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 second game of the Western Conference Finals between the Avalanche and Oilers.
Edmonton Oilers @ Colorado Avalanche – 8pm ET
It’s Game 2 of the Conference Finals series between the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche, and boy wasn’t the first game high scoring. A total of 14 (yes 14) goals were scored in the first game, with the Avalanche coming out victorious, 8-6. The Avalanche have the home ice advantage again in Game 2, will they be able to go up in the series 2-0 before heading over to Edmonton?
Marko Nadin
Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals showed that this will be a long series with both teams having their time to shine. The Avalanche took the lead with an 8-6 win in a game that saw both teams scoring in the same minute three times. The Oilers scored first but once the Avalanche took over the lead, they had control of the score during the match. Colorado went 7-3 up which looked like the game was already over, but the Oilers managed to cut the deficit to only one goal.
Edmonton lost the opening game of the previous series by a similar score but still came back to win the series. If they will have a chance for something similar, it will depend a lot on tonight’s game. If the Avalanche take a 2-0 lead, that can be huge in this series, but the Oilers proved that they can compete with the top seed of the conference and tonight will go even further and win this game. Edmonton has won 4 of the last 5 games after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game. Colorado has won 12 of the last 14 games when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (+146)
Tony Battalio
The Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche put on a goal scoring clinic in Game 1, or depending on who you ask, it was a tutorial on how to not play defense in the National Hockey League. As the two Western Conference Finalists combined for 14 goals and the Colorado Avalanche came out victorious by a score of 8-6. Now they will be looking to take a 2-0 lead before the series heads to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for Game 3 and 4. These are the two teams that most people would’ve predicted to be here before the season began and this is surely going to be a great series.
The Edmonton Oilers will need to find a way to bounce back after their thrilling loss in Game 1 because they cannot afford to go down 0-2 in this series. The Oilers had six different players find the net in Game 1, but they will have to clean it up in Game 2 as they also allowed seven different Avalanche players to score the puck as well. As for the result of this game, I am going with the Edmonton Oilers to bounce back and get the victory to even up the series.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (+146)
Jeffery Thomas
If Game 1 was any indication on how this series will go then we are in for a treat. The Colorado Avalanche pulled out the victory at home in the series opener 8-6, and the 14 goals scored tied the mark for second-most goals scored in a Conference Finals game. I fully expect for the goalfest to continue all series, so the total not budging from the 7 number is a gift to us bettors. I don’t think either team can stop the other and as far as who will win, that might just be determined by who gets the last shot on goal of the game.
The Oilers are 2-0 in Game 2s in these playoffs, while the Avs lost Game 2 last series to St. Louis, and needed an overtime win in Game 2 of their first round series. For some reason Colorado can’t sustain their energy levels in the second game so a look towards Edmonton to tie it up isn’t bad, but I’m going right back to the total which is my favorite bet.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Over 7.5 (+110)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
