Stanley Cup Final Game 5 Picks - June 18

For the second time, the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will take the longest flight in Stanley Cup Final history. That’s thanks to the Oilers winning Game 4 and avoiding the sweep, sending the series back to the Sunshine State. With that in mind, we’ve shared our best Stanley Cup Final Game 5 picks for 6/18.

Stanley Cup Final Game 5 Predictions

Pick #1 - Panthers ML over Oilers (-130)

Pick #2 - Over 5.5 Goals (+100)

Pick #3 - Sam Bennett Over 0.5 Points (+110)

Stanley Cup Final Game 5 picks: Florida Panthers ML over Edmonton Oilers (-130)

It’s only fitting that what feels like the most difficult NHL game to predict all season is what may be the final one of the year. With us expecting a Panthers win, that’s exactly what will be the case, as it would mean that they win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Coming off a loss and taking a long 3,000-mile flight is no picnic, but it’s a trip they had to take regardless of the result of Game 4. More experience in this spot should also help them bounce back in front of the Florida faithful.

The Panthers were just in the Stanley Cup Final a season ago, where they were in the same position that the Oilers are in right now. They ultimately lost the series to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games, but that also means they now understand exactly the mindset that Edmonton is in.

Therefore, they should have no problem flipping the switch, and the extra travel day should help goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky get his head right after looking like the sure Conn Smythe Trophy winner. Taking down Connor McDavid and company is no easy task, but back on home ice, the Panthers can take Game 5.

Stanley Cup Final Game 5 picks: Over 5.5 Goals (+100)

If the past two games have shown us anything, it’s that the expected goal values from the first two games are what we should continue to see. After seven total goals were scored in Game 3, the Oilers came back strong and scored eight themselves.

They didn’t even have a cheeky empty netter to pad their stats, and they even made up for their lackluster power play with a short-handed goal to start things off. Even when they scored a single goal across the first two games of the series, their expected goals were north of five.

Their dominance in Game 4 got Bobrovsky pulled in the second period, and they were incredibly efficient, scoring their first four goals on just 11 shots. Of course, given that we expect Florida to win the game, it’s not just Edmonton’s scoring that we’re focused on.

There were several saves by Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner that we don’t expect him to replicate, and Florida’s Aleksander Barkov would likely agree. Therefore, we’re targeting another high-scoring game tonight.

Stanley Cup Final Game 5 picks: Sam Bennett Over 0.5 Points (+110)

Of the several goals we’re expecting to see, we’re focused on a Florida skater to be a part of one, and likely early on. Sam Bennett has proven himself to be one of the unsung heroes for the Panthers, and that began during their Stanley Cup run last season.

He had 15 points through 20 postseason games in the 2023 playoffs and has 13 thus far this postseason. More importantly, three of those came in the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final, and he has proven to have consistent success against the Oilers.

In Florida’s two regular season games against Edmonton, Bennett recorded a goal in the first and three points in the second for a total of four points. Of course, skating alongside guys like Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart certainly helps, so regardless of how he does it, we expect Sam Bennett to find his way into the box score in Game 5.