Winnipeg Jets vs. Edmonton Oilers Game 1 Prediction, Playoff Odds
Connor McDavid, the frontrunner to win the Hart Trophy, cruised to a league-high 105 points in 56 games this season. He didn’t hold up against the Jets either, putting up seven goals and 15 assists in nine games against Winnipeg.
McDavid will have a vengeance too, as his Oilers were bounced in the Qualifying Round last season and have just one playoff series win in his first five seasons. For those keeping track, that’s one fewer series win than the Winnipeg Jets 2.0 had in their first nine seasons.
Puck drop at Rogers Place goes at 9 p.m. EST.
Jets vs. Oilers Stanley Cup Odds
The 35-19-2 Oilers met the 30-23-3 Jets nine times in 2021 and it was Edmonton finishing with a 7-2 record and winning six straight over Winnipeg. Over their past five meetings, the Jets scored four goals total. The good news for Winnipeg? It’s now a 0-0 series with higher stakes.
Edmonton was a mediocre 16-12 at home in 2021, and the Jets were much better on the road this season with a 17-10-1 record. The NHL odds have the Oilers as -155 moneyline favourites to win Game 1, with the over-under pegged at six.
Winnipeg Jets
A 3-0 loss versus the Oilers on April 17 began a major late-season slide for the Jets, who lost nine of their last 12 regular season games. But Winnipeg ended on a two-game win streak and played most of that losing stretch without some key players who could all be back Wednesday.
All eyes are on Nikolaj Ehlers after he missed the last nine games of the season with a shoulder injury. Despite the injury, Ehlers remained tied for second on the team in goals with 21. Ehlers, along with Pierre-Luc Dubois are listed as game-time decisions for Wednesday.
Both would add to a loaded forward group featuring Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Blake Wheeler. All three had over 45 points in 2021’s 56-game season.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers’ attack starts with McDavid… but once he’s off the ice, the league’s second-highest scorer is likely hopping back over the boards. That would be Leon Draisaitl, who finished with 84 points in 56 games. Both he and McDavid were the only NHL players with over 70 points and two of just five players to score 30 goals this season. They become a duo on Edmonton’s first power play unit though, both being the only skaters in the NHL with over 30 points on the man advantage this season (Nathan MacKinnon was third with 25).
In net, 39-year-old Mike Smith had a career year with a 21-6-2 record and .923 save percentage.
WIN
EDM