Oilers vs. Panthers Game 6 odds, picks: NHL Stanley Cup Final predictions, best bets

New York Post

4 hours ago

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The Florida Panthers are good at just about everything, but their biggest superpower may be their ability to remain calm when they're under pressure.
One year ago, the Panthers blew a 3-0 series lead to these Edmonton Oilers, but responded with a defensive masterclass in Game 7 to win their first Stanley Cup.
This spring, they were down by two goals in Game 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, facing the prospect of falling behind, 3-0, in their best-of-seven series.
Florida won Game 3 in overtime and claimed the series in seven games.
The Cats showed their poise once again in Game 2 of the Final, winning in double overtime to avoid falling behind in the series, 2-0.
Florida's resolve was on display again in Game 5, when the Panthers put together a comprehensive 5-2 victory after blowing a 3-0 lead in Game 4.
Every time the pressure ramps up, the Panthers respond with their best effort.
There will be plenty of pressure on the Cats on Tuesday night, as the Stanley Cup will be in the building for the first time this year.
Florida is a -146 favorite to win Game 6 – and the Cup.
Sergei Bobrovsky and Brad Marchand of the Florida Panthers celebrate after Game 5.
Getty Images
Oilers vs. Panthers Game 6 betting preview
One of the most frustrating parts about playing the Panthers in the playoffs is that they seem to get better as the best-of-seven series goes deeper.
Florida plays a relentless, physical brand of hockey, and the punishment that the Cats inflict tends to pay off in the championship rounds.
The Oilers have done an admirable job of staying in the fight, but their tanks could be getting dangerously close to empty as we hit our first elimination game of the series.
Betting on the NHL?
Edmonton's goaltending is under the most scrutiny ahead of Game 6, but the Oilers also struggled mightily to unlock Florida's defensive structure Saturday night.
Edmonton created just three high-danger scoring chances and 0.94 expected goals at 5-on-5 against the Panthers in Game 5.
Oilers vs. Panthers Game 6 pick
It's never a good time to have your goaltending situation in flux, but there could hardly be a worse one than before Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Oilers have a tough choice to make between Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, and the biggest red flag is that neither netminder inspires much confidence.
No matter who the Oilers roll with, they will be the second-best goaltender on the ice behind Sergei Bobrovsky, who is coming off a solid performance in Game 5 and has been superb in high-pressure situations for the Panthers for a number of years.
Betting on the NHL?
With a murky goaltending situation, the Oilers have no real margin for error, which is bad news against the Panthers, who are masters at forcing teams into mistakes.
The Panthers look a bit short, even at -150 odds, for Game 6, but I like the idea of tying them to the Under 6.5 to give your ticket a little bit more oomph.
Same-Game Parlay: Panthers -150/Under 6.5 (+190, FanDuel)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.