Flames vs Oilers Series Odds, Preview, Schedule & Picks
- The Calgary Flames are -190 favorites over the Edmonton Oilers in their Stanley Cup NHL Western Conference second-round playoff series
- This will be their first playoff meeting since 1991
- All of the Flames vs Oilers odds, picks, predictions and best bets are looked at in the story below
No Canadian NHL franchise has won the Stanley Cup since 1993, but for the second straight year a Canadian club will at least be among the final four teams standing. That’s because the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames will meet in the second round of the playoffs starting on Wednesday, reigniting the Battle of Alberta.
The Oilers and Flames rivalry is considered one of the best in hockey, but shockingly, this will be their first postseason meeting since 1991. Edmonton has won four of the five series all-time between the provincial foes, however oddsmakers are leaning towards Calgary this time around.
Flames vs Oilers Series Odds
| Team | Moneyline |
|---|---|
| Calgary Flames | -190 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +160 |
Odds as of May 16th at Caesars Sportsbook.
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The Flames, a top-three contender in the Stanley Cup odds, opened as -190 favorites to advance to the conference final. Oddsmakers are expecting a hard fought, lengthy series as the most likely outcome per the most recent odds is for this matchup to end in either six or seven games.
That thinking seems justified given how close these two teams played each other during the regular season, and how evenly they match up per the numbers.
Flames vs Oilers Head-to-Head
Calgary and Edmonton split the season series two games a piece, with the Flames scoring 17 goals compared to the Oilers 16.
Calgary vs Edmonton 2021-22 Results
| Date | Home-Away | Moneyline | Puck Line | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/16/2021 | EDM 5 CGY 2 | EDM | EDM | Over |
| 1/22/2022 | EDM 5 CGY 3 | EDM | EDM | Over |
| 3/7/2022 | CGY 3 EDM 1 | CGY | CGY | Under |
| 3/26/2022 | CGY 9 EDM 5 | CGY | CGY | Over |
Through the opening round of the playoffs, Calgary owns the highest Corsi percentage at even strength, while ranking number one in goals against, second in save percentage and expected goals for, and third in high danger scoring chances created.
Not to be outdone, Edmonton ranks third in expected goals, and second in high danger scoring chances created and powerplay efficiency.
Oilers Dynamic Duo Nearly Impossible to Defend
When you think of the Oilers, you think of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The duo rank first and second in the Art Ross Trophy odds and were electric in the opening round against the Kings.
CONNOR MCDAVID WANTS IT MORE @spittinchiclets pic.twitter.com/aI3bqm9K5b
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 15, 2022
McDavid racked up 14 points in seven games after leading the NHL in scoring this season. Draisaitl meanwhile, added nine points in the opening round after finishing fourth in points during the regular season.
Edmonton’s success largely hinges on their success, as the two either scored or assisted on 63% of the Oilers first round goals.
Calgary is far more balanced in their offensive attack, but will need more offense from stars Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk to keep pace.
Johnny Gaudreau scores the series-clinching goal in overtime. On to the Battle of Alberta. pic.twitter.com/bPBz5ZG7PV
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) May 16, 2022
Gaudreau, who finished tied for second in scoring during the regular season, sent the Flames into the second round with his Game 7 OT winner against the Stars. Prior to those heroics, he scored only once in the first six games. Tkachuk also scored just one goal in the opening round after 42 tallies in the regular season. Same goes for 20-goal scorer Tyler Toffoli who was acquired from Montreal earlier in the year specifically for his offense.
Jacob Markstrom 🤝 Jake Oettinger
Keeping Game 4 scoreless ❌pic.twitter.com/njjKlHrzUd
— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) May 10, 2022
The Flames have a significant advantage in goal with Jacob Markstrom between the pipes, but the top-two Vezina Trophy odds contender didn’t fare particularly well against the Oilers in the regular season.
Markstrom posted a 3.54 GAA and .884 save percentage, which was a far cry from his season long totals of 2.22 and .922.
Flames vs Oilers Pick
Shockingly, both of these teams enter the second round in good health. Aside from Calgary defenseman Chris Tanev sitting out Game 7 versus Dallas for an undisclosed reason, there are no major injuries to report.
Neither club has made the conference finals in the last decade and a half. Edmonton’s last trip was in 2006, while Calgary last advanced in 2004.
Waiting for the Battle of Alberta to start like: pic.twitter.com/DlMbMkOPXA
— Alice “Big Al” Moran (@Alice_Moran) May 16, 2022
With both teams so evenly matched, I’m tempted to take the value on the Oilers. They have two of the top-four players in the league, and gave Markstrom fits during the regular season.
In addition to that wager, consider a sprinkle on Edmonton to win in seven games at +650. Both teams are fresh off going the distance in the opening round, and all the numbers point to a hard fought, closely contested series.
Picks: Edmonton Oilers (+190), Oilers to Win in Seven Games (+650)
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
