Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers Game 3 Betting Preview
It’s like beating a dead horse at this point, but the message bears repeating – a playoff series doesn’t really start until the home team loses. That’s the mantra the Edmonton Oilers are adopting as they return home down 0-2 in the Western Conference Finals.
The Colorado Avalanche are taking the opposite approach that a win on Saturday night just confirms their dominance and that a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals would just be a formality if they got to a 3-0 lead.
History is on Colorado’s side – as are the oddsmakers (COL -130) – as teams that have gone up 2-0 in the conference finals are 91-7 on advancing in the series.
Can Avs Do It on the Road?
The Colorado offense was its usual great self in Game 2, peppering off 40 shots on goal, but you really have to give credit to Pavel Francouz. He stopped 18 of 21 shots in relief of Darcy Kuemper in Game 1 but then had a 24 save shutout on Thursday as Kuemper remains out with an upper-body injury.
What we will see in Game 2 is if the vaunted Avalanche offense can travel. Nathan Mackinnon has two goals and an assist so far this series, with Mikko Rantanen adding two goals and a couple of helpers as well.
Game 2 Was an Anomaly
A team that features the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl simply isn’t supposed to get shut out, but that’s exactly what happened in Thursday’s 4-0 loss at Ball Arena. That was actually the second shutout loss of the postseason for Edmonton, who also dropped a 4-0 contest to the Kings in the first round- but this one came against the Avs’ backup goaltender.
Now we have to figure out which team shows up on Saturday night – the one that was shut out or the one that found the back of the net six times in the Game 1 loss? Being back at home helps, as the Oilers are 4-2 at Rogers Place.
Aside from the shutout, Edmonton ruined a much better performance in net from Mike Smith in Game 2. He got the early heave after giving up six goals on 19 shots in Game 1 but stopped 36 of 40 shots Thursday, which is about as good as you can expect against this relentless Colorado attack.
Avalanche at Oilers Pick and Prediction
Does Edmonton come back home down in the dumps down 0-2, or are they fired up with their backs against the wall? Game 1 sailed over the betting total in an 8-6 Colorado win, but those who piggybacked that were disappointed as the Avs’ 4-0 victory was under the total.
Game 3 back at the Rogers Center should return to the higher side of the scoring. Francouz (if he starts for the injured Kuemper) is not going to get another shutout on the road, while Smith is also not going to completely stop this red-hot Colorado offense. This will go over the total of 7.0, but ultimately the Oilers will come out on top.
Pick: Edmonton +110
