Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA – Photo by Icon sport
Edmonton Oilers vs Dallas Stars: Western Conference Finals – Game 5
The Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers are tied at two games apiece going into Game 5 tonight at the American Airlines Center.
The Oilers got the momentum in the series
The Edmonton Oilers tied the series with an amazing performance in a 5-2 Game 4 win. They found themselves in a deep hole after only 5 and a half minutes in the game, allowing two quick goals. However, the Oilers stayed focused, picked up their game, and scored five unanswered goals. Ryan McLeod and Evan Bouchard made things even by the end of the first period, Mattias Janmark scored a shorthanded goal to give the Oilers the lead early in the second period, and Leon Draisaitl made it 4-2 less than a minute after that one. Mattias Ekholm scored a late goal on an empty net to set the final score at 5-2. Connor McDavid leads the Oilers with 28 points so far in the postseason.
The Stars are under pressure
The Dallas Stars are the team with the best regular season record in the West, but none of the series so far in the playoffs has been easy for them. They came into Game 4 with a series lead, and it seemed like they might get the job done after Wyatt Johnston scored in the opening minute and Esa Lindell followed shortly after. However, that was all the Stars did by the end of the game, and now they are back home with the series tied at two games apiece. Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen lead the Stars with 16 points each.
Betting Trends
Dallas has won 10 of their last 15 games overall, 6 of the last 9 games against teams from the Western Conference and 15 of the last 20 games against teams from the Pacific Division. They have played under the total goal line in 11 of their last 15 home games and 7 of the last 10 games against the Oilers at home while they have gone over the total goal line in 8 of the last 12 games overall against the Oilers. Edmonton has won 4 of their last 6 games overall, 7 of the last 9 games played on Friday but has lost 7 of the last 9 games against teams from the Central Division. They have played under the total goal line in 4 of their last 5 games on the road.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Oilers were absolutely amazing in Game 4, coming out with a statement that they are ready to go all the way this year in the playoffs. However, the Stars were the top team in the West in the regular season for a reason, and the home-court advantage may play a crucial role at this stage of the series. Dallas was 26-11-4 at home in the regular season but lost the opening game at home in each of the three series so far in the postseason. Edmonton has proved that they can win on the road and will do that once again tonight, getting one step away from the Stanley Cup final.
