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 third game of the Western Conference Finals between the Avalanche and Oilers.
Colorado Avalanche @ Edmonton Oilers – 8pm ET
It’s Game 3 of this Western Conference Finals series between the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers, and the first game that will be played in Edmonton. The Avalanche have a grip on this series at the moment, after winning the first two games. The Oilers will be desperate for a win, so they don’t go 0-3 down in the series.
Marko Nadin
The Edmonton Oilers found themselves in a 0-2 hole against the Western Conference top seed and will have to do something about it tonight on home ice just to keep their hopes alive for advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Oilers scored 6 goals in the opening game of the series which wasn’t enough for a win but had absolutely no chances in Game 2 of the series as they failed to score in a 0-4 loss to the Avalanche. Colorado, on the other hand, has a comfortable lead and control over the series score, and can go to Edmonton with no pressure. The Oilers are a team that can not be swept by anybody and they will go as hard as they can tonight and will cut the deficit to 1-2.
Colorado has won 7 of the last 10 games against Edmonton, the last 5 road games, 40 of the last 55 games when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game and 60 of the last 79 games as favorite. Edmonton has won 4 of the last 5 games following a loss of 3 or more goals, 20 of the last 26 home games and 8 of the last 11 games played on Saturday.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (+108)
Tony Battalio
The Colorado Avalanche have rolled through the first two games of this Western Conference Finals series and now they are only two wins away from playing for the Stanley Cup. In the playoffs for American sports, the phrase “the series doesn’t start until someone wins on the road” is often used. So if the Colorado Avalanche pick up the win tonight it will in theory “start the series” and likely end it as well, as they will end up taking a three game lead with another victory.
The Edmonton Oilers are heading back home for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals and they are in a must win situation. After losing Game 1 in a thriller and dropping Game 2 as well, if they were to lose Game 3 this series would be as good as over. It would also extend the drought of Canadian teams not winning the Stanley Cup trophy by yet another long heartbreaking year. However, I don’t think that will be the case as I have the Edmonton Oilers picking up the victory over the Colorado Avalanche at home in Game 3.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (+108)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
