We have loved the action throughout this impressive NHL regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs, but now we are entering the Conference Finals, with a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals up for grabs. We are sure to see the cracking playoffs continue in this round, and teams putting it all on the line to make it to the final. But before we get to the Stanley Cup Final, teams have one more hurdle to overcome – the Conference Finals.
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Look below to find our free NHL picks for the first game of the Western Conference Finals between the Avalanche and Oilers.
Edmonton Oilers @ Colorado Avalanche – 8pm ET
The Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche will do battle in the West for a spot in the Stanley Cup. The Oilers were up against the Kings in Round 1, and they won that series 4-3, then in Round 2 they were up against the Flames, and after dropping the first game of that series, they came back to win 4-1. The Avalanche made quick work of the Predators in Round 1, winning that series 4-0, then they were up against the Blues in the next round, and they won that series 4-2.
Marko Nadin
The Colorado Avalanche entered the season as the top favorites to win the Stanley Cup and despite the slow start, here they are in the Western Conference Finals. The Avs started the playoffs perfectly, being the only team that didn’t lose a game in the opening round. In the second round they had some difficulties against the St. Louis Blues, losing Game 5 at home and letting the series go back to St. Louis but they managed to win in Game 6 on the road and avoid the decisive Game 7. The Avalanche are the fourth-best offensive team this season scoring 3.8 goals per game.
The Edmonton Oilers are a dark-horse candidate to win the Stanley Cup this year. They finished fifth in the regular season in the Western Conference and not many were giving them much of a chance, but after their performance in the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Oilers deserve all the respect. In the opening round, the Oilers needed 7 games against the Los Angeles Kings managing to get back and win after being 2-3 down. In the second round, they lost the first game against the Calgary Flames and dominated the rest of the series winning four straight games. Both teams have split the last 10 head-to-head games but the Avalanche are the better team at the moment and will open the series with a win.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-188)
Tony Battalio
The Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche are the final two teams left in the Western Conference. A lot of people had this matchup as their projected Western Conference Finals series before the 2021-22 National Hockey League season began, now it has become a reality. This is a series that I can easily see going the full seven games as both of these teams are deserving of a Stanley Cup Finals berth and a Western Conference Finals trophy as well.
The Colorado Avalanche finished the regular season as the best team in the Western Conference and will have home ice advantage throughout the remainder of the Stanley Cup playoffs. So the Edmonton Oilers will start out this series on the road in Denver for the first two games of the series. This one is going to come down to which goaltender plays better as both teams will be putting up a ton of shots here in Game 1. As for the result of this one, I am going with the Colorado Avalanche to defend their home ice.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-188)
Jeffery Thomas
The Colorado Avalanche have met expectations by making it to Western Conference Finals and now will try to make that final step and get all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2000-01. The Edmonton Oilers were not favored to be in this position at all and come into this series with seemingly no pressure as the underdog. Their upset of the Calgary Flames in the last round puts them right on the doorstep of making the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2006. The dynamic scoring duo for Edmonton of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will surely cause problems for this Colorado team that has lost just two games so far in the postseason.
It’s going to take a full team effort to shut them down and I’m sure they are up to the task but Game 1 will be a great indicator of how things may play out through the whole series. The Avs were one of the best home teams all season but lost two games in their arena alone just last series. That will give the Oilers the confidence to know they can come in and do the same and I think they will be playing a lot more freely as the team without the pressure. I see this game being close, with both teams trying to get that first win in the series and not giving up much to one another, so I think the puck line for Edmonton is a great value bet for Game 1.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers +1.5 (-150)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
