The Vancouver Canucks play host to Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night, two days after failing to close out the Oilers in a 5-1 loss in Edmonton.
THE ODDS
The Oilers are consensus 1.5-goal favorites despite being on the road. The action has been almost even at BetMGM, where Edmonton has been backed 52 percent of the spread-line bets and 51 percent of the money.
The Canucks’ +130 moneyline has drawn 57 percent of the bets, while the Oilers have been backed by 62 percent of the money at -155.
The Over/Under for total goals has shifted from 6.0 to 5.5 at the book, with the Under drawing 85 percent of the money.
PROP PICK
Connor McDavid to Score Goal (+135 at BetMGM): The Oilers’ captain hasn’t scored in each of the past four games, but is coming off a three-assist effort in Game 6. McGregor did find the net in Game 2 — just his second goal of these playoffs. Regardless, McDavid scoring on Monday night has been the most popular player prop at the book.
PREDICTION
Edmonton entered the season with legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations and the Oilers responded big time with their backs against the wall on Saturday. They won at Vancouver in Game 2, and move on with another strong effort on the road.
–Oilers 4, Canucks 3
THE NEWS
The Canucks were not even in the same league as the Oilers in Saturday’s loss. Vancouver managed a paltry 15 shots on goal, failed to convert all four of its power-play chances and was all but done and dusted during a one-sided second period that saw Edmonton go up 3-1.
Responding to claim the series will be anything but easy.
“There’s always a test,” Canucks captain Quinn Hughes said. “If you lose three in a row in January, you know, people are still going crazy and that’s a test, too. We’re going to have to treat it like another game. It’s a great opportunity. If you told us we’d have this opportunity in September, we would have took it.”
While Vancouver is trying to rediscover the form that gave it the upper hand in the series, the Oilers will look to build on a dominant performance. That said, Edmonton is also focused on keeping its emotions in check.
“Nothing to be satisfied or excited about,” McDavid said of the Game 6 win. “We just bought ourselves another day, and I would expect the same level of urgency and desperation from our group.
“I would expect Vancouver to play a better game as well, and I would expect it to be a highly competitive, great Game 7.”
Edmonton is looking to reach the conference finals for the second time in three years and has a decided advantage in Game 7 experience, something the Oilers plan to lean on come Monday.
“Experience helps — a familiar situation helps in understanding how small the margins are and how well you have to play to win,” Edmonton forward Zach Hyman said. “I think those things go into it and we want to keep playing, we want to win a Stanley Cup and we want to be here, so we really didn’t have a choice.”
INJURY REPORT
Vancouver is expected to be without star winger Brock Boeser for the finale. The 27-year-old is experiencing blood-clotting issues, according to Sportsnet.
Boeser, 27, is having a strong postseason and leads the Canucks with seven goals. He is tied for the team lead with 12 points. Boeser established career bests for goals (40) and points (73) in the regular season.
UP NEXT
Monday’s winner will face the Dallas Stars in the conference finals, which begin Thursday.
THEY SAID IT
–“You’re disappointed a little bit, but you know that we are a good bounce-back team. It’s a Game 7. People would kill to be in this situation right now, and we’ve got to make sure that we act like we want to be in that situation. Play like you want to be a hero on Monday, that’s what I think.” — Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet.
–“We have guys in this locker room who are so talented, but they’re (also) winners. They’re here to win and it showed (Saturday). It’s going to show again on Monday.” — Edmonton defenseman Vincent Desharnais as told to Sportsnet.
–Field Level Media