Vegas Golden Knights vs Edmonton Oilers 5/8/2023 Expert Picks, Previews and Analysis
West 2nd Round – Game 3, VGK leads series 1-0
The Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers are set to face off in game three of their playoff series, with both teams looking to break the 1-1 tie. The Golden Knights had a solid regular season, finishing with a 51-22-9 record, while the Oilers weren’t far behind with a 50-23-9 record. In the previous game, Vegas was an underdog with +115 odds but suffered a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Oilers, with Ivan Barbashev being the lone goal scorer for the Knights.
Offensively, Vegas ranked in the middle of the pack during the regular season, placing 16th in goals per game and 15th in shots per game. Jack Eichel led the team with 66 points, and in the first round of the playoffs, the Knights scored four or more goals in four out of five games. Defensively, the Golden Knights were strong, ranking 11th in goals per game and 13th in shots against per game. Laurent Brossoit started all five games in the first round and allowed four goals in games one and three but tightened up in games two, three, and five, conceding two or fewer goals in each game. However, Brossoit struggled in the previous game against the Oilers, allowing five goals on 32 shots.
- The total stayed UNDER in 4 of Vegas’ last 6 games on the road against Edmonton.
- Vegas is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games with an opponent in the Western Conference.
- The total went OVER in 4 of Vegas’ last 6 games played in May.
Vegas Golden Knights vs Edmonton Oilers 5/8/2023 Expert Picks, Previews and Analysis
The Oilers have been lighting up the scoreboard this season, thanks to the dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who finished first and second in the league in scoring. The Oilers led the league in goals per game and ranked sixth in shots per game. They carried their offensive firepower into the playoffs, scoring four or more goals in four out of six games in the first round and exploding for five goals in game two of the second round. The Oilers’ defense and goaltending have been less impressive this season, as they ranked in the lower half of the league in goals and shots allowed per game. Stuart Skinner posted a respectable record but a high GAA and a low SV%. He has been the starter for all the playoff games so far and helped the Oilers advance to the second round with a 4-2 series win. He struggled in game one against Vegas, giving up five goals, but bounced back in game two, making 30 saves.
The Oilers will stick with Skinner in net as he looks to build on his strong performance in game two. He has an SV% of .895 and a GAA of 3.33 in eight playoff games. Leon Draisaitl is on a historic goal-scoring pace, as he has 13 goals in just eight games. Edmonton’s power play has been unstoppable, converting at a staggering 56% rate.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Edmonton’s last 6 games when playing at home against Vegas.
- Edmonton are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games against an opponent in the Western Conference.
- The total went OVER in 4 of Edmonton’s last 6 games against an opponent in the Pacific Division.
Vegas Golden Knights vs Edmonton Oilers. The NHL Pick for this contest is the Edmonton Oilers. Game 3 poses a daunting task for the Golden Knights after dropping Game 2 against the Oilers. To secure a win, Vegas will heavily rely on Laurent Brossoit to thwart Edmonton’s prolific scoring duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who are currently in top form. The predicted outcome is a 5-3 victory for Edmonton.
NHL Starting Time: 8:30 PM ET
Location: Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada
Date: Monday, May 8, 2023
TV: ESPN
NHL Odds/Point Spread: Edmonton Oilers -175
NHL Totals: 6.5
