- The Oilers are the Stanley Cup favourites for the first time in over two months.
- The Oilers’ power play is 0-for-12 on the road in the playoffs.
- The Oilers have conceded the first goal in seven of eight playoff games.
The Edmonton Oilers overcame adversity again, this time prevailing 5-4 in overtime against the Vegas Golden Knights despite coughing up a two-goal lead in the third period.
It was a role reversal for the Oilers, who have been the playoffs’ comeback kids. The Oilers bent severely in the third period and the early part of overtime but didn’t break.
After hitting a crossbar and a post and failing to score on a five-minute power play in overtime, the Oilers persevered thanks to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who had been kept off the scoresheet prior to the overtime winner.
The Oilers last won the first two road games of a playoff series in 2017 against Anaheim, which they eventually lost in seven games.
There’s no comparison otherwise, though, as Kris Knoblauch’s team is proving they can win in countless ways. You can add giving up a third-period lead to their ever-growing resume.
Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup Odds
The Oilers’ Stanley Cup odds improved from +400 to +300 after their Game 2 victory. Those hockey odds are the shortest, with Edmonton leapfrogging the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes on the leaderboard.
The Oilers’ +300 odds carry a 25% implied probability. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights’ odds decreased from +1000 to +1800, the longest of the remaining eight teams.
Edmonton Oilers Western Conference Odds
The Oilers are the most likely Western Conference team to make it to the Stanley Cup Final after their odds improved from +170 to +125 at the BetMGM sportsbook.
They replaced the Stars atop the odds leaderboard. Dallas has the second-shortest odds (+145), while the Winnipeg Jets (+650) round out the three favourites.
Vegas’ odds took a significant hit, lengthening from +475 to +900. The Oilers’ Western Conference odds imply a 44.44% probability, while Vegas’ stands at 10%.
Edmonton Oilers Next Game
- Opponent: Vegas Golden Knights
- Date: Saturday, May 10
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- TV: Sportsnet, TNT
- Radio: 880 CHED, SiriusXM
- Game Preview: Oilers vs. Golden Knights Predictions, Odds, & Best Bets
The Oilers conceded the opening goal for the seventh time in eight playoff games. While no team wants to spot the opposition an early lead, especially ones as elite as the Golden Knights, the Oilers seem to feed off it.
It almost acts as a stimulant, like a double espresso for someone falling asleep on the job. Their current six-game winning streak includes five in a row of conceding first.
Thursday’s game in Vegas was arguably the most impressive, not because of how they played but due to their ability to overcome mounting adversity.
The Golden Knights did a spectacular job on Draisaitl and McDavid until the overtime winner, preventing both from notching a point in regulation.
That’s another feather in the cap of the Oilers’ collective and secondary scoring, which has been one of the major success stories in Edmonton’s camp. The fourth line chipped in with two goals, and they got two from defencemen not named Evan Bouchard.
Jake Walman scored the Oilers’ opener from the point, his first postseason goal and Darnell Nurse netted the third.
Edmonton also struggled on the power play, a recurring theme for the Oilers on the road during the postseason. They are 0-for-12 with the man advantage in enemy environments, including an empty five-minute power play in Game 2 overtime.
And then there’s Calvin Pickard, one of the best stories of the playoffs thus far.
The Oilers goaltender is 6-0 since replacing Stuart Skinner, and despite allowing four goals, was outstanding in Game 2, keeping the Oilers in it through most of the third period and the early part of overtime.
I’ve been bullish about the Oilers for most of the season, saying they have the megastars to drag them to their first Stanley Cup in 35 years. With everyone stepping up, the favourites to win the Stanley Cup no longer have to rely solely on McDavid and Draisaitl to get them out of every jam.
How Many Oilers Players Have Won the Stanley Cup?
Corey Perry won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in the 2006-07 season. He reached the Stanley Cup Final four times with four teams.
He is the only current Oiler to win a Cup. However, Mattias Ekholm, Janmark, and Brett Kulak also made it to the Stanley Cup Final but fell just short of their ultimate goal.
When Did the Oilers Last Win the Cup?
The Oilers have won five Stanley Cups, the last in 1990. Between 1984 and 1988, Edmonton won four of five championships.
The 1990 Stanley Cup triumph was the only one in franchise history without Wayne Gretzky, who was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in August 1988.
Complete List of Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup Wins
| Year | Opponent | Result |
| 1984 | New York Islanders | 4-1 |
| 1985 | Philadelphia Flyers | 4-1 |
| 1987 | Philadelphia Flyers | 4-3 |
| 1988 | Boston Bruins | 4-0 |
| 1990 | Boston Bruins | 4-1 |
