Oilers vs. Flames Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 1 Best Bets for May 18 (Archive)
The opening game between two Western Conference powers will begin in Calgary on Wednesday night when the Flames host the Oilers in a best-of-seven second-round series. Let’s analyze this Game 1 showdown and keep cashing our NHL picks!
Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames
Wednesday, May 18, 2022 – 09:30 PM EDT at Scotiabank Saddledome
Edmonton Oilers: First Round Recap
The Oilers were supposed to enjoy the first-round cakewalk against a team they had defeated in five of their last six meetings. But alas, it was far from a lopsided mismatch, despite what the NHL odds told us, installing Edmonton as high as a -285 series favorite over the Los Angeles Kings.
After dropping a hotly-contested Game 1, the Oilers dominated L.A. over the next two games, outscoring the Kings, 14-2, over that stretch. It appeared as though this was going to be a gentleman’s sweep but the Kings were having none of it.
Los Angeles roared back and claimed the next two games, taking a 3-2 series advantage and putting the heavily favored Oilers on the brink of elimination.
Oilers Skated Out with a 4-2 Victory
However, Edmonton had plenty of gas left in the tank and skated into the City of Angels with a boatload of determination and skated out with a 4-2 victory. This forced a seventh and deciding game in Edmonton on Saturday night and the defense stepped up in a big way, as did veteran goalie, Mike Smith.
After a scoreless first period, Cody Ceci deposited his first goal of the postseason, with assists from Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, to put the Oilers up 1-0 midway through the second frame.
It would remain a one-goal game until Connor McDavid refused to give up on a wraparound late in the third period and lit the lamp on what proved to be the insurance goal for the Oilers.
Jonathan Quick vs. Mike Smith
Jonathan Quick of the Kings received the No. 2 star for his 39 saves while the Oilers’ netminder, Mike Smith, notched the shutout and the No. 3 star with 29 saves of his own in Edmonton's Game 7 victory.
“It feels good to do it in that fashion,” McDavid said of the shutout. “There is always a lot of talk about the defensive side of the game, so for our group to step up in a big moment and play like that in a 2-0 win with (goalie Mike Smith) playing great and contributions from everyone, it feels good.”
“But that being said, it is just one round. There is a long way to go here. We’re happy to move on to the second round, but that is all we did, survived another day.”
Oilers vs. Flames Betting Trends
Side Trends
- Flames are 6-1 in their last 7 games as a home favorite.
- Flames are 8-0 in their last 8 Wednesday games.
- The home team is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
- The Oilers are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in Calgary.
Total Trends
- Under is 4-0 in the Oilers' last 4 games as an underdog.
- Under is 7-2 in the Oilers' last 9 road games.
- Under is 6-2-1 in the Oilers' last 9 games as a road underdog.
- Under is 3-0-1 in the Flames' last 4 games as a home favorite.
- Under is 3-0-1 in the Flames' last 4 home games.
- Under is 7-1-1 in the Flames' last 9 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
How to Bet on Oilers vs. Flames Game 1
The Flames and Oilers were ranked No. 6 and 7 in regular-season goal production, respectively. We know both clubs are equipped with snipers and can light up the scoreboard at any given moment but the Flames come equipped with one of the best defenses in the league, ranked third during the regular season behind only the Hurricanes and Rangers.
Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom was a stone wall for the Flames this season and he is tops in the postseason, boasting a 1.53 goals-against average. As good as veteran Mike Smith has been for the Oilers, he is not an elite goaltender, yet, comes with plenty of experience under his belt.
That being said, we should consider that Calgary ran into a steel curtain in the previous round with Dallas’s netminder, Jake Oettinger, playing as a man possessed.
The Flames averaged 41 shots per game over the seven-game series and averaged only 2.14 goals per game. In their last game, a 3-2 overtime series-clinching win, they launched 67 shots on Oettinger, and the young goalie allowed only three goals.
Oilers vs. Flames Game 1 Betting Picks
As Game 1 goes, so often goes the series and although these teams split the four-game set between them, Calgary claimed the last two meetings, both held at the Saddledome. I look for the Flames to win and it should be relatively low-scoring as both teams may still be winded after going seven games in their previous series.
NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-155) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
NHL Pick: Under 6 (-103) with Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.