NHL Predictions for Oilers vs Panthers: Game 1 Same-Game Parlay (Saturday, June 8)

Check out a same-game parlay (SGP) for Oilers vs. Panthers as Tony Sartori makes his NHL predictions for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The first game of this highly anticipated Stanley Cup Final will get underway on Saturday night (8 p.m. ET, ABC & ESPN+) at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, with the Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers.

The latest Oilers vs. Panthers odds have Florida priced as a moderate -137 favorite while the over/under is set at 5.5 for the clash.

Find out how I am tackling Game 1 with a +1511 SGP at FanDuel as I make an Oilers vs. Panthers SGP pick for Saturday.

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NHL Predictions: SGP for Oilers vs. Panthers Game 1

My Oilers vs. Panthers same-game parlay for Game 1 is a three-legger and will focus on two player props and a side.

The Game 1 SGP's trio of bets includes:

• Sam Reinhart Anytime Goalscorer (+140)
• Sam Bennett Anytime Goalscorer (+420)
• Florida Panthers ML (-137)

Sam Reinhart Anytime Goalscorer

Sam Reinhart possesses the shortest odds of any Florida skater to find the back of the net, and for good reason. This postseason, he leads Florida in individual expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60).

He also leads the team in the same category when you isolate performance for 5-on-5. I mention this because I believe Reinhart will make the biggest impact in this series at even-strength.

Among the 16 playoff teams, Edmonton ranks 11th this postseason in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5.

Reinhart also ranks second among all skaters this postseason in high-danger shots on goal.

Sam Bennett Anytime Goalscorer

While it is ambitious to target two goalscorers from the same team in an SGP, Reinhart and Sam Bennett are capable of doing so. In fact, we have to go back only three games to find the last time it happened.

In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final, Bennett scored the first goal of the second period while Reinhart buried the game-winner in overtime. We already know how good of a goalscorer Reinhart is, but Bennett has been equally effective recently, scoring in each of the past three games while adding 11 shots on goal.

This success is likely to continue against Edmonton, a team Bennett has scored five goals against over the past six meetings.

Florida Panthers Moneyline

I opened the previous section discussing how ambitious it is to target two goalscorers from the same team. Something that is subsequently unambitious is also backing that same team to win the game, which is a highly correlated outcome (especially when the total is set at 5.5).

No matter how you slice it up, Florida has been the superior team this postseason, ranking higher than Edmonton in xGF/60, xGA/60 and expected goals against per 60 minutes. Even if you isolate those metrics to include only 5-on-5 play, the Panthers still outrank the Oilers in all three of those main analytical categories.

Not only are they the superior team both offensively and defensively, but they also boast the goaltending advantage. While Stuart Skinner has been playing well for Edmonton, he is just simply not on the level of Sergei Bobrovsky, who remains one of the world's best netminders.

Bobrovsky has now allowed two or fewer goals in 10 of his past 11 starts, posting an 8-3 record with a commanding .921 SV% and 1.77 GAA over that stretch. He is more than capable of stopping Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, especially considering that Bobrovsky is 4-1 over his past five games against the Oilers with a .936 SV% and 2.03 GAA.

The Pick: Oilers vs. Panthers Game 1 SGP (+1511 at FanDuel)

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