Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA – Photo by Icon sport
Edmonton Oilers vs Dallas Stars Game 1: Western Conference Finals
The Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers are opening the Western Conference Finals series tonight at American Airlines Center.
The Oilers have all the confidence in the world
The Edmonton Oilers had many ups and downs this season but proved that they are among the best teams in the league. At one point in the regular season, the Oilers won 16 consecutive games, coming very close to the all-time NHL record. They finished fifth in the Western Conference and ran into the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round. The Oilers have no chance of the Kings winning the series in five games. The following round was much more challenging, as the Oilers needed seven games to beat the Vancouver Canucks. The Oilers were 3-2 down and then picked up their game and dominated the next two games to advance to the conference final. Leon Drainsaitl is having an amazing postseason, leading the team with 24 points, three more than Connor McDavid.
The Stars are still shining
The Dallas Stars finished the regular season on top of the Western Conference but barely survived the opening playoff round. The Stars lost the first two home games against the defending champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, but managed to bounce back and win the series in seven games. They started the second round with a home loss as well, this time against the Colorado Avalanche, but then won the next three games and finished the series in six games. Miro Heiskanen leads the Stars with 13 points in the postseason, followed by Jason Robertson.
Betting Trends
The Stars are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games overall, 10-5 SU in their last 15 home games against the Oilers and 8-3 SU in the last 11 games against teams from the Western Conference. They have played under the total goal line in 12 of their last 17 games overall, 9 of their last 13 home games and 5 of their last 6 games against teams from the Pacific Division. The Oilers are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games overall and 4-2 SU in their last 6 games on the road. Edmonton played under the total goal line in 7 of their last 10 games against teams from the Central Division and in 4 of their last 5 games played on Thursday.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Edmonton Oilers faced an elimination going to Vancouver for Game 7 of the previous round, but they were up for the challenge and took a 3-0 lead in the game. The Canucks came close, but Edmonton managed to hold on to the lead, and here they are in the Western Conference Finals. The Dallas Stars had a couple of days more to rest and prepare for this game. They are a defensively oriented team, but it will be tough to slow down the Oilers, who are in killing mode. The Stars had the home-court advantage in the previous two rounds but lost the opening home game. The same scenario will happen in this series, and the Oilers will steal this one on the road.
