NHL Betting: Is There Still Value in Betting on the Oilers to Win the Stanley Cup?

The Panthers have looked like the far better team through the first two games of this Stanley cup series. They take a 2-0 lead back to Edmonton, where the overmatched Oilers will look to save their championship chances. NHL betting sites have made Edmonton a major underdog, leading to some tempting odds heading onto Game 3.

Below, we’ll share how our US Legal Sports Betting experts view the Oilers chances to win the series. They’ll give you the latest odds and insights to help you bet confidently using your favorite sports betting apps this week.

Bookmakers have made the Panthers a massive betting favorite. Here are the latest odds from Betway Sportsbook:

Check out our Betway Sportsbook Review.

While the first two games remained close for some time, the Panthers have seemed to have another gear late in games. They allowed four third-period goals in the first two games, three of which came in Game 2. Stuart Skinner and the blueline are certainly to blame for those struggles, but the bigger issues are on offense.

The Oilers rely on their ability to score to win games, but they have been shut down by the Panthers. The team scored just one goal over the first two games. While they managed 32 shots in Game 1, they only managed 19 in Game 2. Most of those came towards the end of the game, with Edmonton managing just eight shows through the first 2.5 periods.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have yet to register a goal in this series. McDavid is flying around the ice and seems likely to find the back of the net soon, but Draisaitl has been frustrated by the Panthers' defense. We saw him take it out on Florida in Game 2, fortunately avoiding a suspension.

While we wish the price was a bit better, we absolutely believe the Oilers can still win this series. We look back to their Western Conference victory against the Stars as a comparison. The Oilers went down 1-2 and were outscored 10-5 over the first three games. Dallas looked like the better team, but Edmonton came alive to win the next three games.

Though Edmonton fell apart in the second half of the third period in Game 2, they did a good job keeping the Panthers in check on offense. If McDavid and/or Draisaitl can find a way to work through the Florida defense, it could lead to a major shift in the series.

On top of having the best player on the ice, Edmonton will be back home. A rowdy crowd should help the Oilers regain some of their swagger, and the Panthers could falter after making the long trek into Alberta. If the Oilers can make a statement in Game 3, we think they can make a run to bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada.