Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames Odds, Pick, Prediction 5/20/22

The 2022 Stanley Cup Western Conference Semifinals continue Friday, May 20, with Game 2 between Edmonton and Calgary, so we have prepared the best Oilers vs. Flames betting pick along with the latest odds update on MyBookie Sportsbook.  

The Flames host the Oilers at Scotiabank Saddledome as firm -180 moneyline favorites. Edmonton is a +150 road dog, while the totals are listed at 6.5 goals. 

The Oilers have to tighten up things                         

The Edmonton Oilers suffered a 9-6 defeat in an epic Game 1 this past Wednesday. It was the highest-scoring playoff contest in 29 years, as the Oilers and Flames met each other in the postseason for the first time since 1991. 

Edmonton scored six goals on just 28 shots. However, the Oilers went 0-for-4 with the man advantage and recorded a thumping 20 giveaways. They rallied from a 6-2 deficit to make it 6-6 after 1:28 of play in the third period, but the Oilers’ defense completely fell apart down the stretch. 

Zach Hyman led the way for the Oilers with a couple of goals, while Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid combined for two goals and five assists. Mike Smith got the starting call and was pulled in the first period after surrendering three goals on just ten shots. The 40-year-old goalie is now 4-3 with a 2.68 GAA and .930 save percentage in eight starts this postseason. 

The Flames relied on their offense in Game 1            

The Calgary Flames outshot their rivals 48-28 last Wednesday. Matthew Tkachuk notched a hat trick on eight shots, Blake Coleman scored a couple of goals, while Johnny Gaudreau accounted for three assists to extend his point streak to six games. 

The Flames had a 2-0 lead after just 51 seconds of play, scoring the fastest two goals to start an NHL Playoff game. After a rough second period, the Flames tallied three unanswered goals in the third period to clinch the victory. 

Jacob Markstrom yielded six goals on just 28 shots in what was his worst performance in a while. The 32-year-old netminder improved to 5-3 on the postseason. He owns a 2.08 GAA and .923 save percentage. 

Trends:

Edmonton: 

• 1-5 in the last six road games against Calgary   

Calgary:

• 7-1 in the last eight games at home
• 4-1 in the last five games overall  

Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames Pick 

I was backing the Flames in the opener because of their defense, but Calgary’s offense made the difference in a proper high-scoring affair. Both teams will have to improve on the defensive side of things, and I’m expecting the Flames to grab another win. 

Jacob Markstrom was excellent in the first round. He should bounce back from a rough outing in Game 1. On the other side, the Oilers are not a great defensive team. They were surrendering 3.06 goals per game this past regular season (18 in the NHL), while the Flames boasted the third-lowest scoring defense, allowing 2.51 goals per contest. 

Pick: Take Calgary Flames at -180             

The Total:

The under will eventually hit in this series, but after we saw a whopping 15 goals in Game 1, I can only take the over Friday in Game 2. The Flames possess plenty of defensive weapons. However, slowing down the Oilers’ offense is a tall task for any team in the league. 

Four of the last five encounters between the Oilers and Flames have gone over the total. Each one of those four tilts has produced seven or more goals in the total, while the Flames have scored 18 goals over their previous two dates with the Oilers. 

Pick: Go over 6.5 goals at -115