Can Oilers Rebound From Meltdown in Game 2 vs Canucks?
The Edmonton Oilers will be the favorite in the NHL odds again on the road when they attempt to even the best-of-seven Western Conference series with the Vancouver Canucks at a game apiece on Friday.
The Oilers appeared to have full control with a three-goal lead late in the second period but allowed four unanswered goals to suffer a gutting 5-4 loss in Game 1 on Wednesday. Vancouver scored three times in a span of 4:48 in the third period.
Edmonton, which led the league in the regular season at 33.8 shots per game, managed just eight in the final 40 minutes and superstar Connor McDavid did not have one for the first time in his playoff history. It is time for the Oilers to respond.
Dakota Joseph helped bettors cash most of their prop bets on him with a goal and two assists for the Canucks. Joseph assisted on Conor Garland’s game-winner with 5:34 left.
The @Canucks and Colorado each completed a three-goal comeback win within a 24-hour span. #StanleyCup#NHLStats: https://t.co/RKN11nrFon pic.twitter.com/yNWy3QoVo1
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 9, 2024
Despite the fifth loss in five games against Vancouver this season, the Oilers are -140 to win the series in the Las Vegas hockey odds. The Canucks are +120.
Oilers vs Canucks Game Information
- Game: Oilers (0-1) vs Canucks (1-0)
- Location: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, B.C.
- Day/Time: Friday, May 10, 10:00 p.m. ET
- Oilers vs CanucksLive Streaming: NHL.com
Oilers vs Canucks Odds and Spreads
Oilers vs Canucks Trends
- Over bettors are 5-1 at the sportsbook in the last six Edmonton games, but 40-44-4 for the season.
- The Canucks have covered the third period puck line in 26 of their last 45 home games.
- The Oilers are 10-for-21 on the power play in the postseason.
- Vancouver forward Brock Boeser had six goals versus Edmonton in the regular season and added an assist on Wednesday.
- The Canucks have scored 19 goals in three games at home versus the Oilers in 2023-24.
Expect More Urgency From the Oilers
Edmonton must look forward after letting a chance to gain home-ice advantage in the series slip away.
Zach Hyman scored twice, passing Wayne Gretzky (1983) and moving into a tie with Mark Messier (1983) for the most goals by an Oilers player in the first six games of any playoffs, but the rest of the lineup was only average.
Oilers deserved to lose. Blew a 4-1 lead.
Not enough urgency. Did any players have their “A” game?
It is only one game, but they were 20 minutes away from stealing a game.
Expect a better effort from many of their top players on Friday.
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) May 9, 2024
Defenseman Mattias Ekholm told reporters Edmonton should be encouraged by the first 50 minutes, but the Oilers were beaten 33-19 in the faceoff circle and managed just 18 shots.
Edmonton’s defense pair of Cody Ceci and Darnell Nurse were both -3 in Game 1. They were a combined +15 in the regular season.
Vancouver’s ‘Third’ Line is First
The Canucks are getting contributions throughout the lineup, but the so-called third-line trio of Joseph, Elias Lindholm and Garland moved to the front of the class.
Joseph had three points and was +3, Garland scored the winner and Lindholm had a goal and an assist, five shots, five hits and was 14-4 on the faceoff dot.
“The belief is always there,”
Joseph told reporters. “Just to know that you got to keep playing to the end, anything can happen, and in the third, once the crowd gets behind us and gives us a little bit more confidence, you could see it spread throughout the team.”
Defenseman Nikita Zadorov scored the tying goal on Wednesday – his third in the last three home games.
What Happens Between the Pipes?
Arturs Silovs gave up four goals on the first 14 shots, including a shaky one by Hyman that gave Edmonton a 4-1 lead 13:11 into the second period. But Silovs shut the door from there for his third win in the last four games.
Silovs, who spent most of the season in the American Hockey League, took over when No. 1 goalie Thatcher Demko went down with an injury in the first round and No. 2 Casey DeSmith was lost in Game 3 versus Nashville. DeSmith is now the backup and Demko is recovering.
“I was battling for the guys,” says Arturs Silovs about a few big saves he made at the end of the game.
“They did such an amazing job today and in my mind I couldn’t let them down.” #Canucks
— Noah Strang (@noahstrang_) May 9, 2024
Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner may have to answer more questions before you bet online. He has a career .887 save percentage in the playoffs and a .794 SP versus Vancouver in four outings this season.
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Questions of the Day
Will Vancouver score a power-play goal?
No. The Canucks are 2-for-16 with the man advantage in the playoffs and the Oilers are 15-for-15 on the kill
What Edmonton player has the best value to score a goal?
Evander Kane (+250). The left wing scored 24 times in the regular season and has two in the playoffs.
