10:40 pm
August 3

Blackhawks v. Oilers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Chicago Blackhawks (32-38-8)

Edmonton Oilers (37-34-9)

 

Starting Goalies:

Corey Crawford (CHI): Unconfirmed

Mikko Koskinen (EDM): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

Chicago Blackhawks: (+115)

Edmonton Oilers: (-135)

 

• The 6-4 result in Saturday’s Game 1 was perhaps a little flattering to the Oilers, who scored twice in the final four minutes to make the score respectable. In between those last four minutes and Connor McDavid’s opening score at 2:34 of the first period, however, Chicago dominated most of the play.

• The Blackhawks responded to McDavid’s goal by building a 4-1 lead by the end of the opening period, and then led 6-2 after the first two frames. Chicago outshot Edmonton by a 42-29 margin in the game and outscored the Oilers 3-0 in even-strength play (the Oilers’ lone non-power-play goal came with the goaltender pulled, giving Edmonton a 6-on-5 advantage in skaters).

• Dominik Kubalik paced the offense with two goals and three assists, becoming the first player in NHL history to register five points in his first career postseason game. Kubalik also tied a Chicago team record for most points in a single playoff game, becoming the sixth Blackhawks player to hit the five-point plateau.

• Oilers goaltender Mike Smith allowed five goals on 23 shots before being pulled from the game. While Edmonton’s defensive breakdowns were more at fault than Smith for Chicago’s scoring, it seems probable that the Oilers will go with Mikko Koskinen between the pipes in Game 2.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Edmonton Oilers
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