Oilers vs. Ducks: Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds and Prediction

The top two teams in the NHL’s Pacific Division face off starting Wednesday night in the Western Conference Semifinals as Edmonton visits Anaheim in Game 1 in the best-of-7. The veteran Ducks are series favourites on Sports Interaction Stanley Cup hockey odds over the postseason newbie Oilers.

Edmonton Oilers at Anaheim Ducks, Game 1

Series lines: Anaheim -135, Edmonton -103
Game 1 lines: Ducks -130, Oilers +110
Game 1 total: 5
Date: Wednesday, April 26, 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Honda Center, Anaheim

Edmonton Oilers

If NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was being honest (he can’t root for teams), he would likely answer that he’s thrilled the Oilers beat the San Jose Sharks in six games in the first round of the playoffs because young Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid is going to be the face of Bettman’s league sooner or later, replacing McDavid’s idol growing up, Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby. The more the American hockey audience is subjected to the spectacular McDavid on a national stage, the better for the NHL.

The Oilers are in the playoffs for the first time since 2006, and I believed that lack of experience would cost them against the postseason-tested Sharks, the defending Western Conference champions. When San Jose slaughtered Edmonton 7-0 to tie that series at 2-2, it appeared as if the Sharks were in good shape and that the young Oilers might buckle.

However, Edmonton rallied from a 3-1 deficit in Game 5 to win 4-3 in overtime on a goal by fourth-line center David Desharnais in front of a delirious Rogers Place crowd. The Oilers finished things off back in San Jose on Saturday with a 3-1 victory. Leon Draisaitl and Anton Slepyshev scored on breakaways in the opening minutes of the second period, and McDavid added an empty-netter in the final second of the game.

McDavid led the Oilers with four points in the series (2G, 2A), while Draisaitl, Mark Letestu and Oscar Klefbom each had three. Klefbom, a defenseman, did not play the third period of Game 6 due to an illness but will be in the lineup for Game 1 vs. Anaheim. Throw out that 7-0 loss, and goaltender Cam Talbot was fantastic in net with two shutouts and the one goal allowed in the clincher.

Edmonton won three of five meetings with Anaheim during the season, two in overtime. Draisaitl led the Oilers with eight points and six goals in the series vs. the Ducks. McDavid had two goals and five assists. Talbot played all five and had a 2.61 GAA and .902 save percentage with one shutout.

The Oilers are now +500 to win the Stanley Cup.

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks have home-ice advantage in this series thanks to finishing two points ahead of Edmonton in the Pacific Division. Anaheim had little trouble in the first round in sweeping out Calgary after also ending the regular season with four straight wins (two vs. the Flames as well). Anaheim could be a bit rusty with a week off as it hasn’t played since last Wednesday. Ryan Getzlaf (3G, 2A), Rickard Rakell (2G, 3A) and Shea Theodore (2G, 3A) led the Ducks with five points each vs. the Flames. John Gibson had a 2.59 GAA and .926 save percentage.

Once again, the Oilers will be going up against a very experienced playoff team. The Ducks’ 18 postseason wins over the past three years ranks second only to the eliminated Blackhawks in the Western Conference during that span. Anaheim does have some injury concerns on defense. The team’s best blueliner, Cam Fowler, hasn’t played since April 4 because of a knee injury. However, he was a full participant at practice Monday and thus could play Game 1. Sami Vatanen missed the final three games vs. the Flames with an upper-body injury and should be ready. Hampus Lindholm left late in Game 4 with an injury and hadn’t practiced as of Monday.

The matchup that could decide this series is Ryan Kesler, one of the biggest pests and best defensive forwards in the NHL, against McDavid, the Art Ross Trophy winner. We said the same thing of Kesler, a Selke Trophy finalist, vs. Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau in the last round. Gaudreau was held to two assists and was minus -4.

In the regular-season series vs. Edmonton, Getzlaf led the Ducks with seven points (1G, 6A). Fowler had a goal and two assists and averaged more than 25 minutes per game. Gibson had a 2.70 GAA and .913 save percentage.

Anaheim is +550 to win the Stanley Cup on NHL futures.

Oilers vs. Ducks Predictions

Teams in the Western Conference better beat Edmonton while they can because the Oilers look like they could become a dominating force as soon as next year behind McDavid and their other young talent. The return of Fowler would be huge for Anaheim. In addition, the Ducks were the NHL’s best team on the faceoff during the season and the Oilers the worst.

Anaheim hasn’t lost in regulation since March 10, going 15-0-3 over that span. The Ducks win in six and face St. Louis in the West Finals.