NHL Playoffs - Game 1
Edmonton -½ +145 over Vegas

Posted at 1:00 PM EST. Odds subject to change.

Pinnacle  -½ +130 BET365 -½ +145 Sportsinteraction -½ +126 888Sport +135

Edmonton -½ +145 over Vegas

9:30 PM EST. Regulation only. The #1 seed in the West and the #1 player in the world are set to drop the puck on Game 1 tonight in Vegas as the Golden Knights host Connor McDavid and the Oilers. Let's begin with the visiting Oilers, who are favored in Vegas after defeating the Kings in six games. Although they may not receive the credit they deserve, L.A. was a formidable hockey team that gave Edmonton a tough challenge. However, the Oilers prevailed in Game 6 with a 5-4 victory in the hostile environment of Los Angeles.

The Oilers capitalized on over 50% of their power-play opportunities in that series, making the Kings pay for their mistakes. While a hot power play can be inconsistent, in the playoffs, it can be the difference between winning and losing. If the Knights struggle to stay out of the penalty box as they did against Winnipeg, the Oilers have the firepower to take advantage, unlike the Jets. While not everything, the Knights were ranked 10th in 5-on-5 puck possession against the Jets, while Winnipeg was seventh. The Knights could not have gotten any more breaks in that series, on the stat sheet or on the ice.

We won't make excuses for Winnipeg, but it's worth noting that they lost their best player, Josh Morrissey, early in Game 4, and top center Mark Scheifele early in Game 5. We're not suggesting that those two, along with Nik Ehlers, would have determined whether or not Vegas advanced, but having them at full health would have made things more challenging. Nevertheless, Vegas goalie Laurent Brossoit had an outstanding series and outperformed Vezina Trophy candidate Connor Hellebuyck. Like the Oilers' power play, we can't predict if Brossoit will maintain his impressive form, but if he doesn't, it could be a short series. All of this indicates that the Oilers are battle-tested, while the Golden Knights are not. Additionally, let us not forget that the oddsmakers had no respect for the Knights against the Jets, now they make the hometown Knights a pooch against the Oilers. That speaks volumes considering the drastic shift in the market perception of the Knights after being the only top seed to make it out of the first round.

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Our Pick

Edmonton -½ +145 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.90)

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Chicago +167 over Ottawa