Oilers vs. Panthers: NHL Stanley Cup Final Picks (Game 7)
This looked to be an easy series for the Panthers, but now they are on the verge of blowing a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1945. Let’s look at the best bet for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Monday's Best NHL Pick
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Edmonton Oilers (-105) at Florida Panthers (-115) | O/U 5.5 (+130/-155)
The Oilers were dead in the water last week; one of the best offenses had been held down by the Panthers’ pressure defense. We started to see a spark late in Game 3, getting to within goal in the third period. The offense showed up, scoring eight goals in Game 4, and they've looked like the team that at one point won 17 straight games. They've been using their speed to prevent Florida's forechecking in the neutral and pressuring Sergei Bobrovsky.
Regardless of the results, it looks as though Connor McDavid will win the Conn Smythe and could be the sixth player to win it on the losing team. He's been the driving force of this Oilers offense, scoring eight points in the last three games. His 42 points are the fourth most in a playoff season, and he is five shy of tying Wayne Gretzky for most.
How can Florida avoid one of the biggest chokes in playoff history? The blue line needs to get better; they haven't been able to prevent the puck from getting into their zone and are allowing high-danger shots and second chances. The Oilers have some of the best groups of forwards, but Florida allowed the fourth fewest shots per game this season and the tenth fewest high-dangerous shots.
Most importantly, Sergei Bobrovsky needs to get back on track. Going into Game 4, he was the odds-on favorite to win the Conn Smythe, but with the exception of an immaculate performance for the ages tonight, that is out of the picture. Before this losing streak, he had a .916 save percentage and 2.10 goals allowed per game; over the last three, those numbers are .793 and 4.00.
Their offense also has to find its way through, as Stuart Skinner has been phenomenal in these three games, and even the Oilers’ blue line is playing better.
Adrenaline will be high and tense throughout this game. We're going to see both teams press and make mistakes. The Over hit in the last game thanks to two empty netters, but look for this score to be low going into the third period, and the Under should hit.
Pick: Under 5.5 Total Goals (-155)