Anaheim Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers Game 2 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
The Edmonton Oilers struck first as they prepare to host the Anaheim Ducks for Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday.
Edmonton bookended Game 1 by outscoring the Ducks 2-0 in both the first and third periods on Monday night to cruise to a 4-3 victory. Can the veteran Oilers continue to push on Wednesday, or will Anaheim’s young guns strike back?
Edmonton is a -190 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 7.0.
Ducks vs. Oilers NHL Betting Odds
If you’re looking for a little historical hope for the Ducks, let’s check out the last time these teams met in the playoffs in 2017. Anaheim lost the first two games of the series at home before winning four of the last five in a seven-game thriller. It’s not much, but it’s something.
Despite a close result in Games 1, oddsmakers are still firmly on board with the Oilers as they are -475 favourites to win the series (entered Game 1 at -235). If you still believe in the upstart Ducks, you can get them at +360 (were +195) to shock Edmonton.
The favoured exact series result on the NHL futures board currently stands as an Edmonton win in five games at +240, while the biggest long shot is an Anaheim win in five at +2500. I lean Oilers in six at +360 as the best value.
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks’ 26 comeback wins in the regular season was tied with Montreal for the most in the NHL this year and it looked like they were on track to pull another rabbit out of their hat in Game 1. Trailing 2-0 after the first period, Troy Terry (two goals) and Leo Carlsson gave Anaheim a lead heading into the final frame. Although the Ducks lost the game in the third, there’s a bit of a moral victory in taking a team like Edmonton right down to the wire.
Overall, Terry led the way for Anaheim in Game 1, finishing with a two goals and an assist. It was the 28-year-old’s first taste of playoffs after nearly 500 career regular season games. Carlsson, in addition to finding the back of the net, also added an apple. Lukas Dostal turned aside 30 of 34 shots faced in net.
Young superstar Cutter Gauthier was held off the scoresheet in Game 1 and finished minus-1 with 13:02 of ice time. Gauthier led the Ducks in both goals (41) and points (69) during the regular season, so it’s safe to say the team will need more from him to have a shot in this series.
Edmonton Oilers
Kasperi Kapanen played the hero for Edmonton in Game 1, scoring two goals, including the game-winner with 1:54 left in regulation. Jason Dickinson, one of five Oilers players to record multiple points, also had two goals. Leon Draisaitl had two assists in his return after missing the last 14 regular season games with a lower-body injury.
The bigger story, however, is who didn’t make it on to the scoresheet. Connor McDavid, who led the NHL with 138 points (48G, 90A) this season, was held pointless in 24:50 of ice time. McDavid previously had a point in every Edmonton win this year and the Oilers went 0-12-2 in the regular season when he didn’t score.
One area of concern for Edmonton heading into this series was goaltending. Connor Ingram did enough to get the win in Game 1, making 25 saves on 28 shots, but an .893 save percentage is actually a drop below his .899 SV in the regular season. For context, Ingram’s .893 SV ranks 10th of 16 playoff goalies.
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