The second-round matchup between the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers kicks off in Calgary for Game 1 of the series. Get all the betting tips for the game here covering the moneyline, over/under, and game props.
Calgary Flames (-155) vs Edmonton Oilers (+125)
The NHL has finally given fans and players a Battle of Alberta in the playoffs for the first time since 1991. The Oilers have had the upper hand in those series as it was during the Wayne Gretzky era. This is a new era but the Oilers once again have the best player in the world on their side of things.
The teams split the season series 2-2 with the final two matchups going to the Flames. The Flames may have finished higher in the standings, won the division, and got home ice against the Oilers, but both teams finished the season with the most points in the NHL since Jay Woodcroft was hired for the Oilers. Edmonton improved in all facets of the game and played much better defensively to rival the Flames’ solid defensive game.
Both teams barely made it out of the first round and won in Game 7, but that’s just how the playoffs go. No team can underestimate another. The stars always come to play with these two teams, including one of the Conn Smythe favourites, Connor McDavid, after Round 1. Based on the value the Oilers give and how they dominated the final two games of their first-round series, take the Oilers in Game 1.
Over/Under
Three of the four regular-season games hit the over, but both teams have tightened up their play significantly in the playoffs. The Flames ended Round 1 with the best goal against per game (2.00) of the 16 teams, while the Oilers were close behind with 2.43 goals against per game.
Neither opponent the Flames and Oilers battled in Round 1 was known for their offensive capabilities, but the Oilers and Mike Smith shut out the Los Angeles Kings twice in the seven games and the Flames’ Jacob Markstrom recorded one shutout in their series. It will be a very rough and hard-fought game, so expect the trend to continue and this game to be low scoring as the two teams feel each other out in the first game.
Game Props
The Oilers started strong in Games 6 and 7 of Round 1 and didn’t allow a goal in the first period, while the Flames allowed just one goal in each. Edmonton is going to come out stronger than they normally would considering their opponent and the boost from the last series. Don’t expect goals to be going in from everywhere right away, so the best bet is to take the Oilers (+0.5, -208) in the first period as well as the under in goals for the first period (U1.5, -105). Parlaying the two is also a good option.
Odds via Yahoo and BetMGM.
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