The Edmonton Oilers are looking to build on their momentum and take a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final. They secured an overtime victory in Game 1 on Wednesday, staging a comeback after falling behind by two goals. Leon Draisaitl, who led the NHL in regular-season goals with 52, scored his second goal of the game with an excellent assist from Connor McDavid, giving the Oilers the initial advantage in the best-of-seven series. Since losing their opening two playoff games, the Oilers have been dominant, winning 13 of their subsequent 15 contests heading into the important Game 2 on Friday.
Puck drop for Game 2 is set for 8 p.m. ET on Friday evening at Rogers Place in Edmonton. In the latest betting odds for the Oilers vs. Panthers game, Edmonton is listed as a -128 favorite (requiring a $128 wager to win $100), while Florida is the +108 underdog (a $100 wager yields $108). For those considering wagers, it`s advisable to review the Game 2 NHL score prediction from SportsLine expert Eric Cohen, whose insights can help inform betting decisions.
Eric Cohen is a well-regarded expert at SportsLine and a member of the Early Edge team. He has recently demonstrated his prediction prowess by correctly picking two golf winners in the past month and ranking among the top three college football experts on the site. Displaying his diverse expertise, Cohen has also placed a futures bet on the Oilers to hoist the Stanley Cup, with odds currently at -120.
Based on his analysis, here are Eric Cohen`s key picks for Game 2 of the Panthers vs. Oilers:
- Oilers Moneyline (-128)
- Under 6.5 total goals (-125)
- Connor McDavid to score a goal (+155)
- Panthers vs. Oilers predicted final score: Oilers 3, Panthers 2
Cohen`s Analysis: According to Cohen, Edmonton was the better team throughout Game 1 and could reasonably have won by a larger margin, supported by their significant 46-32 advantage in shots on goal. While dismissing the defending champions is never easy, the Oilers` offense is currently performing at a very high level. Connor McDavid and his teammates have an impressive 7-1 record playing at home this season, and Cohen doesn`t anticipate them suffering their second home loss on Friday night. Although the Panthers benefit from a noticeable advantage in goaltending with Sergei Bobrovsky compared to Stuart Skinner, the momentum and the energy from the home crowd appear to be with Edmonton, particularly after Florida surrendered a 3-1 second-period lead in Game 1. Cohen expects the Oilers to build an early lead and hold on for a narrow victory to take a 2-0 lead in the series. He is also confident in betting on Connor McDavid scoring a goal in this matchup at +155 odds.
