Edmonton Oilers vs. Anaheim Ducks Game 6 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
Both teams have shown stretches of dominant play as the Oilers and Ducks head to Anaheim for Game 6 on Thursday night.
This series has been a rollercoaster of high-scoring action. Edmonton struck first before the Duck rattled off three straight wins. With the Oilers clawing back a 4-1 win on Tuesday, does Anaheim still have the edge up 3-2 in the series?
Edmonton is a slim -130 favourite to win Game 6 on the NHL odds, with the total set at 7.0.
Oilers vs. Ducks NHL Betting Odds
It’s hard to know what to expect in this series at this point. Most analysts had the battle-tested Oilers pegged to win in five or six games, but the young-gun Ducks have been hugely impressive while climbing out to a 3-1 then 3-2 series lead.
And while it’s rare to blow a 3-1 series lead, we’re talking about an inexperienced team vs. a veteran group that has gone to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals. There have been 32 teams in NHL history that have successfully battled back to win a series when trailing 3-1, with the last being the 2023 Florida Panthers.
Oddsmakers are still on Anaheim’s side, albeit not overwhelmingly. The Ducks are currently listed as -220 favourites to win the series on the NHL futures board, a bit of a drop from their -425 price ahead of Game 5.
However, Edmonton has seen the biggest drop on the series line since the start of the playoffs. The Oilers were -225 series favourites entering Game 1 and now sit as +185 underdogs.
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton scored first for the fifth straight time in Game 5, using a blistering 3-0 first-period to blow the doors open on Tuesday. The Oilers outshot Anaheim 12-6 in the frame. Starting strong and continuing to score first is crucial for Edmonton on Thursday as the Oilers are 18-3 all-time when scoring first in an elimination game.
Leon Draisaitl carried the bulk of the load in Game 5 with two goals. Zach Hyman and Vasily Podkolzin rounded out the scoring. Evan Bouchard finished with three assists, while Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had two helpers.
McDavid’s performance, in particular, was a relief for Edmonton fans. The Oilers’ captain was listed as questionable to play with what is believed to be a lower-body injury. He ended up playing just over 24 minutes, the second-highest time on ice on the team, but it’s worth monitoring his status ahead of Game 6.
Anaheim Ducks
Alex Killorn scored the lone Game 5 goal for the Ducks midway through the second period, but Anaheim just couldn’t break through Connor Ingram. After a poor first period, the Ducks peppered the puck on net, outshooting the Oilers 24-8 over the final two frames. A faster start at home in Game 6 will be key as Anaheim has allowed the first goal in every game this series.
The play of goaltender Lukas Dostal has largely flown under the radar because the Ducks have been winning, but that won’t be the case after Game 5. The Czech native was yanked after allowing three goals on nine shots, with Ville Husso turning aside 10 of 11 faced in relief. Dostal ranks dead last in goals-against average (4.32) and second-last in save percentage (.864) among 21 playoff goalies.
