The Edmonton Oilers face off with the Calgary Flames Friday in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal playoff series. Puck drop from Scotiabank Saddledome is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Calgary leads the best-of-7 series 1-0 after a wild 9-6 victory in Wednesday’s opener. Below, we look at the Oilers at Flames Game 2 odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
Raise your hand if you saw 15 goals being scored in Game 1. There should be plenty of rested deltoids because I don’t think anyone saw that onslaught coming.
Calgary ignited a 3-0 lead in the first and scored 3 in each frame. Edmonton put up 4 in the second period and still trailed 6-5 heading into the final period. Flames LW Matthew Tkachuk, who just scored his first goal of the playoffs in Game 7 against Dallas, erupted with a hat trick.
Edmonton attempted to stop the bleeding in the first by turning to G Mikko Koskinen, but he was drilled for 5 goals on 37 shots the rest of the way. Oilers C Connor McDavid had 1 goal and 3 assists, and C Leon Draisaitl had 1 goal and 2 assists in the 9-6 loss.
Oilers at Flames odds and lines
- Money line: Oilers +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Flames -180 (bet $180 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Oilers +1.5 (-160) | Flames -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -122 | U: -102)
Oilers at Flames projected goalies
Mike Smith (4-3, 2.68 GAA, .930 SV% – postseason) vs. Jacob Markstrom (5-3, 2.08 GAA, .923 SV% – this postseason)
Smith lasted just over 6 minutes in Game 1, allowing 3 goals on 10 shots. The Flames scored 2 goals in the first 51 seconds, which was the fastest 2 goals to start an NHL playoff game in the league’s long history. Smith was one of the top goaltenders in the playoffs before this one, and this has “fluke” written all over it. Smith remains 2nd with 8.5 goals saved above expected in the playoffs, according to MoneyPuck.
Markstrom is kind of lucky his offense scored 9 times because he wasn’t particularly good, allowing 6 goals on 28 shots. He has now given up at least 2 goals in 3 straight games after allowing 1 or fewer in the first 4 of 5 playoff games. He’ll have to tighten it up to preserve home ice.
Money line
The Oilers got spanked in Game 1, but they still have another shot to steal home ice. They didn’t panic, and the offense still lit the lamp 6 times. That’s what I take more of from Game 1 because Calgary scored just 15 goals in 7 games against Dallas.
If the Oilers come out aggressive and take an early lead, I look for them to cruise home with a split LEAN OILERS 145).
Against the spread
You have a few options here. You can play it safe and take the chalky Oilers +1.5160) or you can pass and just stick to the plus-money on the money line.
Or if you’re vibing with me that Edmonton steals this one, you could go big with the alternate line of Oilers -1.5290) for nearly triple your money. Edmonton won by at least 2 goals in all 4 of its wins this postseason.
Over/Under
The Over has hit in 4 of the last 5 between these two. It’s always possible that after such an offensive explosion that both teams refocus and tweak their forechecks to plug holes in the defense.
I feel like Edmonton is too talented offensively, and now desperate, to score 4 or 5 on its own LEAN OVER 6.5 (-122) lightly.
There is also a special boosted odds option on Tipico for 8+ total goals scored (+200). This serves as somewhat of a hedge in case Calgary retains home ice.