For the first time in over 30 years, residents of western Canada get to reignite the flame on a rivalry that once meant so much. This Oilers vs Flames NHL Playoffs series marks the sixth “Battle of Alberta” and could very easily be the most anticipated and entertaining iteration yet. Each team comes into the series having played a much different type of opponent in the first round.
For Calgary, Mike Smith is a welcome presence after being held to just a two-goal per game average in the first round. Expect them to open up the scoreboard and force the Oilers to try and beat them with offensive production of their own. These are two very high-scoring teams with major discrepancies defensively, which should make for a very interesting series.
Let’s take a look at the betting odds and season history for the series, and give our Oilers vs Flames NHL Playoffs prediction.
Oilers vs Flames NHL Playoff Series Preview and Stream
NHL Playoffs Round 2
Oilers vs Flames
Venue: Rogers Place – Edmonton, AB, CAN / Scotiabank Saddledome – Calgary, AB, CAN
Coverage: ESPN / ESPN2 / TNT
Goaltending: EDM: Mike Smith (4-3/2.29/.938) | CGY: Jacob Markstrom (4-3/1.53/.943)
Oilers vs Flames Record | Regular Season History
The four Oilers vs Flames regular-season games were all over the map. The Oilers scored five goals in three of the four contests, which is surprising given how good Markstrom’s numbers were all season. Their most recent clash took place about a month before playoffs started, and resulted in a 14-goal barn burner in which the Flames ended up winningly handily. If anything is to be gained from these games, it is confidence for the Oilers knowing they can score on the Flames better than any other team in the NHL.
Oilers vs Flames NHL Playoff Series Betting Odds
NHL Betting odds for Oilers vs Flames are taken from BetUS Sportsbook.
Moneyline: EDM: (+165) | CGY: (-190)
Series Total Games: 5.5 — Over: (-175) | Under: (+135) / 6.5 — Over: (+200) | Under: (-300)
Series Spread: EDM: +1.5 (-150) | CGY: -1.5 (+110) / EDM: -1.5 (+250) | CGY: +1.5 (-400)
Public Betting via Action Network: EDM: (40%) | CGY: (60%)
Odds to Win Stanley Cup: EDM: (+1400) | CGY: (+650)
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Oilers vs Flames NHL Playoff Series Keys to Victory
Edmonton Oilers: The Oilers have to figure out their lines. Is the “super line” of McDavid and Draisaitl the best choice for the team or will it hurt them too much defensively against the Flames? Both players are natural centers and sometimes fail to be in the correct position at the correct time like someone who played wing their entire career would have been. Obviously, their offense needs to be clicking to stand a chance in this series, but it will be just as important to be at their best defensively. They are a notch below the Flames in the goaltending category but can make up for that potential goal differential by converting power plays. Edmonton scores at a 26% rate when awarded the extra attacker, the third-highest in the NHL.
Calgary Flames: The Flames need to play the same style of hockey they did against the Stars, limiting shots defensively and bombarding the net with pucks. If not for the goaltending heroics of Jake Oettinger, the Stars would not have survived more than five games. Calgary put more shots on goal than any other team in the first round. If they can repeat that stat against Mike Smith, good things will happen. They have an average power play and a decent penalty kill, but they will want to avoid getting into a special teams battle with Edmonton at all costs.
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Oilers vs Flames NHL Playoff Series Prediction
We see this Oilers vs Flames series coming down to a Game 7 coin flip. It could be a situation where one of the teams was better all series long, but let a game slip away at some point and all of a sudden finds themselves in a do-or-die scenario. It could also just be some good old-fashioned, hard-fought, closely-contested hockey. However we get there, we believe this series is going to go the distance. The lack of travel should make for even better hockey and some exciting mixed live crowds.
Our NHL betting Oilers vs Flames playoff prediction will be Series Total Games Over 6.5 at BetUS.
Oilers vs Flames Prediction and NHL Playoffs Picks
Series Total Games – o6.5 (+200)
Edmonton Oilers – Series Spread +1.5 (-150)
*continue to check back on FlurrySports.org as more picks and updated odds will be available upon release*