Oilers vs. Canucks Predictions & Odds: Today's NHL Playoffs Expert Picks
Vancouver hosts Edmonton for Wednesday's Game 1 as these Canadian rivals face off in the NHL playoffs for the first time since 1992, and we have our expert Oilers-Canucks predictions based on the best NHL odds.
It's been over 30 years since the Edmonton Oilers (49-27-6) and Vancouver Canucks (50-23-9) faced off in the NHL playoffs. Those two meet tonight at 10 p.m. ET for Game 1 of this second-round series, which will be broadcast on ESPN from Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
The Oilers are -130 favorites to win this series opener and heavy favorites to win the series, according to our best sports betting sites, even after the Canucks won all four regular-season meetings. Despite that, Edmonton is the team to beat with the shortest Stanley Cup odds in the field, while Vancouver owns the longest odds among the eight remaining teams.
Accompanying our Bruins vs. Panthers predictions, here are our best Oilers vs. Canucks predictions and NHL picks (odds via our best NHL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Oilers vs. Canucks Game 1 expert picks
- Connor McDavid Over 1.5 assists (+138 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Evan Bouchard Over 2.5 shots (-102 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
- Leon Draisaitl anytime goal (+140 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Quinn Hughes Over 0.5 assists (-118 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐
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Oilers vs. Canucks predictions for Wednesday
Connor McDavid Over 1.5 assists ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It's always worth backing McDavid at plus-money odds. While we don't know how effective the Canucks' stout defense will be at neutralizing the world's best hockey player, we do know what McDavid did to the Los Angeles Kings - who were also an elite defensive team, so the stats say.
Like no other player in the universe, McDavid has a knack for making every opponent he faces look like an amateur in a British recreational league. OK, so that might be a tad harsh on Drew Doughty.
McDavid had 11 helpers in five games against the Kings, getting at least two on three occasions. Nine of McDavid's 12 points came via the power play, leaving room for improvement at five-on-five. The Canucks will avoid taking penalties at all costs, but that's easier said than done against the Oilers' top-end talent.
At +138, FanDuel offers mouthwatering value. A $10 wager that hits pays a profit of $13.80 and has an implied probability of 42.02%.
Best odds: +138 via FanDuel
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Evan Bouchard Over 2.5 shots ⭐⭐⭐
Bouchard has a cannon from the point, and he should get a few chances to unleash it on Wednesday.
The Canucks, to protect Arturs Silovs or Casey DeSmith, should form a fairly compact box in tight, allowing more shots from the point. Even if the Oilers don't get many power plays, Bouchard has a knack for finding space and firing pucks on goal, as he had at least three shots in three of five first-round games.
FanDuel again offers the best value of our best sports betting apps. At -102, a winning $10 bet pays a profit of $9.80 with an implied winning probability of 50.50%.
Best odds: -102 via FanDuel
Leon Draisaitl anytime goal ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This prop is worth a crack for various reasons. First, we're talking about Leon Draisaitl, who scored five goals in the opening round and lit the lamp in three contests. Three of his five goals came on the power play and two via five-on-five.
He's a constant threat who knows when to take aim. Draisaitl doesn't rack up the shots like many of his counterparts but is lethal when he does. He has a 21.7% shooting percentage thus far, bettered only by his 2022-23 playoff shooting percentage (28.9%).
The most appealing part of this prop is FanDuel's +140 odds, which imply a 41.67% probability. A winning $10 wager will pay a profit of $14.
Best odds: +140 via FanDuel
Quinn Hughes Over 0.5 assists ⭐⭐⭐
Hughes was outstanding against the Oilers in the regular season, notching seven assists in four games. Admittedly, the playoffs represent an altogether more difficult challenge.
That said, Hughes had five assists in six games against the Nashville Predators despite being nowhere near his best. The Oilers aren't quite as good as the Predators in transition into the defensive end, which should allow the smooth-skating speedster some opportunities to get on the scoresheet.
At -118, BetMGM offers the best value. If your $10 wager hits, you'd earn a profit of $8.47. Its implied winning probability is 54.13%.
Best odds: -118 via BetMGM
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Oilers vs. Canucks Game 1 info & odds
- When: Wednesday, May 8
- Puck drop: 10 p.m. ET
- Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
- How to watch: ESPN, Sportsnet
- Favorite: Oilers (-130 via DraftKings)
Oilers-Canucks predictions made Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET.
Here are our best NHL betting sites:
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUS1000 | Read our Caesars Review
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
- BetRivers Promo Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetRivers Review
- FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
- DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
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* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
Related pages
- Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)
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