What NHL experts are predicting for Edmonton Oilers-Anaheim Ducks playoff series
The Edmonton Oilers are looking to make another deep playoff run this Spring.
With the team set to open up their first-round series against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night, expectations remain sky-high for the Oilers. Connor McDavid is signed through the next two seasons, meaning that the pressure to win the Stanley Cup has never been higher in the Alberta capital.
To get there, they will first have to find a way to get past a young, up-and-coming Ducks team that boasts a lot of rising stars. Players such as Leo Carlsson, Beckette Sennecke, and Cutter Gauthier will pose concerns for Edmonton, as will Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal.
That being said, the Oilers are no slouches themselves. This is a team that has been to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals and boasts some of the best players in the world and, seemingly, solid goaltending of late from Connor Ingram.
The Oilers finished just a single point ahead of the Ducks in the standings, but NHL experts have almost universally agreed on a heavy favourite going into the series.
Let’s take a closer look at predictions from across the NHL world…
Sportsnet picks Oilers as heavy favourites
Many Oilers fans will be watching playoff games on Sportsnet, and the sports network seems to be siding with the Edmonton faithful.
Out of the 20 members of Sportsnet staff who were asked to pick a winner, an astounding 19 chose the Oilers to knock off the Ducks and advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The only Ducks pick was Rory Boylen, who chose Anaheim to win the series in six games.
Sportsnet.ca
11 of the 20 picks saw the Oilers winning the series in six games, while another seven saw this one ending quick with Edmonton taking it in five games. The only Oilers in seven pick came from Jason Bukala. Nobody believes a sweep is incoming.
NHL.com giving Edmonton plenty of love
There was not much a difference in opinion among NHL.com’s editorial staff went it came to Oilers-Ducks predictions.
The league’s official website also ran a poll among their staff, which showed yet another strong belief that the Oilers will get past the Ducks. Out of the 15 people polled, 12 chose Edmonton to advance over Anaheim, giving the Oilers an 80 per cent of the votes.
The three who choose the Ducks were senior writer Amalie Benjamin, managing editor Brian Compton, and assistant day editor David Satriano.
While it was an overwhelming vote of confidence toward the Oilers, it’s notable to bring up that nobody had Edmonton advancing to a third-straight Stanley Cup Final in their predictions.
The Athletic overwhelmingly picks Oilers
Ducks fans hoping to see some sliver of hope from expert predictions won’t get any from The Athletic.
A total of 30 people from the Athletic’s NHL staff gave their picks for the series, with 80 per cent opting to stick with the Oilers, as compared to just 20 per cent for the Ducks. The most popular pick saw Edmonton ending it in six games, with 40 per cent of the vote.
The Athletic
A good chunk of voters believe the Oilers will make quick work of the Ducks. 16.7 per cent chose an Edmonton sweep, while another 20 per cent think they will need just five games to eliminate Anaheim. A mere 3.3 per cent chose Edmonton to win the series in seven games.
Nobody voted for the Ducks to win the series in four or five games, with a total of 20 per cent of voters choosing Anaheim to win in six or seven games.