Meeting in the NHL playoffs for the first time since 1992, the Vancouver Canucks host the Edmonton Oilers for Game 1 on Wednesday as we offer our expert Oilers-Canucks predictions based on the best NHL odds.
Despite losing all four regular-season battles against the Vancouver Canucks (50-23-9), the Edmonton Oilers (49-27-6) are the consensus favorites in Game 1 and the series, according to our best sports betting sites. The puck drops in Vancouver on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET (ESPN) for the first game of this second-round series in the NHL playoffs.
For context, the Oilers were in the midst of a woeful run in the first two meetings and didn't have Connor McDavid in the third. Despite those tough showings against Vancouver, they sit atop the latest Stanley Cup odds as the front-runners to win it all, while the Canucks are the biggest title long shots of the eight rema ining teams.
The Oilers enjoyed a plus-nine special teams' goal differential against the Los Angeles Kings and scored at an otherworldly 45% on the power play. Contrastingly, the Canucks reeled with the man advantage, scoring on two of 13 attempts.
Accompanying our Bruins-Panthers Game 2 picks, here are our best Oilers vs. Canucks predictions and NHL picks (odds via our best NHL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Oilers vs. Canucks Game 1 expert picks
- Connor McDavid Over 1.5 assists (+138 via FanDuel) ????
- Evan Bouchard Over 2.5 shots (-102 via FanDuel) ???
- Leon Draisaitl anytime goal (+140 via FanDuel) ????
- Quinn Hughes Over 0.5 assists (-118 via BetMGM) ???
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Oilers vs. Canucks predictions for Wednesday
It's always worth backing McDavid at plus-money odds. While we don't know how effective the Canucks' stout defense will be at neutralizing the world's best hockey player, we do know what McDavid did to the Los Angeles Kings – who were also an elite defensive team, so the stats say.
Like no other player in the universe, McDavid has a knack for making every opponent he faces look like an amateur in a British recreational league. OK, so that might be a tad harsh on Drew Doughty.
McDavid had 11 helpers in five games against the Kings, getting at least two on three occasions. Nine of McDavid's 12 points came via the power play, leaving room for improvement at five-on-five. The Canucks will avoid taking penalties at all cost s, but that's easier said than done against the Oilers' top-end talent.
At +138, FanDuel offers mouthwatering value. A $10 wager that hits pays a profit of $13.80 and has an implied probability of 42.02%.
Best odds: +138 via FanDuel
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Bouchard has a cannon from the point, and he should get a few chances to unleash it on Wednesday.
The Canucks, to protect Arturs Silovs or Casey DeSmith, should form a fairly compact box in tight, allowing more shots from the point. Even if the Oilers don't get many power plays, Bouchard has a knack for finding space and firing pucks on goal, as he had at least three shots in three of five first-round games.
FanDuel again offers the best value of our best sports betting apps. At -102, a winning $10 bet pays a profit of $9.80 with an implied winning probability of 50.50%.
Best odds: -102 via FanDuel
This prop is worth a crack for various reasons. First, we're talking about Leon Draisaitl, who scored five goals in the opening round and lit the lamp in three contests. Three of his five goals came on the power play an d two via five-on-five.
He's a constant threat who knows when to take aim. Draisaitl doesn't rack up the shots like many of his counterparts but is lethal when he does. He has a 21.7% shooting percentage thus far, bettered only by his 2022-23 playoff shooting percentage (28.9%).
The most appealing part of this prop is FanDuel's +140 odds, which imply a 41.67% probability. A winning $10 wager will pay a profit of $14.
Best odds: +140 via FanDuel
Hughes was outstanding against the Oilers in the regular season, notching seven assists in four games. Admittedly, the playoffs represent an altogether more difficult challenge.
That said, Hughes had five assists in six games against the Nashville Predators despite being nowhere near his best. The Oilers aren't quite as good as the Predators in transition into the defensive end, which should allow the smooth-skating speedster some opportunities to get on the scoresheet.
At -118, BetMGM offers the best value. If your $10 wager hits, you'd earn a profit of $8.47. Its implied winning probability is 54.13%.
Best odds: -118 via BetMGM
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Oilers vs. Canucks Game 1 info & odds
- When: Wednesday, May 8
- Puck drop: 10 p.m. ET
- Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
- How to watch: ESPN, Sportsnet
- Favorite: Oilers (-130 via DraftKings)
Oilers-Canucks predictions made Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET.
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