
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Connor McDavid best bets
McDavid Under 1.5 points (-125)
As good as Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid has been, he’s still failed to record two or more points in nine of 18 postseason games, including six of nine road contests. The Oilers now face their toughest road test of the playoffs, with the Florida Panthers allowing just 2.29 goals per game and the fewest expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five (2.17).
Panthers No. 1 goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has also been sharp. He’s allowed two goals or fewer in 13 of 17 postseason games and rounded into top form with a .920 SV% and 1.89 GAA through his past 13 starts. Florida has also tilted the ice in their favor at Amerant Bank Arena during the playoffs with a dominant 56.5 Corsi For percentage and 57.2% shot share.
Finally, I’m anticipating the Cats turning to their top defensive players to slow down another star, as center Aleksander Barkov and defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling have been up to the task. New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak, and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov combined for just two multi-point games against the Panthers during the playoffs.
Connor McDavid prop: Under 1.5 points (-125 at BET99)
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McDavid Under 0.5 power-play points (-145)
The Edmonton No. 1 power-play unit has been incredible with a postseason-high 37.3 PP%, and McDavid has been a driving force with 14 points with the man advantage. Still, nine of those PP points came in Round 1 against the Los Angeles Kings, when the Oilers drew 5.56 penalties per 60 minutes. Penalties and PP opportunities won’t be as frequent in the Final, and Edmonton drew just 1.89 penalties per 60 against the Dallas Stars in Round 3.
Additionally, the Panthers have been an excellent penalty-kill team dating back to the regular season. Florida ranked sixth with an 82.5 penalty-kill percentage during the regular season and ranks second with an 88.2% mark in the playoffs.
There’s also potential for the Oilers to see some statistical correction with the man advantage after posting a 26.3 PP% during the regular season.
Connor McDavid prop: Under 0.5 power-play points (-145 at BET99)
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