Panthers vs Oilers Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight's NHL Playoffs Game 1

Parker's prediction: Bobrovsky faces and turns aside plenty of rubber.

Neil Parker - Analyst at Covers.com
Neil Parker • Betting Analyst
Jun 4, 2025 • 17:11 ET • 4 min read
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This article contains predictions for an old game!

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Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) looks for the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Photo By - Imagn Images. Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) looks for the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Stanley Cup Final is set for a sequel as the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers square off once again after last year’s seven-game thriller that ended with the Panthers hoisting the trophy.

Game 1 goes down Wednesday, June 4, at Rogers Place, and my Panthers vs. Oilers predictions are banking on another strong performance between the pipes from Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

Read on for my NHL picks for Wednesday, June 4. 

Who will win Panthers vs Oilers Game 1?

Since dropping the first two games of the opening round, Edmonton has caught fire, rattling off 12 wins in its last 14 outings and dominating on home ice with a 6-1 mark at Rogers Place.

While Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to headline the charge, depth contributions up front and the return of Mattias Ekholm on the blue line have made a major impact.

Look for the Oilers to come out on top in Game 1.

Panthers vs Oilers prediction

My Panthers vs Oilers pick: Sergei Bobrovsky o24.5 saves (-120 at BET99)

Florida Panthers star Sergei Bobrovsky has dialed it in and allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his past nine starts while going 7-2 with a .944 save percentage, 1.34 GAA, and 13.73 goals saved above expected.

The two-time Vezina Trophy winner and reigning Stanley Cup Champion is building a Conn Smythe case, and the Cats will need Goalie Bob at his best in Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers.

As noted, Edmonton enters the series rolling along its own tear, after all.

The Oilers have won 12 of their past 14 games, averaging 4.14 goals and 31.6 shots per game. During this streak, Edmonton has gone 6-1 with 4.71 goals per game on home ice.

Florida has been the better possession team overall in the postseason with a solid 53.7 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five, while Edmonton enters with a 51.9% mark.

Still, with the Oil averaging 31.9 shots per home game, I’m expecting Bobrovsky to see close to 30 shots in Game 1. And, for what it’s worth, he stopped all 32 shots in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final last spring.

Panthers vs Oilers same-game parlay (SGP)

Oilers moneyline

Sergei Bobrovsky Over 24.5 saves

Evander Kane Over 2.5 shots on goal

In addition to the highlighted case for the Oilers to win Game 1, No. 1 goalie Stuart Skinner has flipped the script and put on a clinic during an active 6-1 run in the crease. He’s posted a .944 SV% and 1.41 GAA with 10.26 goals saved above expected, including going 3-0 on home ice.

Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, the return of winger Evander Kane has been huge for the Oil. Not only has he piled up 11 points – five goals – during the highlighted 14-game Edmonton heater, he’s also recorded an impressive 37 shots on 74 attempts while recording three or more shots in nine of the 14 contests.

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Panthers vs Oilers odds

Panthers vs Oilers live odds

Panthers vs Oilers opening odds

  • Puck line: Florida +1.5 (-220) | Edmonton -1.5 (+180)
  • Moneyline: Florida (+110) | Edmonton (-130)
  • Over/Under: Over 6 (-115) | Under 6 (-105)

Odds courtesy of BET99

Panthers vs Oilers trend

Edmonton is 9-1 straight up (SU) in its last 10 games when playing as the favorite. Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Oilers.

How to watch Panthers vs Oilers

Location Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
Date Wednesday, 6-4-2025
Puck drop 8:00 p.m. ET
TV ESPN, SN

Panthers vs Oilers latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Neil Parker - Covers
Betting Analyst

Neil Parker is, first and foremost, a sports fan. A huge supporter of the Cowboys, Cubs, and Maple Leafs, he has managed to parlay his passion into writing gigs with Sportsbook Review, USA TODAY, theScore, DraftKings Playbook, and RotoWire, among many others. He also co-hosted the Daily Fantasy Edge podcast and can now be seen offering expert golf and hockey advice on Covers’ Before you Bet broadcast.

Neil takes a numbers-based approach to his handicapping and complements his in-depth statistical analysis with a keen eye on the markets to provide the best available odds. He loves to lean on his rolodex of idioms to offset his inner nerd. When it comes to wagering, he throws down on anything that catches his eye at bet365, Betway and BetVictor. He also keeps a close eye on CoolBet because the polar bear brand often has outlier NHL and NFL moneyline prices.

Neil graduated with honors from St. Thomas University in 2007 before completing his BEd at Acadia University in 2010. After teaching a myriad of courses and subjects, he found a groove delivering fun lessons to exceptional learners in non-traditional classroom environments. If his decade-plus teaching run taught him anything about sports betting, it’s to stay the course and use the summer – or offseason – to refresh and prepare to be better in the year to come.

Neil’s top pieces of advice for recreational bettors are to stay within your means and to remember sportsbooks aren’t bank accounts. Don’t be afraid to pull those winnings and treat yourself to a lifetime experience courtesy of a big win.

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