The Florida Panthers are set to face the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Friday. The Oilers currently lead the series 1-0 after a tight contest in Game 1.
Edmonton secured a narrow 4-3 overtime victory in the series opener on Wednesday. The game-winning goal was scored by Leon Draisaitl on a power play with just 31 seconds remaining in the extra period, capping off a comeback win for Edmonton.
Game 2 is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET and will be held at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
According to the latest betting odds, Edmonton is listed as a -131 favorite on the money line (a bet of $131 wins $100), while Florida is the underdog at +110 (a bet of $100 wins $110). The over/under for the total number of goals scored in the game is set at 6.5. The Oilers are also -1.5 (+185) on the puck line.
These predictions are informed by the SportsLine Projection Model. This model simulates every NHL game 10,000 times and has demonstrated a solid performance history, entering the first week of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final with a combined 80-56 record on top-rated NHL puck line and over/under betting picks, showing positive returns for bettors following its advice.
Based on the model`s analysis for Friday`s Game 2, here are its top betting recommendations:
- Panthers +1.5 on the puck line (-226)
- Under 6.5 total goals (-125)
Analysis for Panthers +1.5 on the puck line (-226): Game 1 continued a pattern of close matchups between these two teams, marking the fourth consecutive one-goal game dating back to the previous season`s Stanley Cup Final. This trend suggests that Game 2 is also likely to be a tight contest. The SportsLine model`s simulations project that Florida will cover the +1.5 puck line in well over 70% of scenarios.
Analysis for Under 6.5 total goals (-125): Although the last three games between these opponents have seen more than 6.5 goals scored, the model anticipates a shift towards stronger defensive play taking prominence in Game 2. Florida`s goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky delivered a remarkable performance in Game 1, stopping 42 shots, indicating the potential for high-level goaltending. For the Under to be successful, both teams will need their defenses and netminders to perform exceptionally.
