Following a convincing 5-2 victory in Game 5 on Saturday, the Florida Panthers are now just one win away from claiming their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship. Veteran forward Brad Marchand, acquired during the season, scored his ninth and tenth goals of the postseason, moving Florida closer to the title. The Panthers have outscored the Oilers 23-16 over the course of the series and might have even achieved a sweep if they hadn`t lost Games 1 and 4 in overtime after surrendering leads.
Game 6 is scheduled for Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, taking place at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. The Florida Panthers are favored in this crucial matchup.
Expert Predictions for Game 6
- Panthers -1.5 goals
- Over 6.5 total goals
- Sam Bennett to score a goal
- Score prediction: Panthers 6, Oilers 3
Expert Analysis
According to expert analysis, Florida is simply the superior team in this series. The two wins secured by Edmonton are viewed as somewhat fortunate, suggesting the Panthers could have potentially swept the series. While the Oilers boast elite offensive talent in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Florida possesses a more balanced roster and the clear advantage in net with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. The expectation for Game 6 is that Florida will establish an early lead, likely by two goals, and maintain control. Given that every game in the series has featured at least seven goals, betting on the under is not recommended. The expert anticipates Edmonton pulling their goalie late, allowing Florida to add one or two empty-net goals to secure the win. Aleksander Barkov, the Panthers` center, is considered the leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) with 14 goals overall, including five against the Oilers. The expert`s recommendations include betting on Florida to cover the puck line (-1.5 goals), the game total going over 6.5 goals, and Sam Bennett scoring, predicting a 6-3 final score for Florida to clinch their second consecutive Stanley Cup.
