Following a decisive 5-2 victory in Game 5 on Saturday, the Florida Panthers are now just one win away from clinching their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship. Veteran player Brad Marchand was instrumental in the win, scoring his ninth and tenth goals of the postseason, bringing Florida closer to another title. The Panthers have outscored the Oilers 23-16 throughout the series and arguably could have swept if they hadn`t lost Games 1 and 4 in overtime after initially taking the lead.
Game 6 is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, hosted at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. According to the latest odds, the Panthers are listed as -146 favorites (requiring a $146 bet to win $100), while the Oilers are the underdogs at +122 (a $100 bet wins $122). The total goals line is set at 6.5. Sports expert Eric Cohen has shared his predictions and insights for this crucial Game 6 matchup.
Eric Cohen is a recognized expert with a strong track record in sports betting. He has notably achieved success in golf and college football predictions. Interestingly, Cohen had placed a series bet on the Oilers to win the Cup at -120. Here are Eric Cohen`s top recommended picks for Game 6 between the Panthers and Oilers:
- Panthers -1.5 goals (+170)
- Over 6.5 goals (-102)
- Sam Bennett to score (+180)
- Score prediction: Panthers 6, Oilers 3
In his analysis, Cohen expresses that he has seen enough through five games to conclude that Florida is simply the superior team, despite his earlier series bet. He finds it difficult to see them losing Game 6 on home ice, suggesting the Oilers` two victories were “borderline fluky.” While acknowledging the star power of Edmonton`s Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Cohen highlights Florida`s more balanced roster and the significant advantage they hold with Sergei Bobrovsky in goal. He anticipates Florida will once again establish a two-goal lead, as they have done in four out of five games, and maintain control. Given that every game in the series has featured at least seven goals, he strongly advises betting the over. He also expects Edmonton to pull their goalie late in the game, likely resulting in Florida adding one or two empty-net goals to seal their second consecutive Stanley Cup victory. Panthers center Aleksander Barkov is currently the frontrunner to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, having scored 14 goals overall, including five in this series. Cohen recommends betting on Barkov to score, the Over 6.5 goals, and the Panthers covering the puck line at +170 to clinch the Cup.
Beyond Cohen`s insights, additional expert picks for Game 6 are available from a betting model that had a combined record of 80-56 on top-rated NHL puck-line and over/under wagers entering the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.
