Free NHL Playoffs Prediction: Sharks vs Oilers NHL Betting Odds
Looking for San Jose Sharks vs. Edmonton Oilers free playoff plays & NHL series odds? NHL betting sees the Sharks taking on the Oilers on Wednesday April 12th at the Rogers Center in Edmonton, AB. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey matchups all Stanley Cup playoffs long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions.
(46-29-7) San Jose Sharks vs. Edmonton Oilers (47-26-9)
2017 NHL Playoffs: Western Conference Round 1
NHL Series Odds: Sharks +125| Oilers -145
NHL Stanley Cup Futures Odds: Sharks +1700| Oilers +1200
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The number two and number three seeds in the Pacific were separated by just one win and four points total to finish the regular season. The Oilers will have home ice advantage in their first playoff appearance since 2005-06, where they lost out in Game 7 of the Cup Finals.
They will have a tough first round matchup against a team from San Jose who did just that last season, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals but losing out to Pittsburgh.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks have been through the grind before, and have a number of veterans who have yet to get a Cup ring, but are hungry to earn the honor now in the twilights of their respective careers.
Joe Thornton has been the best set-up man of his era and should earn a Hall of Fame nod, but a Cup title to his name would greatly help his odds. This year, Jumbo Joe finished with and even 50 points.
Joe Pavelski is a big game player and finished atop the scoring sheet amongst Sharks forwards. Captain “Little Joe” finished in a tie for the team-lead in goals with 29, and 68 points overall.
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All-star defenseman, Brent Burns, finished with 76 points this season, the highest total of any blueliner. He should be a front-runner for the Norris trophy, and the Sharks will certainly need him to continue his strong play to get by the Oilers.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic will likely log a ton of minutes trying to shut-down Connor McDavid.
Martin Jones will handle the work in net on the heels of a solid regular season. Jones earned 35 wins with a 2.40 GAA and a .912 SV% this year. He was a standout last Spring and a large reason why the Sharks reached the Cup finals.
Edmonton Oilers
For the first time in a decade, the Oilers will appear in the post-season (sorry, earmuffs Taylor Hall). The Oilers will surely be playing in front of a loud, packed-house in their new barn. The Oil finished 8th overall this season in both goals for and goals against.
It’s no secret that the team is led by superstar captain, Connor McDavid, who finished atop the NHL scoring chart this season with 100 points.
While it’s his first taste of playoff hockey, he certainly isn’t a stranger to the big stage and pressure, and should be fun to watch battle with Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
Leon Draisaitl is another good young scorer for the Oilers, and with his size and skill set, he’ll play a critical role for the team in the playoff grind. The 6’3, 215 lb. forward ended the regular season with 29 goals and 77 points.
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The defensive unit certainly isn’t as sexy on paper as that of the Sharks, but has been very effective this year enroute to an 8th overall ranking in goals allowed. Adam Larsson has been a steady two-way defender, and finished second on the team in plus-minus at +21 on the year.
They’ll need the likes of him, along with Darnell Nurse and Matt Benning, to physically handle the size of San Jose’s forwards.
Cam Talbot could certainly be in consideration for the Vezina were it not for the play of Sergei Bobrovsky, Braden Holtby and former-Oiler, Devan Dubnyk, this year. Talbot finished 2016-17 with a 42 wins, a 2.39 GAA and a .919 SV%.
Free San Jose Sharks vs. Edmonton Oilers Playoff Series Prediction:
There are major X-factors in this series, but to me the one that stands out the most is the play and leadership of Milan Lucic.
After a down year on the score sheet, Lucic is one of the few Oilers’ players who’s been through the playoff grind multiple times and has a Cup Ring to his name. His game is tailor-made for playoff hockey, and he could be a driving force for the Oil.
While San Jose has a solid run last postseason, I think the age and games played in the last calendar year may play a factor. The energy surrounding Edmonton and youthful wheels should play a part in what I think should be a lengthy series, so I like Edmonton on home-ice.
4* Free NHL Series Betting Pick: Edmonton -145
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