2024 Stanley Cup Final odds, Game 1 picks: Panthers vs. Oilers predictions, best bets by expert on 48-24 run

Teams hungry for a Stanley Cup championship battle in Game 1 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final on Saturday when the Edmonton Oilers battle the Florida Panthers. The Oilers (49-27-6) have gone more than three decades since hoisting the Cup in 1989-1990, and have made just one other Stanley Cup Final appearance since then, losing 4-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005-2006. The Panthers (52-24-6), who have never won the championship, are playing in their third Finals since Florida was awarded a franchise for the 1993-1994 season. The Panthers lost 4-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights a year ago.

Opening faceoff is set for 8 p.m. ET. Florida is the -139 favorite (risk $139 to win $100) in the latest Oilers vs. Panthers odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total goals scored is 5.5. Before making any Panthers vs. Oilers picks, be sure to check out the Stanley Cup Final predictions from SportsLine expert Matt Severance.

Severance is a well-connected writer and handicapper who has worked in the industry since 2005. He went an amazing 175-123-3 in 2023, earning profits on both goal totals and spread picks. After joining SportsLine, Severance quickly established himself as a top expert in multiple sports. He is 48-24 (+1,457) in his last 72 NHL puck-line picks and he’s on a 10-2 roll (+1066) on all NHL picks. Anybody following him has seen huge returns.

Now, Severance has set his sights on Oilers vs. Panthers and just locked in his picks and NHL predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the latest NHL odds from and trends for Oilers vs. Panthers: 

• Panthers vs. Oilers money line: Florida -139, Edmonton +117
• Panthers vs. Oilers over/under: 5.5 goals 
• Panthers vs. Oilers puck line: Florida -1.5 (+185) 
• EDM: The Oilers have hit the game total under in 26 of their last 40 away games (+12.30 units) 
• FLA: The Panthers have hit the game total under in 61 of their last 103 games (+20.40 units) 
• Panthers vs. Oilers picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why you should back the Panthers

Center Sam Reinhart is coming off a three-goal series against the New York Rangers. In a 5-4 Game 3 overtime loss, he punched in a pair of goals. He followed that up with a goal in the 3-2 overtime win in Game 4. In 17 postseason games, he has scored eight goals and added four assists. He had 57 goals and 37 assists in 82 regular season games, including two assists in the two matchups against the Oilers.

Left wing Matthew Tkachuk has made his presence felt this postseason. The former first-round draft pick in 2016 by the Calgary Flames, has provided a solid scoring punch for the Panthers, registering five goals and 14 assists. He had a goal and four assists in the six-game series win over New York, and the same output in the six-game series win over the Boston Bruins in the second round. In Round 1 against Tampa Bay, the 26-year-old had three goals and six assists. See which team to pick here.

Why you should back the Oilers

Defenseman Evan Bouchard has shown the propensity to be an offensive threat as well. In 18 playoff games, he has registered six goals and 21 assists. He was a big reason Edmonton was able to dominate Dallas, scoring one goal and adding six assists in the series, including two helpers in each of the last two games. In 81 regular season games, Bouchard posted 18 goals and 64 assists. He had an assist in the two games against Florida.

Center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins helped turn the tide against the Stars, scoring two goals and adding two assists in the series. In a 3-1 win in Game 5 at Dallas, he scored a pair of power-play goals to put the Stars on the brink of elimination. In 18 postseason matchups, he has six goals and 14 assists. He played in 80 regular season games, scoring 18 goals and adding 49 assists. See which team to pick here.

How to make Oilers vs. Panthers picks

Severance is leaning Under on the goal total. He’s also found a critical x-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the money line. You can only see his picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Oilers vs. Panthers, and which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the money line to jump on Saturday, all from the expert who is up over $1,400 in his last 72 NHL against-the-spread picks, and find out.