The Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers has all the makings of a closely contested series, according to oddsmakers. The matchup was set on Wednesday, with ESPN BET opening both teams at -110 odds. However, after Game 1, which takes place in Edmonton, the odds began to shift, with the Oilers emerging as the favorite at some books.
The Panthers won the franchise’s first Stanley Cup last season by outlasting the Oilers in seven games. The opening price for this year’s finals suggests another competitive battle is on the horizon. Florida rolled over the Carolina Hurricanes in five games to reach the finals, while Edmonton finished off the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference finals.
Both teams were among the top Stanley Cup favorites all season and attracted significant betting support from fans. The Oilers were the clear favorite at DraftKings, with approximately 21% of all bets placed on them winning the Stanley Cup. Meanwhile, the Panthers have been looking to become the 10th franchise in NHL history to repeat as champions.
The series will be marked by individual performances, with Edmonton’s Connor McDavid favored to win the Conn Smythe Award at -110, followed closely by Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky at +250 at ESPN BET.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/45384337/panthers-oilers-stanley-cup-finals-rematch-opens-toss-up