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Their backs aren’t firmly against the wall just yet, but the Edmonton Oilers can feel something looming over their shoulders.
Down 2-1 in their best-of-7 series against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Oilers desperately need a win on Wednesday night to buy themselves some breathing room in this contest.
But the pressure building on Edmonton isn’t just coming from the scoreboard.
There’s also heaps of expectations on this team after they bulldozed their way down the stretch and into the playoffs.
The Oilers were the betting favorite to win the Stanley Cup before their loss in Game 3.
Despite getting trounced on Monday, the Oilers are currently sitting as a -180 favorite to win Game 4.
Golden Knights vs. Oilers pick
(10 p.m. ET)
Everything seemed to come undone for the Oilers in Game 3. T
he defense struggled to manage the puck and couldn’t keep Vegas out of dangerous areas, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were held off the scoresheet and the Oilers were held to just one goal for the first time in 39 games.
It was as bad as we’ve seen this team play in quite some time.
But a lot of credit needs to go to Vegas for how this series has played out so far.
While the Oilers’ vaunted power play is making its mark, the Knights have outscored Edmonton, 9-4, at 5-on-5 and has a slight advantage in terms of expected goals created (7.0 to 5.4).
The key to beating the Oilers is to survive the power play and do everything you can to contain McDavid and Draisaitl.
Stuart Skinner Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
So far, Vegas is getting the job done and the Knights are also winning the goaltending battle.
There is a new wrinkle to that last point, though, as Adin Hill had to sub in for Laurent Brossoit in the middle of Game 3 after Brossoit went down injured.
Hill was terrific in spot duty and looks likely to be in goal for Vegas in Game 4.
Brossoit has delivered for Vegas in its first eight games of the postseason, but it’s not like he’s an elite goalie, so going from Brossoit to Hill shouldn’t be a huge difference.
On the other end of the ice, the Oilers have their own issues in net.
Betting on the NHL?
Stuart Skinner has been unsteady so far in his first postseason, but Jack Campbell struggled mightily during the regular season.
If you’re just going by the numbers, Skinner is the safer option, but it’s not an easy call given the way things have played out.
In our preview for Game 3, I spoke about how the Edmonton hype train has seeped into the betting market and I think that remains the case on Wednesday.
Vegas has shown it can do better than just hang with the Oilers at 5-on-5 and with Edmonton’s goaltending situation looking murky, there’s no value backing the Oil at this price.
Golden Knights vs. Oilers prediction
Golden Knights +155 (FanDuel)