Once upon a time, the Oilers and Flames had the hottest rivalry in the NHL. In the 1980s, Edmonton forged the last great NHL dynasty with five Stanley Cup championships in seven seasons. The two times that the Oilers failed to win the Cup, Calgary made the Stanley Cup Final. Known as the Battle of Alberta, the hate and passion of the rivalry became a hot item on the board with the NHL betting odds. Sadly, the rivalry hasn’t been much of one for the past three decades. But on Wednesday, it renews in earnest.
2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames
| Date and Time: | Wednesday, May 18, 2022, 9:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers | +1½ (-175) | 6 (-120) | +135 |  |
| Flames | -1½ (+155) | 6 (EV) | -155 | |
| ||||
SBG Odds Overview – Calgary Brings Structure – Oilers Offer McDavid
First-round action saw the Oilers eliminate the Kings 4-3. In comparison, the Flames escaped the Stars 4-3. With both teams coming off seven-game series, fatigue should not be a factor in anyone’s favor.
Calgary made a great leap this year to become an elite sportsbook property. Last season, head coach Darryl Sutter took over late and laid down the law. It was a preemptive strike for the 2021-22 campaign that saw the Flames win the Pacific Division. Sutter demanded that the Flames focus on checking and tight defense. He said that goal scoring would take care of itself from forced turnovers. And that proved to be prophetic. Consider that the Flames ranked 6th for goal scoring and 3rd for goals against. Calgary dominated the entire schedule.
Counter to Calgary was an Oilers team that looked like it would miss the playoffs at the midway point. But when Jay Woodcroft replaced Dave Tippett as head coach, the light bulb went off for the Oilers. Edmonton played outstanding and profitable hockey down the stretch to gain the playoffs. And then Connor McDavid is showing why he was the first player taken in the 2015 NHL Draft.
How Gamblers See the Series
From a gambling perspective, both sharps and squares will split to both sides. Wise Guys love the structure of Calgary. But they also respect the dominance of Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid. By contrast, squares love the gaudy Calgary record and home ice.
Edmonton Clears Major Hurdle
Previously, Edmonton would have fallen to pieces in a difficult playoff series. But against the Kings, the Oilers showed guts and grit to win it in seven games. McDavid took over game seven to show why he is considered the best player in the game. So far in the playoffs, McDavid has four goals, ten assists, and a +10. Evander Kane has seven goals, with Leon Draisaitl adding five. Meanwhile, Mike Smith has a stellar .938 save percentage.
Flames Withstand Fire of Shooting Stars
So far, goaltender Jacob Markstrom has a dominant .943 save percentage for Calgary. Johnny Goudreau leads the Flames in scoring with two goals, six assists, and a +8.
Oilers at Flames SBG Free Picks
In this situation, the Oilers bring more firepower, but the Flames have more structure. Edmonton is getting the better NHL betting price here.
Oilers at Flames SBG Best Bet: Edmonton Oilers.