Tuesday’s Game 4 had the feeling of a must-win contest for the Edmonton Oilers as they turned to backup goalie Calvin Pickard, who got the job done in a 3-2 win. The Oilers will need that momentum on their side as they travel to Vancouver to play in front of a hostile Canucks crowd for Game 5 on Thursday night.

Edmonton opened as a -150 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 6.5.

Oilers vs. Canucks NHL Betting Odds

This has arguably been the most entertaining and tightly contested series of the playoffs, with all four games decided by a single goal. It’s a far cry from the regular season season series, which Vancouver swept, outscoring the Oilers 21-7 in the process. One deviation in Game 4 saw the total go Under for the first time this series and just the second time in eight regular season and playoff meetings this year.

Edmonton is back on top as -210 favourites to win the series. But, with Vancouver having home ice in two of the next three games (if the series goes the distance), the Canucks look like great value as +170 underdogs on the series line. Oddsmakers clearly believe the Oilers will keep rolling as the favoured exact series result is an Edmonton win in six games at +155. If you’re looking for a player prop, Leon Draisaitl, who has three goals in the second round, is +200 to be the top goal scorer in the series.

The NHL futures board lists Edmonton +475 to win the Stanley Cup, while Vancouver is +2000.

Edmonton Oilers

Evan Bouchard came in clutch for the Oilers in Game 4, scoring the winning goal with just over 30 seconds to play in the third period. Bouchard has scored in three straight games and has back-to-back multi point efforts. Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also scored, while Pickard stopped 19 of 21 shots faced in his first NHL playoff start. A lot of the offence is coming from the Edmonton’s big guns as Draisaitl leads the playoffs with 20 points (8G, 12A), Connor McDavid is second with 18 (2G, 16A) and Bouchard is third with 15 (4G, 11A).

The main question heading into Game 4 was who to start in net. Stuart Skinner simply hasn’t been good enough, posting a .783 save percentage in the first three games of this series, so head coach Kris Knoblauch took a gamble on Pickard and it paid off. A starter for Game 5 hasn’t been announced yet, but you have to think Pickard has the edge. The 32-year-old journeyman appeared in 23 for the Oilers during the regular season, posting a 12-7-1 record with a 2.45 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.

Vancouver Canucks

Conor Garland and Dakota Joshua scored third period goals to battle back in Game 4, but it wasn’t enough to get the job done for Vancouver. Arturs Silovs stopped 27 of 30 shots faced, falling to 4-3 in the playoffs, but he still has solid numbers with a 2.71 GAA and .907 SV. The Canucks were without defenceman Carson Soucy, who was suspended one game for cross-checking McDavid at the end of Game 3. Soucy may not be a top-name defenceman, but it was still a significant loss as he is averaging over 17 minutes of ice time per game in the playoffs.

Brock Boeser has been Vancouver’s most consistent scorer in the playoffs, leading the team in both goals (seven) and points (12). One player the Canucks desperately need more from, however, is Elias Pettersson, whose only point this series was a power play goal in Vancouver’s Game 2 overtime loss. Pettersson had 89 points (34G, 55A) in 82 regular season games, but he has just four points (1G, 3A) in 10 playoff games.

“He’s (Pettersson) got to get going,” said head coach Rick Tocchet after Game 4. “I don’t know what else to say.”

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Oilers vs. Canucks Game 5?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Oilers Team Leaders

EDM

Points	Connor McDavid 132
+ / -	Mattias Ekholm 44
Shots	Zach Hyman 290
Penalty Mins	Evander Kane 85
Wins	Stuart Skinner 36
GAA	Calvin Pickard 2.45

VAN

Points	J.T. Miller 103
+ / -	Quinn Hughes 38
Shots	Elias Pettersson 207
Penalty Mins	Nikita Zadorov 102
Wins	Thatcher Demko 35
GAA	Thatcher Demko 2.45

EDM

Points	Connor McDavid 42
+ / -	Evan Bouchard 14
Shots	Zach Hyman 90
Penalty Mins	Evander Kane 37
Wins	Stuart Skinner 14
GAA	Calvin Pickard 2.21

VAN

Points	Brock Boeser 12
+ / -	J.T. Miller 5
Shots	J.T. Miller 29
Penalty Mins	Nikita Zadorov 26
Wins	Arturs Silovs 5
GAA	Thatcher Demko 2

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Canucks Team Leaders

EDM

Points	Connor McDavid 132
+ / -	Mattias Ekholm 44
Shots	Zach Hyman 290
Penalty Mins	Evander Kane 85
Wins	Stuart Skinner 36
GAA	Calvin Pickard 2.45

VAN

Points	J.T. Miller 103
+ / -	Quinn Hughes 38
Shots	Elias Pettersson 207
Penalty Mins	Nikita Zadorov 102
Wins	Thatcher Demko 35
GAA	Thatcher Demko 2.45

EDM

Points	Connor McDavid 42
+ / -	Evan Bouchard 14
Shots	Zach Hyman 90
Penalty Mins	Evander Kane 37
Wins	Stuart Skinner 14
GAA	Calvin Pickard 2.21

VAN

Points	Brock Boeser 12
+ / -	J.T. Miller 5
Shots	J.T. Miller 29
Penalty Mins	Nikita Zadorov 26
Wins	Arturs Silovs 5
GAA	Thatcher Demko 2

Injuries

Edmonton

Evander Kane (LW)

Ques Fri Abdominal - 12 / 06 / 24

Darnell Nurse (D)

Prob Thurs Hip - 11 / 06 / 24

Corey Perry (RW)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 31 / 05 / 24

Adam Henrique (C)

Prob Mon Ankle - 23 / 05 / 24

Adam Henrique (C)

Out Mon Ankle - 12 / 05 / 24

Adam Henrique (C)

Ques Fri Lower Body - 03 / 05 / 24

Mattias Janmark (C)

Prob Mon Undisclosed - 20 / 04 / 24

Cody Ceci (D)

Out Wed Rest - 17 / 04 / 24

Darnell Nurse (D)

Out Wed Rest - 17 / 04 / 24

Evander Kane (LW)

Prob Mon Hernia - 15 / 04 / 24

Vancouver

Ilya Mikheyev (RW)

Out Sat Undisclosed - 18 / 05 / 24

Carson Soucy (D)

Elig Thurs Suspension - 13 / 05 / 24

Phillip Di Giuseppe (LW)

Ques Thurs Personal - 12 / 05 / 24

Casey DeSmith (G)

Prob Tues Undisclosed - 28 / 04 / 24

Tyler Myers (D)

Prob Fri Illness - 23 / 04 / 24

Tyler Myers (D)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 02 / 03 / 24

Phillip Di Giuseppe (LW)

Ques Sat Personal - 22 / 02 / 24

Dakota Joshua (C)

Prob Thurs Upper Body - 15 / 02 / 24

Nikita Zadorov (D)

Elig Thurs Suspension - 10 / 02 / 24

Carson Soucy (D)

Prob Tues Hand - 22 / 01 / 24

Injuries

Edmonton

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Evander Kane (LW)	Ques Fri	Abdominal - 12 / 06 / 24	3-2	4-1	+ -
Kane missed his last game due to an abdomen injury, and it is unclear if he will play Friday's game against the Panthers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Darnell Nurse (D)	Prob Thurs	Hip - 11 / 06 / 24	3-2	4-1	+ -
Nurse exited the contest with a hip injury, but he is expected to play against the the Panthers in Game 3 of Conference Final.
Corey Perry (RW)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 31 / 05 / 24	5-4	5-4	+ -
Perry exited the contest with a shoulder injury, and it has yet to be established if he will face the Stars in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final.
Adam Henrique (C)	Prob Mon	Ankle - 23 / 05 / 24	6-7	6-7	+ -
Henrique is dealing with an ankle injury, but he is projected to be available Monday's clash against the Stars in Game 3 Western Conference Final.
Adam Henrique (C)	Out Mon	Ankle - 12 / 05 / 24	7-11	8-9-1	+ -
Henrique is dealing with an unknown ailment, and he will not participate in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Canucks.
Adam Henrique (C)	Ques Fri	Lower Body - 03 / 05 / 24	7-13	10-9-1	+ -
Henrique is bothered by a lower-body injury, and it is uncertain if he will play in Game 2 of the Western Conference second round against the Canucks.
Mattias Janmark (C)	Prob Mon	Undisclosed - 20 / 04 / 24	9-16	13-11-1	+ -
Janmark is tending to an unspecified ailment, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Kings.
Cody Ceci (D)	Out Wed	Rest - 17 / 04 / 24	10-17	15-11-1	+ -
Ceci will not battle the Coyotes on Wednesday as he will receive a day of rest.
Darnell Nurse (D)	Out Wed	Rest - 17 / 04 / 24	10-17	15-11-1	+ -
Nurse will not be active for Wednesday's clash with the Coyotes as he will be given a day of rest.
Evander Kane (LW)	Prob Mon	Hernia - 15 / 04 / 24	10-18	15-12-1	+ -
Kane is dealing with a sports hernia, but it is projected that he will lace up for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Kings.

Vancouver

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Ilya Mikheyev (RW)	Out Sat	Undisclosed - 18 / 05 / 24	1-1	0-1-1	+ -
Mikheyev is dealing with an unknown injury, and he is not expected to play against the Edmonton on Saturday
Carson Soucy (D)	Elig Thurs	Suspension - 13 / 05 / 24	4-1	2-2-1	+ -
Soucy has received a one-game suspension for cross-checking, and he will be eligible to return against the Oilers in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Phillip Di Giuseppe (LW)	Ques Thurs	Personal - 12 / 05 / 24	4-1	2-2-1	+ -
Di Giuseppe is dealing with a personal matter, and his status for Thursday's game against Oilers is in question.
Casey DeSmith (G)	Prob Tues	Undisclosed - 28 / 04 / 24	8-2	4-5-1	+ -
DeSmith is dealing with an unspecified issue, but it is anticipated that he will play in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round versus the Predators.
Tyler Myers (D)	Prob Fri	Illness - 23 / 04 / 24	9-3	5-6-1	+ -
Myers is hindered by an illness, but it is expected that he will take on the Predators in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round.
Tyler Myers (D)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 02 / 03 / 24	15-18	11-19-3	+ -
Myers is sidelined with a lower-body injury, and his status going forward is week-to-week.
Phillip Di Giuseppe (LW)	Ques Sat	Personal - 22 / 02 / 24	16-21	13-21-3	+ -
Di Giuseppe missed the last contest while dealing with a personal matter, and it is unclear if he will take to the ice Saturday versus the Bruins.
Dakota Joshua (C)	Prob Thurs	Upper Body - 15 / 02 / 24	18-23	16-22-3	+ -
Joshua has been assigned to the long-term injured reserve list with an upper-body injury, but he is expected to be activated in advance of Thursday's battle with the Stars.
Nikita Zadorov (D)	Elig Thurs	Suspension - 10 / 02 / 24	18-26	17-24-3	+ -
Zadorov has received a two-game suspension for an illegal check, and he will be eligible to return Thursday versus the Red Wings.
Carson Soucy (D)	Prob Tues	Hand - 22 / 01 / 24	21-28	20-26-3	+ -
Soucy has been activated from the long-term injured reserve list after recovering from a hand injury, and he is expected to return to the ice for Tuesday's showdown with the Kings.