The biggest event of the NHL season is about to begin as the Edmonton Oilers host the defending champion Florida Panthers on Wednesday for Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. This highly anticipated matchup is a repeat of last year`s final, where the Panthers initially gained a commanding 3-0 series lead before the Oilers mounted an impressive comeback attempt. Ultimately, Florida secured their first franchise championship with a decisive 2-1 victory in Game 7.
This marks the 11th time in NHL history, and the fifth in the expansion era, that the Stanley Cup Final features the same two teams in consecutive postseasons. The last instance was the rivalry between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008 and 2009. The Florida Panthers are making their third straight appearance in the Final, having lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in 2023. This extends the streak for the state of Florida, which has had a representative in the championship series for six consecutive postseasons, thanks to the Tampa Bay Lightning`s three-year run from 2020 to 2022.
The Edmonton Oilers return to the Stanley Cup Final for the ninth time since joining the NHL from the World Hockey Association in 1979, and their third appearance since their last championship win in 1990. Edmonton aims to prevent Florida from becoming one of the few teams to win back-to-back Cups in the salary cap era (since 2005-06), a feat previously achieved by the 2016-17 Penguins and 2020-21 Lightning.
Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, selected first overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, has already accumulated numerous individual honors, including five Art Ross Trophies, three Hart Trophies, one Maurice Richard Trophy, and the Conn Smythe Trophy last year. Despite these accolades, the prestigious Stanley Cup has eluded him so far. The 28-year-old is now making his second bid to hoist Lord Stanley`s Cup.
While dedicated fans of the Panthers and Oilers are naturally invested in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, casual hockey viewers might find their interest piqued by the rise of sports betting. Wagering on the series provides an extra layer of engagement for those who aren`t die-hard fans.
If you`re new to sports betting or don`t wager frequently, don`t be discouraged. The world of sports betting can seem daunting to newcomers, but this guide aims to simplify the basics of betting on hockey, helping you enjoy the 2025 Stanley Cup Final even more.
Hockey Betting Basics
For newcomers to NHL betting, a crucial first step is exploring different sportsbooks. They often offer enticing sign-up bonuses, such as deposit matches, `bet and get` offers, or `no sweat bets.` Using multiple sportsbooks also allows you to compare lines and odds, finding the most favorable terms for your bets. For example, one book might list the total goals for the Oilers vs. Panthers opener at 6, while another has it at 6.5. Shopping around is key.
New users can significantly benefit from sports betting promotions, which often provide bonus bets that are ideal for getting started with hockey wagers.
Once you`ve chosen a sportsbook, familiarize yourself with the different betting options. NHL betting pages typically display the next game`s odds using +/- pricing. Plus-money odds (+): indicate the profit on a $100 bet (e.g., +110 profits $110 on $100). Minus-money odds (-): show the amount you need to wager to profit $100 (e.g., -130 means betting $130 to profit $100).
These prices are linked to three primary bet types:
- Spread (or puck line): This is the margin of victory required for the favorite to `cover.` In the NHL, it`s typically -1.5, though there are exceptions. The favorite must win by two or more goals. Conversely, a +1.5 underdog wins the bet if they win the game outright or lose by just one goal.
- Total (over/under): This is a bet on the combined number of goals scored in the game. If the Over/Under is 5.5, for instance, you need six or more total goals for an `Over` bet to win.
- Money line: A straightforward bet on which team will win the game. Since there are no ties in NHL playoffs (or the regular season), money-line bets don`t result in `pushes` (refunds).
Another 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 win in regulation, Panthers win in regulation, or Tie).
For over/under bets in the NHL, remember that goals scored in overtime do count towards the total. In the regular season, the single goal awarded for a shootout win also counts. For example, if the total is 5 and the game is tied 2-2 after regulation, ending 3-2 after a shootout, the total for betting purposes is 5. This results in a `push` and the bet is refunded, as the total did not exceed 5 goals from game action and the shootout counts as one goal.
NHL Prop Betting
Prop bets offer another exciting way to wager on the NHL. These bets aren`t tied to the final outcome but focus on specific events within the game, involving teams, individual players, or game statistics.
Player props are very popular. While not featuring the high point or yardage numbers seen in NBA or NFL, hockey offers many player prop options. A common one is the `anytime goal scorer` bet – if your chosen player scores a goal at any point in the game, you win.
Other player prop options 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 goalies (e.g., Sergei Bobrovsky Under 28.5 saves), and more. Assists and blocked shots are also frequent prop betting choices.
There are also prop bets focusing on team performance. These can include betting on which team scores first, the total number of goals scored by each specific team, or total shots on goal for a team.
Some of the most engaging prop bets are game-specific. You can bet on whether the game will go to overtime, the exact score at the end of each period (e.g., Oilers 2, Panthers 1), or whether both teams will reach a certain goal total (e.g., both teams to score 3 or more goals).
NHL Parlays
Similar to other sports, parlays are a widely used betting type in NHL games. A parlay combines multiple individual bets into a single wager. To win the parlay, every single bet within it must win.
Here`s an example of a parlay combining bets from multiple games (common during the regular season or early playoff rounds):
- Golden Knights money line (-115)
- Maple Leafs -1.5 (+154)
- Capitals vs. Hurricanes Over 5.5 (-110)
This example parlay might have odds around +807. Winning requires all three individual bets to be correct, making parlays inherently riskier than single wagers.
Bettors can also create `same-game parlays,` combining multiple bets from the same game. For the Stanley Cup Final, where it`s just one series, same-game parlays are a primary option. For instance, you could build a same-game parlay for an Oilers vs. Panthers game that includes:
- Panthers money line (+110)
- Oilers Over 3.5 goals (-127)
- Leon Draisaitl anytime goal-scorer (+130)
Note that the calculation for Same-Game Parlay odds varies between sportsbooks, highlighting the benefit of checking multiple betting apps.
During the regular season or early playoffs with multiple games daily, you can build parlays across different contests, including various prop bets. An example could be picking an anytime goal scorer from several different games, which would be a particularly challenging wager to win.
NHL Futures Betting
Another popular betting type is futures bets. Sportsbooks offer a wide range of futures markets for NHL teams and players, often covering outcomes far in advance. While fewer futures bets apply during the Stanley Cup Final itself, let`s look at common examples.
Futures bets typically cover outcomes for the entire season or postseason. They pay out if a chosen player or team achieves a specific milestone or wins an award. A prevalent team future bet is wagering on the Stanley Cup winner (e.g., Panthers at +550 odds before the series). If that team wins the Final, the bet cashes.
Other team futures include Conference winners, Over/Under for regular season points, making the playoffs, and winning the division. For individual players, futures can involve total points, total goals, or end-of-season awards.
Betting on the Conn Smythe Trophy winner (Playoff MVP) is a notable futures market available during the playoffs. While typically awarded to a player on the winning team, Connor McDavid last postseason became the sixth player in NHL history to receive it while his team lost. Entering the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, McDavid leads all players with 26 points and is considered the favorite for the award again.
Betting on the Stanley Cup
Sportsbooks release odds for the Stanley Cup winner starting in the preseason. This is the earliest opportunity to place a future bet on which team will ultimately win. These odds fluctuate throughout the season and playoffs, so bettors can monitor them for favorable prices.
Betting on the NHL Stanley Cup Final or the playoffs is largely similar to betting on regular-season games. The primary differences include the ability to bet on the outcome of the entire series (e.g., Oilers to defeat the Panthers) or the Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
When betting on series winners, you can often bet on the exact outcome in terms of games played (e.g., Oilers to defeat the Panthers in six games). This bet only wins if the series ends with that specific team winning in that exact number of games.
Live Betting
Just like many other sports, NHL games offer live betting, meaning you can place wagers while the game is in progress. As the game unfolds, sportsbooks update live odds for the money line, totals, spreads, and other markets. Common live bets include updating money line and total bets.
Live betting can be advantageous if you prefer to observe the game`s flow before committing a wager. For example, if a team has key injuries or has just undergone a coaching change, watching their initial performance on the ice might give you better insight before placing a bet. This real-time information might not be fully factored into the initial odds.
NHL Betting Tips and Advice
The NHL can be quite unpredictable, so consistently betting the -1.5 spread on every favorite isn`t usually a winning strategy. Here are a few fundamental tips for betting on hockey:
Verify the Starting Goaltender: This is easier in the playoffs, as the primary starter is usually in net unless injured or performing poorly. Always confirm who is starting before placing a bet, and compare the odds to how the team typically performs with that specific goalie.
Check Injury Reports for Key Players: Staying informed about NHL injuries is vital. This is especially crucial for top goal scorers and players on the power play. Following beat reporters for context on player health is also recommended. Hockey players are known for playing through injuries, so knowing if a key player isn`t 100% can provide valuable insight that might not be fully reflected in the odds.
Consider Rest Advantages: Pay attention to the schedule. A team might be finishing a back-to-back while their opponent had a day off. Or one team might be playing its fourth game in a week while the other is only playing its second. In the playoffs, compare how much rest each team had after winning their previous series.
It`s challenging for sportsbooks to constantly factor in every detail like injuries, lineup changes, and rest advantages, particularly during the busy regular season. Often, early bets from sharp bettors (“sharp money”) help adjust the lines as the bookmakers realize they might not have fully accounted for certain factors like rest.
