Ducks vs Oilers Prediction, Props Picks, Odds & Lineup Notes – Game 1

• Edmonton is a -186 home favorite for Game 1, but these teams combined for 28 goals across three regular-season meetings
• Leon Draisaitl has been activated off IR and will play after missing the final 14 games of the regular season
• See my Ducks vs Oilers Game prediction, props, picks and odds for Monday night’s Game 1

Anaheim (43-33-6) is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2018, and the Ducks drew a brutal opening matchup against an Edmonton team that went to the Cup Final in each of the last two seasons. The Oilers (41-30-11) won the season series 2-1, but all three games were high-scoring with 28 combined goals.

Edmonton’s 30.6% power play is one of the best in the league and goes up against Anaheim’s 76.4% penalty kill. Puck drop is at 8:00 pm MT / 10:00 pm ET from Rogers Place on ESPN2.

Here are my Ducks vs Oilers prediction and picks for Game 1.

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Ducks vs Oilers Prediction Game 1

• Over 6.5 Goals (-134 at ScoreBet)

My Ducks vs Oilers prediction for Game 1 is on the over. These two averaged 9.33 goals per game across their three regular-season meetings, and neither club is built to play shutdown hockey. Edmonton scored six or more goals 13 times this season (tied for the most in the NHL), while Anaheim set a franchise record with 265 goals.

Both teams also posted identical .883 team save percentages for the season. When neither goalie is bailing out the defense, goals come in bunches.

Ducks vs Oilers Key Stats

Edmonton’s 30.6% power play against Anaheim’s 76.4% penalty kill is the biggest mismatch in this series. The Ducks were even worse on the PK at home (73.3%), and Rogers Place is one of the toughest buildings in the league to kill penalties in.

Ducks vs Oilers Player Props

I’ve come up with two Ducks vs Oilers Game 1 props, one from each side of the ice.

• Connor McDavid Over 1.5 Points (-130 at DraftKings)

I’m starting my Ducks vs Oilers Game 1 props with Connor McDavid to go over his points total. McDavid had seven points (2G, 5A) in three games against Anaheim this season, clearing 1.5 points in all four of his most recent matchups with the Ducks.

The Hart Trophy odds favorite finished with 138 points and averaged 2.25 per game against Anaheim. He’ll run the top power play against a PK that ranked 30th at home.

• Jackson LaCombe Over 0.5 Assists (+120 at DraftKings)

Wrapping up my Ducks vs Oilers props, I like Jackson LaCombe to pick up a helper at plus money. LaCombe had 48 assists this season and has gone over 0.5 assists in 12 of his last 15 games as an underdog, averaging 0.87 per contest.

He runs Anaheim’s top defensive pair and will quarterback the power play. If the Ducks score, LaCombe is likely involved.

Ducks vs Oilers Game 1 Picks

• Spread Bet: Ducks +1.5 Puck Line (-150 at Caesars)

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My Ducks vs Oilers Game 1 spread pick is on Anaheim to cover the +1.5. The Ducks won’t go quietly in their first playoff game since 2018. They had 24 one-goal victories this season, the second most in the NHL, and they know how to hang around in tight games.

Joel Quenneville has three Stanley Cup rings and 1,133 career coaching wins. He’s been in this spot before, and the Ducks have enough veteran playoff experience from guys like Kreider, Killorn, Carlson and Trouba to keep this competitive. Paying -150 for the 1.5-goal cushion is the right play in a Game 1 where the underdog has nothing to lose.

Ducks vs Oilers Odds – Game 1

Odds via ScoreBet, FanDuel, Caesars and bet365.

Edmonton’s -186 moneyline translates to roughly a 65% implied probability, which is lower than you’d expect for a team with two straight Cup Final trips. The puck line at +135 is tempting, but the Ducks’ ability to keep games close makes the +1.5 the safer side.

The total at 6.5 is juiced to the over at -134, and for good reason. The three regular-season meetings produced totals of 11, 11 and 6. The Stanley Cup odds have Edmonton as one of the favorites, but Anaheim has the young talent to make this a series.

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Ducks vs Oilers Game 1 Lineup Notes

The biggest news is Draisaitl. He’s been activated off IR and will play in Game 1 after missing the final 14 games of the regular season with a lower-body injury. He practiced for two straight days on the second line with Podkolzin and Kapanen and was on the top power play unit. Getting a player who had 97 points in 65 games back for the opener is a massive boost.

Jason Dickinson (leg) is also a game-time decision and was skating at third-line center between Nugent-Hopkins and Roslovic at Sunday’s practice. Hyman is back after returning for the regular-season finale. Max Jones is out 3-4 weeks and Janmark is done for the season.

For Anaheim, captain Radko Gudas is likely out after missing six of the final seven regular-season games with a lower-body issue. Ross Johnston was ruled out despite skating at the morning skate. Harkins (hand surgery) and Mrazek (hip surgery) are both done for the year. Gauthier and Mintyukov are both healthy after recent injury scares.

Lukas Dostal (30-20-4, 3.10 GAA, .888 SV%) gets the start for Anaheim in his first career playoff game. Edmonton’s starter is unconfirmed, with Connor Ingram (16-10-3, 2.60 GAA, .899 SV%) the projected choice over Tristan Jarry, who has extensive playoff experience.