Edmonton Oilers (49-27-6) vs. Vancouver Canucks (50-23-9)
The Edmonton Oilers, boasting a commendable 49-27-6 regular season record, gear up to face the Vancouver Canucks, who slightly edge them with a 50-23-9 tally, in the first game of the NHL Playoffs Western Conference’s second round. This showdown is slated for the evening of Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at the Rogers Arena—an essential fixture for enthusiasts scouting the best live betting websites for real-time action.
Edmonton’s offensive power is being driven most by their centers, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who are stars. McDavid, with 132 points from 76 games, and Draisaitl who produced 106 points from 81 games have been the main players in the strategy of Edmonton’s franchise. They are fundamental, as they will be required to cope with Vancouver’s very strong defensive line, which is spearheaded by goalie Thatcher Demko and has preserved a magnificent .918 save percentage across 51 games. The Oilers will definitely need top players’ talent in shifting through defenses to break the strong blocks.
And on the other side, the Canucks are offensive-minded with J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson carrying the load. Furthermore, the Oilers’ defense will have to deal with Metallurg’s prolific scorers, Miller (103 points in 81 games) and Pettersson (89 points). This also points to the fact that the Oilers’ goaltending has not been on-point either, and, in fact, Stuart Skinner has recorded a .905 save percentage. It’s safe to predict that Vancouver will primarily take advantage of this goaltender mismatch and see how Skinner copes under the playoff pressure.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks Game Info
| When: | Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 10:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Rogers Arena |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Stuart Skinner vs. Goaltender Thatcher Demko
Stuart Skinner‘s season was awesome but not really free from the obstacles. If Skinner has to confront a team with high offensive depth like Vancouver, this could be beyond the norm of .905 save percentage to make Edmonton fight. He will have to show the best of himself in shootouts and those intense game moments as they are perhaps the highest risk ones.
Thatcher Demko, however, has been a more consistent choice for the Canucks. He has a superior save percentage at .918 which together with the defensive systems give Vancouver the advantage. Demko’s calmness and accuracy in making decisive key saves could be the turning point in the pivotal game moments.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: Edmonton Oilers -135, Total Odds: 6
The betting odds favor the Oilers slightly in the moneyline at -135, despite the Canucks’ better regular season record, indicating bettors believe in Edmonton’s offensive edge. The total over/under is set at 6, with trends suggesting a potential high-scoring game as both teams have leaned towards OVER in recent matches.
Edmonton Oilers Betting Trends
The Edmonton Oilers have won 4 games out of the last five, they are a team in high form in advance of this matchup. Still, their coverage of the spread is far from impressive, which makes them 2-3 record their latest matches. Such inconsistency can cause reliability problems for players that use how teams had performed in previous games.
Vancouver Canucks Betting Trends
The Canucks, as the Oilers, have a long winning record—4-1—in the last five games with a better ATS record. The Rams’ upfront 3-0 record in road games against the spread along with them being underdogs in the upcoming series is the psychological advantage as well.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks 5/8/24 Betting Picks
Considering both teams’ strengths and recent performances, the game promises to be tightly contested. The key will lie in goaltender performance and top players’ ability to exploit small gaps. Based on the current dynamics and statistical edge in goaltending, Vancouver might just have the upper hand, especially with the home crowd behind them.
As for the final thoughts, the recommendation leans slightly towards the Canucks due to their defensive stability and Demko’s reliability. Prop bets on top scorers like McDavid and Miller could be lucrative given their track records. The over/under bet should cautiously lean towards OVER, considering both teams’ tendencies to engage in high-scoring games, making it one of the winning NHL Playoffs 2024 picks.
