Colorado Avalanche Vs. Edmonton Oilers (6/4/22) Betting Odds, Prediction, Line Combination, Starting Goalies
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The Colorado Avalanche took a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference Finals with a 4-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night. Backup goalie, Pavel Francouz made 24 saves in shutout win, playing in place of starter Darcy Kuemper, who suffered an upper-body injury in the first game of the series against the Oilers on Tuesday. Artturi Lehkonen and Mikko Rantanen each had a goal and an assist in Colorado’s victory.
The Avalanche had the best record in the Western Conference this season at 56-19-7 with 119 points. Colorado is the favorite to win the 2021-22 Stanley Cup at -155; the Avalanche have won two championships since moving from Quebec as the Nordiques to Colorado in 1995. The Oilers are currently +1600 to win the Stanley Cup this year; they haven’t won the Stanley Cup since beating the Boston Bruins in the 1989-90 Stanley Cup Final. A team from Canada has not won the Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens won the title in 1992-93.
Colorado Avalanche Vs. Edmonton Oilers Betting Odds
Colorado is -900 to advance to their first Stanley Cup Final since 2000-01. The Avalanche are 5-0 in their last five road games. Colorado is 26-10 in their last 36 playoff games as a favorite. Over is 4-1 in the Avalanche’s last five playoff games as a favorite. The home team is 6-1 in the last seven meetings between Colorado and Edmonton. The Oilers are +600 to beat the Avalanche and advance to their first Stanley Cup Final since 2005-06. Edmonton is 20-6 in their last 26 home games. The Oilers are 20-42 in their last 62 games as a home underdog. Over is 4-0 in Edmonton’s last four playoff games as an underdog.
Colorado Avalanche Analysis
Darcy Kuemper is questionable to return between the pipes on Saturday for the Avalanche due to an upper body injury. In 10 postseason games, he has a save percentage of .897 with a 2.65 GAA. Pavel Francouz has two career postseason shutouts. In four postseason games this season, he’s 4-0 with a .917 save percentage (88 saves on 96 shot attempts) and a 2.48 GAA.
Cale Makar leads the Avalanche in scoring this postseason with 17 points (four goals and 13 assists). Additionally, he’s a +11 while averaging 26:41 of ice time in the playoffs. He’s +300 to win the 2021-22 Conn Smythe Trophy. Devon Toews is a +9 while averaging 25:34 of ice time per game in the postseason. He has four goals in the playoffs (which is tied for the league lead by defensemen), two behind Rob Blake’s six goals in 2001 and 2002 for the most by an Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques defenseman in a single postseason, per NHL.com. Overall, he has 10 points in the playoffs this year.
Nathan MacKinnon is the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy at +200, as playoff MVP. MacKinnon leads Colorado in goals (10) and is second on the team in postseason points with 16. He has 38 career playoff goals in 62 postseason games. Gabriel Landeskog returned from knee surgery in round one vs. the Predators and has tallied 14 points (seven goals and seven assists) in 12 postseason games in 2021-22. The Avalanche captain is currently +1800 to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. Nazem Kadri had three assists in Colorado’s win on Thursday night. In 12 playoff contests this year, he has 14 points (six goals and eight assists). Colorado’s number 91 is +2200 to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. Mikko Rantanen led Colorado in scoring this season with 92 points (36 goals and 56 assists) while being an impressive +35. Through 12 playoff games in 2021-22, he has 15 points (three goals and 12 assists). Rantanen is +1800 to win the Conn Smythe Award.
Edmonton Oilers Analysis
Connor McDavid led the NHL in scoring with 123 points (44 goals and 79 assists) this season. He was a +28 and scored nine game winning goals in 2021-22. McDavid leads the league in postseason scoring with 29 points (eight goals and 21 assists) through 14 playoff games. Additionally, he’s a +17 while averaging 22:29 of ice time per game. Edmonton’s captain is +1800 to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Leon Draisaitl was third in the league in scoring with 110 points; second in goals overall with 55. The 2019-20 Hart Trophy winner was second in the NHL with 41 points on the power play and 24 power play goals in 2021-22. He has 28 points overall (seven goals and 21 assists) this postseason, second in the league. Leon Draisaitl is +6500 to win the 2021-22 Conn Smythe Trophy this season.
In 43 games this season with the Oilers (after beginning the season with the San Jose Sharks), Evander Kane had 39 points (22 goals and 17 assists). Kane has been fantastic in the 2021-22 playoffs for Edmonton, he’s a +5 and leads the NHL in postseason goals with 13; overall he has 17 points in the playoffs. Zach Hyman had 54 points (27 goals and 27 assists) in the regular season. He has 13 points (nine goals and four assists) this postseason. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has 13 points (five goals and eight assists) in 14 playoff games this year.
Evan Bouchard has nine points (three goals and six assists) in 14 postseason contests in 2021. Additionally, he’s averaging 18:24 of ice time per playoff game.
39-year-old Mike Smith has a .916 save percentage (436 saves on 476 shot attempts) and a 3.19 GAA in 14 playoff games this season.
Colorado Avalanche Vs. Edmonton Oilers Picks & Prediction
In the first two games of the Western Conference Finals, the Avalanche have scored 12 goals: while allowing three goals per game against the Oilers. During the 2021-22 postseason, Colorado has scored 55 goals: averaging 4.58 goals per game. The Avalanche are 21-7 in their last 28 Saturday games. Over is 4-1 in Colorado’s last five games as a favorite. During the regular season, the Oilers scored 3.5 goals per game, ranking them seventh in the NHL. In 14 playoff games Edmonton has scored 58 goals: 4.14 goals per game. The Oilers are 8-3 in their last 11 Saturday games. Over is 4-0 in Edmonton’s last four games as an underdog.
I’m going with the Oilers in Game Three, as they’ll be playing their first conference finals game at home in close to 16 years. The Edmonton faithful will be fired up to cheer on McDavid, Draisaitl and the underdog Oilers. Edmonton wins, 6-3 as they clubs go over seven goals combined as they series sees another “high-scoring” game.
Colorado Avalanche Vs. Edmonton Oilers Starting Goalies & Line Combination
