The most anticipated event of the NHL calendar is about to kick off as the Edmonton Oilers are set to host the reigning champions, the Florida Panthers, for Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. This series is a rematch of the previous year`s final, where the Panthers initially took a commanding 3-0 lead but ultimately clinched their first franchise championship in Game 7 with a narrow 2-1 victory, successfully fending off a strong comeback attempt by the Oilers.
This back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearance marks the 11th instance in NHL history and the fifth in the expansion era, the first since the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins contested the championship in 2008 and 2009. Florida is making its third consecutive trip to the Final, having lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in 2023, ensuring the Sunshine State has been represented in the championship series for six straight postseasons, including the Tampa Bay Lightning`s three-year run from 2020-22.
The Oilers are participating in their ninth Stanley Cup Final since joining the NHL from the World Hockey Association in 1979, and their third since securing their fifth championship in 1990. Edmonton aims to prevent Florida from joining the exclusive club of teams winning consecutive Cups in the salary cap era (since 2005-06), currently only achieved by the 2016-17 Penguins and 2020-21 Lightning.
Oilers superstar Connor McDavid has accumulated numerous individual accolades since being drafted first overall in 2015, including five Art Ross Trophies, three Hart Trophies, a Maurice Richard Trophy, and the Conn Smythe Trophy last year. However, Lord Stanley`s Cup has remained elusive. The 28-year-old is now on his second quest to capture hockey`s ultimate prize.
While Panthers and Oilers fans have significant stakes in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, the average hockey enthusiast might have less vested interest. However, the recent rise of sports betting offers a compelling way for anyone to become more engaged with the series.
If you`re new to sports betting or only wager occasionally, don`t be intimidated. Many newcomers and casual bettors find wagering on sports daunting. This guide aims to simplify the basics of hockey betting, enhancing your enjoyment of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.
Fundamentals of Hockey Betting
For those new to betting on the NHL or any sport, a crucial first step is exploring different sportsbooks. They often provide diverse sign-up bonuses, such as deposit matches or various types of bonus bets.
Another advantage of using multiple sportsbooks is the ability to compare lines and odds. For instance, the total goals for the Oilers vs. Panthers opener might be set at 6 by one book and 6.5 by another. Shopping around for the most favorable numbers before placing a bet is always advisable.
New users can benefit from promotional offers by acquiring bonus bets to start their hockey wagering journey.
Once you`ve selected a sportsbook, familiarize yourself with different wager types. Most NHL pages prominently feature the upcoming Stanley Cup Final game with associated odds (+/- prices). Plus-money odds indicate the potential profit on a $100 bet (e.g., +110 profits $110 on $100). Minus-money odds show the amount needed to wager to profit $100 (e.g., -130 requires a $130 bet to profit $100).
These odds typically apply to three primary bet types:
- Spread (or puck line): This is the goal margin by which the favorite must win. In the NHL, it`s commonly -1.5. The favorite must win by two or more goals to cover the spread. Conversely, a +1.5 underdog wins the bet if they win the game outright or lose by only one goal.
- Total (over/under): Refers to the combined number of goals scored by both teams. If the Over/Under is 5.5, six or more goals are needed for the `Over` bet to win.
- Money line: A straightforward bet on which team will win the game. Since NHL playoff games (and regular season games) cannot end in a tie, there are no `pushes` (refunds) on money-line bets based on the final score.
A variation is the three-way money line, where you can bet on either team to win in regulation, or on the game being tied at the end of regulation time (e.g., Oilers +105, Panthers +185, Tie +310).
For Over/Under bets in the NHL, remember that goals scored in overtime count towards the total. In the regular season, the goal awarded for a shootout win also counts. For example, if a game is tied 2-2 after regulation and ends 3-2 after a shootout, the total goals for betting purposes is 5. If the total line was 5, the bet results in a push; it is not considered an Under 5 bet based on the 2-2 regulation score.
NHL Prop Betting Explained
Prop bets offer an exciting dimension to wagering on the NHL, allowing bets on teams, individual players, or specific game events.
Player props are popular. While NHL players don`t rack up points or yardage like in other sports, there are numerous options. A common one is the anytime goal scorer bet – similar to an anytime touchdown scorer in football. If the chosen player scores a goal, the bet wins.
Other individual player props include point totals (e.g., Connor McDavid Under 1.5 points), shots on goal totals (e.g., Matthew Tkachuk Over 2.5 shots), save totals for goaltenders (e.g., Sergei Bobrovsky Under 28.5 saves), and more, such as assists or blocked shots.
Team-specific prop bets are also available. These can involve predicting which team scores first, betting on the individual goal totals for each team, or wagering on shot totals.
Intriguing game props include betting on whether the game will go into overtime, predicting the exact score after each period (e.g., Oilers 2, Panthers 1), or betting on total goals scored by both teams (e.g., both teams to score 3+ goals).
Understanding NHL Parlays
Similar to other sports, parlays are a widely used betting method for NHL games. A parlay combines multiple individual bets into one larger wager. To win the parlay, every single bet within it must win.
Here`s an illustration of a parlay during a day with multiple NHL games in the regular season or playoffs:
- Golden Knights money line (-115)
- Maple Leafs -1.5 (+154)
- Capitals vs. Hurricanes Over 5.5 (-110)
Winning all three of these individual bets is required for the entire parlay to pay out at combined odds (in this example, +807). This `all or nothing` nature makes parlays significantly harder to win than placing individual wagers.
Bettors can also create same-game parlays, placing multiple bets on outcomes within the same game. For the Stanley Cup Final, these are the only type of multi-game parlays available. For example, a same-game parlay for an Oilers vs. Panthers matchup might include:
- Panthers money line (+110)
- Oilers Over 3.5 goals (-127)
- Leon Draisaitl anytime goal-scorer (+130)
Keep in mind that different sportsbooks calculate same-game parlay odds using their own unique formulas, highlighting the value of comparing options across platforms.
When multiple games are scheduled, users can combine bets from various contests into a parlay, including different prop bets. Picking an anytime goal scorer from each game on a given night is an example of a challenging multi-game parlay.
NHL Futures Betting
Futures bets are another popular category, with sportsbooks offering a wide selection for NHL teams and players. While fewer apply directly to the ongoing 2025 Stanley Cup Final, here are some common examples.
Futures bets typically involve wagers placed on outcomes far in advance, often covering an entire season or postseason. They cash if a team or player achieves a specific benchmark or wins an award. A common team future is betting on the Stanley Cup winner (e.g., Panthers at +550). If that team wins the championship at the end of the playoffs, the bet is successful.
Team futures include betting on conference winners, point totals (over/under) in the standings, qualifying for the playoffs, and winning the division. Player futures can involve total points, total goals, or winning end-of-season awards.
Betting on the Conn Smythe Trophy winner is currently available. This award is usually presented to the most valuable player of the playoffs, typically from the winning team. However, last postseason, McDavid became only the sixth player in NHL history to receive the award while on the losing team. Entering the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, he leads all playoff scorers with 26 points and is the favorite to win the Conn Smythe again.
Betting on the Stanley Cup Series
Sportsbooks begin offering Stanley Cup odds before the season starts. Bettors can place wagers on the eventual champion at these early odds, which fluctuate throughout the season. Checking different sportsbooks at various times can yield different odds.
Betting on the NHL Stanley Cup Final or playoffs isn`t drastically different from regular-season betting. The main distinctions are the availability of bets on individual series winners (e.g., Oilers to defeat the Panthers) and the Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
When betting on a series winner, you can often also wager on the exact outcome (e.g., Oilers to defeat the Panthers in six games). This bet only wins if the series concludes with that specific result.
Live Betting on the NHL
Live betting, or wagering on a game already in progress, is widely available for NHL games. As the game unfolds, sportsbooks update live odds for the spread, money line, totals, and other markets. Money lines and totals are common live bets.
Live betting can be advantageous if you prefer to observe the game dynamics before committing a wager. For instance, if a team has key injuries or recently changed coaches, watching how they perform on the ice first can inform your betting decisions.
Practical Tips for NHL Betting
The NHL can be highly unpredictable, making a simple strategy of betting on every favorite to cover the -1.5 spread generally ineffective. Here are some fundamental tips for hockey betting:
- Confirm the Starting Goaltender: This is usually clear in the playoffs as teams rely on their No. 1 goalie. However, backups might start due to injury or poor performance. Always verify who is starting before betting and see how the odds compare to games with the usual starter.
- Review Injury Reports: Staying informed about player injuries is vital for any hockey bet. Pay close attention to key scorers and players on the power play. Following beat reporters on social media can provide valuable context on player health, as many tough hockey players play through injuries at less than full capacity. This information might not be fully reflected in the initial odds.
- Consider Rest Advantages: Examine the schedule for situations where one team has significantly more rest than its opponent. In the regular season, one team might be playing the second half of a back-to-back while the other rested. Or a team might be on its fourth game of the week versus an opponent playing only its second. In the playoffs, compare the time off each team had since their last series.
Sportsbooks often struggle to account for every minor detail like specific rest advantages, especially during the busy regular season. Early `sharp` money placed after lines are released can sometimes signal that the market is reacting to factors like rest that the bookmakers might have initially overlooked.
