- What: Edmonton Oilers vs Vancouver Canucks - Western Conference Semifinals
- When: Game 1 TBD
- Where: Rogers Place/Rogers Arena
We have an all-Canadian battle in the Western Conference Semifinals beginning this week as the Edmonton Oilers face their Pacific Division rivals, the Vancouver Canucks. Game 1 for this series is still TBD, but it's expected to be on Tuesday or Wednesday at Rogers Arena, the home of the Pacific champions. Edmonton took care of the Los Angeles Kings in the first round in convincing fashion, eliminating them in five games. As for Vancouver, they beat the Nashville Predators in six games in the conference quarterfinals. This should be a very good series between two fantastic teams. Continue reading for the Oilers vs Canucks series picks.
Before we get into the odds, preview, and prediction, make sure to check out our NHL Playoffs Page and our Stanley Cup Odds.
Oilers vs Canucks Series Odds
| Team |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton Oilers | -260 | -260 | -245 |
| Vancouver Canucks | +215 | +215 | +205 |
Despite finishing behind the Canucks in the regular season standings, the experienced Oilers are a heavy favorite to advance here at -260 odds for an implied win probability of 72.22%. Vancouver returns at +215 and has a 31.75% chance of moving on. This is the first time the Oilers and Nucks have gone to battle in the playoffs since 1992. In two total meetings in the postseason, Edmonton won both times. The season series between the Pacific counterparts saw Vancouver go 4-0.
Oilers Expected to Move on
Edmonton had a rough start to the 2023-24 campaign before getting hot and eventually propelling themselves to the top of the Pacific, finishing just five points behind the Canucks for first. The Oilers had a 49-27-6 record and were once again led by their two superstars, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. While McDavid had a bit of a down year in terms of goals, he still had 132 points in total, including 100 assists. Draisaitl contributed 41 goals and 65 helpers as well, while Evan Bouchard and Zach Hyman had over 75 points apiece, too.
The Oilers showed their offensive prowess in the first round against Los Angeles, averaging 4.40 goals per contest. McDavid led the way with 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) and Draisaitl wasn't far behind with five goals and five assists. Hyman, Bouchard, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins were all consistent producers as well. Defensively, Edmonton only conceded 2.60 times per contest, with Stuart Skinner performing in net. The blue line and goaltending have been an issue for this squad in past years and often proved to be their deterrent in making a Cup run. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore.
Although the playoffs are a whole different beast, the Oilers will be wary of this Canucks team who manhandled them in the regular season. However, it's also important to note that three of Vancouver's four victories against Edmonton were at the beginning of the campaign when the Oilers were a completely different team.
Can Canucks Keep it Going?
Despite being in the running for the Presidents' Trophy in the season, no one has ever looked at the Canucks and labeled them as a Stanley Cup contender. Perhaps that's due to youth, but this is a club that cannot be taken for granted. Vancouver was a top-six team on both ends of the ice in 2023-24, compiling an impressive 50-23-9 record. JT Miller's 103 points led the charge, scoring 37 times and assisting 66. Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, and Brock Boeser are the three other main guys who the Canucks rely on.
Vancouver didn't score a ton in the first round, but they ultimately got the job done against the gritty Predators. The Nucks were so close to finishing up the series in Game 5 after taking a late third-period lead before Nashville scored two unanswered to force Game 6, where Rick Trochet's group won 1-0 thanks to Pius Suter's third-period goal.
The Canucks only averaged two goals per game in the series but also conceded just 2.17, even without first choice netminder Thatcher Demko. He's injured and will remain sidelined for the beginning of round two, with youngster Arturs Silovs and Casey DeSmith the other two options. Silovs was brilliant in the series clincher and may get the call ahead of DeSmith moving forward. Boeser and Miller have been the Nucks' two most consistent contributors in the playoffs thus far. That being said, Vancouver has to step it up offensively in the conference semis because we know the Oilers will be firing on all cylinders.
Oilers vs Canucks Series Picks
I know the Canucks were the better regular-season team but the Oilers are full of playoff experience and hungry to finally reach the Promised Land. Although I do think the series will go seven games, Edmonton will be the team moving on.
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