Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers Best Bet: Can Leon Draisaitl and the Oilers Cash the Upset in Game 2?

Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers Best Bet: Can Leon Draisaitl and the Oilers Cash the Upset in Game 2?

Avalanche vs. Oilers Game 2 Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

Date: June 2, 2022

When: 8:00 PM ET

Where to Watch: TNT

Click Here for Avalanche vs Oilers Game 2 Odds

The Avalanche and Oilers battle in game two of the series to see if the Oilers can tie it up or if the Avalanche will take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series before heading across the border. If Game two is anything like game one, fans are in for a treat. Game one of this series was one of the most exciting NHL playoff games in recent memory, and it came down to an empty-netter to seal an 8-6 game for the Avalanche with 14 goals scored. As a result, the books have pushed this total to a record-breaking 7.5. Also, in the process of winning, the Avalanche lost number one net-minder Darcy Kuemper, who had been dominant in the playoffs. Can the Oilers steal one on the road before heading home?

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Avalanche vs. Oilers Game 2 Line Movement

Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers Game 2 Prediction

The loss of Kuemper is significant. Backup Pavel Francouz is decent, but he's no Kuemper. Francouz also isn't facing some slouches. In fact, quite the opposite. The Avalanche have scored the most goals in the playoffs and have 4.64 goals per game. Right behind them in second are the Oilers with 4.46 goals per game in the playoffs. That would explain the total. Also, the Oilers have the most potent scoring line in the playoffs with Leon Draisaitl and Conor McDavid. Evander Kane also had time on that line in the first game. Francouz gets the lucky job of stopping that line tonight, and while he has looked good during the regular season, he doesn't have much playoff experience.

Francouz has six playoff starts in his career, and he has a 3.34 GAA in his playoff games with a .891% save percentage. Mike Smith is no Andrei Vasilevksiy by any means, as we saw in game one, but he does have a lot of playoff experience. Smith has 42 playoff games under his belt, and in those 42, he has a 2.56 GAA and a respectable .927% save percentage. Smith's problem has been inconsistency. He's not a bad goalie, but he is so up-and-down. After a horrible game one, I think he bounces back in game two as he settles into the series. The pressure is more on Francouz in my eyes, as the young backup is expected to shut down the best offense in the playoffs besides his own team.

If game two is anything like game one, this game is closer to a toss-up, in my opinion. The Oilers have repeatedly shown that they can erase multiple-goal deficits within just one period in this playoffs. Both teams are good enough offensively to always be in this game no matter the score, and with Kuemper out, the goalie picture is pretty even, if not in the Oiler's favor with the more experienced goalie. I would take the over, but even after watching the first game, taking a 7.5 total in the playoffs is extremely hard. Therefore, the value lies with the Oilers. This is a high line for a team that had an opportunity to tie it in the final minute of game one in the 6-on-5 attack. Back the Oilers to even the series at a good price.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers Game 2 Pick

• Oilers ML (+150) (Bet $100 to Win $150)

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