Bettors backing Oilers to thwart Panthers repeat

With the “dynasty” phrase being floated freely because the Florida Panthers put together for his or her third consecutive Stanley Cup Finals look, the general public has been backing the Edmonton Oilers to keep away from a repeat of final 12 months’s finals.

The groups have equal -110 odds at DraftKings to win the collection that begins Wednesday in Edmonton, with the Oilers drawing 65 p.c of the whole early bets and 78 p.c of the cash wagered on the champion.

The motion has been extra break up at BetMGM, the place the Oilers opened because the -125 favourite. Their odds have shortened even additional to -130, which has led to the Panthers being backed by 53 p.c of the bets and 57 p.c of the cash on the e book.

The full video games market has held regular at six, with 98 p.c of the cash backing the Over, which might imply one other dramatic seven-game collection.

Edmonton eradicated Dallas in Recreation 5 of the Western Convention ultimate on Thursday, establishing a repeat of final 12 months’s Stanley Cup Last gained by Florida in seven video games. It is also the primary repeat matchup within the Last since Detroit and Pittsburgh met in 2008 and 2009.

The Oilers are consensus 1.0-goal favorites (+153) practically per week forward of Recreation 1. The road is 1.5 objectives at DraftKings (+190), Caesars (+180) and BetMGM (+192), which reported 66 p.c of the cash additionally backing Edmonton’s -120 Recreation 1 moneyline.

“They are a actually good crew and we’re a very good crew as properly,” Oilers ahead Leon Draisaitl mentioned of the Panthers. “It is good to get a shot at getting some revenge, however we’re a protracted methods from that. We’ll take pleasure in this and prepare.”

In final 12 months’s Stanley Cup Last, Edmonton misplaced the primary three video games however pushed it to the restrict earlier than dropping the deciding recreation 2-1.

Now the Oilers have their alternative to not solely win the Stanley Cup however declare the crown towards the membership that broke their hearts.

“I believe we’re higher for going by final 12 months,” Oilers star Connor McDavid mentioned. “It is an important studying expertise and actually pushed us all 12 months. This run has felt very totally different than final 12 months. It is felt very regular. …

“Video games might be emotionally draining, however we’re not drained. We have nearly as good an opportunity as they do.”

–Subject Degree Media