The Florida Panthers are now just one win away from securing their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship. Their journey to this point was highlighted by a strong 5-2 performance in Game 5 on Saturday. Veteran forward Brad Marchand, a key mid-season acquisition, was instrumental in the win, netting his ninth and tenth goals of the postseason. While the Panthers have held a clear scoring advantage in the series (23-16), the Edmonton Oilers managed to claim victories in Games 1 and 4, both coming in overtime after Florida had held leads, preventing a potential sweep.
The crucial Game 6 is scheduled for Tuesday evening, with the puck drop set for 8 p.m. ET. The action will take place at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. According to the latest odds, the Panthers are favored on home ice at -142, while the Oilers enter as +120 underdogs. Offering his insights for this pivotal matchup is sports expert Eric Cohen, who provides his top picks and a score prediction for Game 6.
Eric Cohen`s Game 6 Picks and Prediction
- Panthers to win by more than 1.5 goals (Puck Line: Panthers -1.5 at +170)
- Total goals scored to be Over 6.5 (-102)
- Sam Bennett to score a goal at any time (+180)
- Predicted Final Score: Panthers 6, Oilers 3
Expert Analysis
In his assessment, Eric Cohen concludes that based on the performance in the first five games, the Florida Panthers are demonstrably the superior team in this series. He finds it unlikely that the Oilers will manage a win in Florida during Game 6. Cohen posits that the Panthers could arguably have swept the series, suggesting the Oilers` two wins had elements of fortune. Although Edmonton possesses elite offensive talent in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Cohen emphasizes Florida`s advantage in overall team depth and particularly in goaltending, citing Sergei Bobrovsky`s performance. Cohen anticipates that Florida will likely build a lead of at least two goals, a pattern seen in four of the five games played so far. Considering every game in the series has exceeded six goals, he sees little reason to predict the under. Cohen also expects Edmonton might pull their goalie late in an attempt to tie the game, which could lead to one or two empty-net goals for Florida to seal the victory. He also points out that the Panthers` center is the leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, having scored 14 goals in the playoffs, including five against the Oilers. Based on these factors, Cohen`s recommended wagers are on the Over for total goals and for the Panthers to cover the puck line, predicting they will clinch the Stanley Cup in Game 6.
