Oilers Playoff Predictions: Most Likely First-Round Matchups

It’s been two straight years of bitter defeat in the Stanley Cup Final for the Edmonton Oilers, but it’s a new season and a new opportunity for Connor McDavid and Co.

The Oilers have not had the strongest regular season, but they still sit in a top-three spot in the Pacific Division. At worst, they should finish in a wild-card spot by season’s end.

Below, I’ll break down the most likely first-round matchups for Edmonton and predict how those series might look.

Oilers Playoff Predictions: Most Likely First-Round Matchups

Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks are on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18, and if the standings remain the same until the end of the season, they’ll face off against the Oilers in the first round of the playoffs.

The Oilers and Ducks have split their season series so far at one game apiece, but Edmonton has dominated Anaheim over the past several years. Since 2017-18, the Oilers are 17-7-3 versus the Ducks in the regular season.

The two franchises have met twice in the playoffs, with the Ducks winning the 2017 Second Round in seven games and the Oilers winning the 2006 Conference Finals in five.

I would give the edge to Edmonton in this matchup due to their playoff experience, as well as the fact that McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have the rare ability to take over a series.

Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights are the betting favourite to win the Pacific Division, and they would face off against the Oilers in the first round should Edmonton fall into the first wild-card spot.

The clubs have met in the postseason twice, with the Oilers winning the 2025 Second Round in five games and the Golden Knights taking the 2023 Second Round in six contests.

Edmonton has won three straight regular-season meetings versus Vegas, and owns a 16-9-2 regular-season record against them since the Golden Knights’ inaugural season in 2017-18.

Neither team has looked particularly great this season, but the Oilers’ stars likely give them the edge here in a seven-game series.

Colorado Avalanche

The Oilers’ worst-case scenario is that they fall to the second wild-card spot and face the Colorado Avalanche in the first round.

The Avalanche currently lead the NHL in points, goals per game, and goals against per game, while Nathan MacKinnon tops all skaters in goals and is on McDavid’s heels for the overall scoring lead. Colorado also got even better at the trade deadline with the addition of Nazem Kadri.

Since 2020-21, the Oilers and Avalanche have almost split their regular-season series, with Edmonton going 5-3-5 in 13 meetings. The clubs have met in the playoffs just once in the past 25 years, with the Avalanche sweeping the Oilers in the 2022 Conference Finals en route to their Stanley Cup victory.

Colorado is going to be the clear favourite against any opponent in the playoffs, and the Avalanche will likely defeat the Oilers in this matchup.