Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames Game 2 Betting Preview
Following an electric 9-6 Game 1, the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames are set for another barn burner in Game 2 of the Battle of Alberta. This Flames and Oilers series is the first playoff meeting since 1991 and a sixth meeting all-time, with the Oilers winning five of the six series.
These two teams played four times during the regular season and finished with a 2-2 series, with the first two going to the Oilers at home and the last two going to the Flames at home. The last regular-season meeting ended with a 9-5 Flames win.
Calgary is listed as the moneyline favorite at -175 over Edmonton, who has moneyline odds of +150. The over/under is currently listed at 6.5 total goals.
Edmonton Oilers Hope to Figure Out Goaltending Issues
Heading into Game 1, the Edmonton Oilers decided to start goalie Mike Smith but soon replaced him following three goals on ten shots. Smith started in all seven games in Round 1 and finished with a 4-3 record and allowed 16 goals for a GAA of 2.28.
Replacing Smith in Game 1 was Mikko Koskinen, who went on to allow five goals on 37 shots. Koskinen started in 45 games in the regular season and finished with a 27-12-4 record and a GAA of 3.10.
Through their eight playoff games, the Oilers have allowed the fourth-most goals in the playoffs with 26 for a GAA of 3.25. They have not allowed many to be scored when they are shorthanded, as the Oilers have allowed just four goals against out of 27 attempts for a PK% of 85.2%.
Although their goaltending has been struggling, the Oilers’ offense has been on fire this playoffs, where they lead the league in goals scored with 33 total goals. The Oilers are ranked third in goals scored per game with 4.13. Edmonton also has the third-best power play this playoffs, with a PP% of 30.4%.
The Oilers have been led by regular-season points leader Connor McDavid who is also leading the playoffs with 18 points (5 goals, 13 assists). He is averaging an impressive 2.25 points per game.
Leon Draisaitl has helped pitch in as he is tied for second in playoff points with 12 (6 goals, six assists). He is averaging 1.50 points per game and has three power play goals.
Calgary Flames Look To Continue Offensive Dominance
The Calgary Flames came into Round 2 scoring just 15 goals in the first round and ended Game 1 with more than half that total by scoring nine goals. It took the Flames five games to score nine goals in Round 1 but seem to have broken the seal following Game 1 of Round 2.
The Flames have been led by Johnny Gaudreau, who is tied for fourth in playoff points with 11 (2 goals, nine assists) and added three assists in Game 1.
He is helped by Matthew Tkachuk, who was held without a goal in the first six games of the playoffs but has four goals scored and a total of nine points. Tkachuk scored three of the team’s nine goals in Game 1 of Round 2.
On the defensive end of the ice, the Flames have started goalie Jacob Markstrom who has started in all eight games this playoffs and has a 5-3 record with a GAA of 2.08. Prior to the six goals he allowed in Game 1, Markstrom only allowed 11 goals against the Stars, which includes one shutout.
As a team, the Calgary Flames are ranked seventh in goals for with 24 and ranked tenth in goals for per game with 3.00. On the other end, the Flames are ranked fifth in goals allowed with 20 and third in goals allowed per game with 2.50.
On special teams, Calgary is ranked 14th in power play with a PP% of 11.1%, as they have three goals on 27 opportunities. The Flames’ penalty kill is ranked second in the playoffs with a PK% of 92.9%, where they have just two goals on 28 chances.
Oilers/Flames Betting Prediction
The Edmonton Oilers and Calgary enter Game 2 of the Battle of Alberta following one of the highest-scoring playoff games ever with a 9-6 win for Calgary. The regular-season series ended with a 2-2 tie, with the Flames favored in the final three games of the series.
In those four meetings, the Oilers were 2-2 against the spread, with their last meeting resulting in a 9-5 win for the Flames. The over/under for all four games was set at either 6 or 6.5 and went “over” in three games.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Flames scored just 15 total goals but opened the floodgates by scoring nine in Game 1 of this series. They now have 24 goals total this playoffs and average 3.00 per game.
The Oilers scored 27 goals in Round 1 and scored six in Game 1 of this series and now have 33 total for an average of 4.13 goals per game. Both of these teams know how to score.
The difference here is defense/goaltending, as the Flames have allowed 20 goals this postseason for a team GAA of 2.50 compared to the Oilers, who have allowed 26 goals for a team GAA of 3.25.
With the high scoring that can be done by both teams and the high GAA of the Oilers, the play tonight is the Over, which has hit in four of the last five games played between the Flames and Oilers.
Following an explosive Game 1, expect another high-scoring event in Game 2. Take the Over 6.5 (-110).
