The Battle of Alberta Continues: Is Game 2 a "Must-Win" for Edmonton?
Calgary is a solid home favourite against Edmonton in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals
Let's face it. Falling behind 0-2 in a best-of-seven playoff series is digging a really deep hole.
That abyss is even deeper when the team enjoying the two-zip advantage is among the Stanley Cup favourites.
And to make the situation even more dire for the underdogs, the elite opponent is at home and coming off an astonishing 9-goal outburst.
Indeed, Edmonton will have its gloves full and pads up against the glass when they take the ice at Calgary in what's being celebrated as "the Battle of Alberta."
These two rivals are exciting to watch for very different reasons and there's something for everyone in this matchup -- that especially goes for wise bettors who pick the right side.
The puck drops at the Scotiabank Saddledome at 8:30 pm MST / 10:30 pm EST.
At Spreads.ca, the Flames are 1.57 favourties, which comes back at 2.40 on the Oilers.
Surprisingly, the O/U is only 6.5 -- just as in Game 1 -- even though these two teams combined for 15 goals in the 9-6 final that shattered the total just a few minutes into the 2nd period.
Check out these offerings and all the latest odds here at SPREADS.CA:
Prediction (powered by Pointspreads.ca):
Many bettors to rush to bet the OVER, thinking the scoring frenzy will continue in game 2. We're not so sure about that.
NHL playoff goaltenders have lots of pride, and both Mike Smith (Oilers) and Jacob Markstrom (Flames) will be eager to avenge a bad game.
We think the sides are priced about right. Edmonton has pressure on to play better and win to make this series even at 1-1. However, this season the Oilers have not been good dogs. They have just nine wins in the 27 games in which they’ve been an underdog. Edmonton also has seven games this season playing as an underdog by +150 or longer, and is just 1-6 in those contests.
But there could be added motive for an UNDER. Look for both teams to make adjustments, the goaltenders to show better results, and the pucks not to bounce quite so easily into the net.
It's a contrarian approach to wagering, but we'll take UNDER 6.5 goals at close to even money.
Oilers to win moneyline($50 max. bet)WAS 2.45 NOW 3.25
Rangers to win moneyline($50 max. bet)WAS 2.45 NOW 3.00
Flames and Oilers to score over 6.5 goals combined ($50 max. bet)WAS 1.84 NOW 2.25
Connor McDavid anytime goal scorer($50 max. bet)
WAS 2.20 NOW 2.75
Johnny Gaudreau anytime goal scorer
($50 max. bet)
WAS 2.35 NOW 2.90
Blue Jays -1.5 and both teams to score under 8 runs combined ($50 max. bet)
WAS 4.30 NOW 5.00
Mavericks to win moneyline and both teams to score over 214 points combined
($50 max. bet)
WAS 6.00 NOW 7.00
