What NHL experts are predicting for Oilers-Golden Knights playoff series
The Edmonton Oilers are back in the second round for the fourth consecutive season, but will their run end there?
Edmonton shocked the hockey world in round one after erasing a 2-0 series deficit to the LA Kings to take the opening-round matchup in six games. Heading into that series, the Kings were the overwhelming favourite with many experts predicting that L.A. would finally slay their playoff demons.
However, the Oilers’ “never die” attitude helped propel them to four-straight comeback victories, silencing their critics. Did those experts learn their lesson from doubting Connor McDavid and the Oilers as they head into a second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights?
The folks over at NHL.com seemingly did not, as most of the 16 writers asked to predict the series opted to go with the Golden Knights. In that poll, 10 picked Vegas to win the series, while a measly six predicted the Oilers to slay the Knights in the rematch of the 2023 second-round series between these two teams.
That is still better than the three who predicted the Oilers would beat the Kings in round one, but it still doesn’t show much belief. The following writers picked Edmonton in round two:
- Derek van Diest, staff writer
- Dave Stubbs, columnist
- Mike G. Morreale, senior draft writer
- Pete Jensen, senior director, fantasy
- William Douglas, staff writer
- Brian Compton, managing editor
Outlets like The Bleacher Report and Daily Faceoff don’t appear to have as much consensus on this series as NHL.com appears to.
Daily Faceoff’s poll of 10 staff members showed a split down the middle, with five picking the Oilers and five picking Vegas. The Bleacher Report only asked six staff members to give their picks, and it wound up in favour of the Golden Knights by a slim 4-2 margin.
The question marks surrounding the Oilers remain the same, with goaltending and defensive prowess at the top of the club’s list of concerns. However, Calvin Pickard played exceptionally well in the first round, outduelling Vezina finalist Darcy Kuemper, and the defence seemed to step up at the right times.
Edmonton has also been getting more depth scoring than usual in these playoffs and still has the two best players in the series in McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. That isn’t to downplay how good the Golden Knights are, but the Oilers have some things going in their favour as well.
The Oilers seem to play their best when they are the underdogs, and, if this NHL.com poll is to be believed, they are exactly that heading into the second round.