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Edgar Chaput
Edmonton Oilers vs. San Jose Sharks Prediction, NHL Odds
Both the Oilers and Golden Knights have three games left to play, but the latter holds a three-point lead in the division. It’s more Vegas’ division to lose, but the Oilers can still give themselves a fighter’s chance by vanquishing a relatively easy opponent in the Sharks.
Check the NHL odds as they develop.
Oilers vs. Sharks NHL Betting Odds
Even though there remains less than a week in the NHL regular season, only two of the four scheduled games between the Oilers and Sharks have been played. In fact, the final three will have been played in barely four weeks. Edmonton flattened San Jose 7-1 back in January, then survived a 5-4 scare at home in late March.
Jay Woodcroft’s ensemble is marching into the playoffs with a pep in its step. The club has won six straight games, including a couple against rivals LA and Vegas, and has looked mighty fine in the process. The offence is clicking nicely, having tallied 26 goals during that span. Ironically enough, because their goaltending is finding its stride, the under has cashed in three games in a row.
Not so long ago the Sharks had a three-game winning streak. That might not sound like much to celebrate, but given the moribund campaign the club has had, it surely felt pretty good. Not only that but a couple of wins were earned at home, a place where they’ve played their worst hockey this season. That came to an end with a back-to-back series against the Avalanche. Colorado won in overtime on Tuesday 4-3 before pounding San Jose into submission 6-2 on Thursday.
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton could always expect some more fight out of the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. First, the game was in Anaheim. Second, the Ducks surely wanted to return the favour of the 6-0 spanking they suffered at the hands of the Oilers the previous weekend.
That is ostensibly what the visiting Oilers got, even though Anaheim lacked the cutting edge to really take advantage of the situation. The hosts kept the powerful Oiler offence in check in the first period, but the scoreless draw would only last so long. In two very similar situations, Edmonton forwards broke out in front of Lukas Dostal’s net to pounce on opportunities that fooled him. Klim Kostin (11th) and Nick Bjugstad (17th) netted three minutes apart. Troy Terry would give the hosts hope in the third period before Edmonton’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins earned his 100th point of the season via an assist on the empty net goal that made the final 3-1.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks gave the defending champs a run for their money on Tuesday, pushing the contest to overtime. Perhaps it was a sign that the back end of the two-game set would develop in their favour.
It was not meant to be, even though Erik Karlsson’s 23rd of the season got the game going in earnest in the first period. This time Colorado would not dilly-dally around, with the big guns Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon taking care of business near the end of the first and during the first nine minutes of the second. Rantanen earned a hat trick (50th, 51st, 52nd). The passing was sharp, the opportunities were intelligently created, and the turnovers were signs that San Jose was in over its head. Make the final 6-2.
EDM
SJ