Flames vs Oilers Game 3 Picks and Predictions: Oilers Offense Stays Hot at Home

After splitting two high-scoring affairs at Scotiabank Saddledome, the Battle of Alberta now shifts to Edmonton. With both offenses red hot, our NHL betting picks are expecting more of the same at Rogers Place — with the Oilers ultimately prevailing.

John Reger - Contributor at Covers.com
John Reger • Contributor
May 22, 2022 • 09:24 ET • 4 min read
Leon Draisaitl Edmonton Oilers NHL
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers' second-round series has been the most entertaining of the four and it’s definitely been the highest-scoring. 

The Flames hold a 12-11 goal lead, and the Over should hit for the third consecutive game. The two teams meet in Edmonton to continue the battle of Alberta, with the series all tied up at one apiece. 

Can Connor McDavid and the Oilers win their second game in a row or will the Flames steal a game on the road?

Find out in our free NHL picks and predictions for the Flames vs. Oilers on Sunday, May 21. 

Flames vs Oilers Game 3 odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

Despite losing Game 2 at home, the Flames are the favorites for Game 3, opening at -141 but coming down to as low as -114 at BetRivers. The Oilers are home dogs, beginning at +115 but have dipped to +100.

Meanwhile, the total opened at 7 and dropped to 6.5 at most sportsbooks, though Unibet and FanDuel have it at 7, with the Over at +114 and the Under at -123

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Flames vs Oilers Game 3 predictions

Predictions made on 5/22/2022 at 5:30 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

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Flames vs Oilers Game 3 info

Location: Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
Date: Sunday, May 22, 2022
Puck drop: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: Sportsnet, ESPN2

Flames vs Oilers series odds

Flames: -165
Oilers: +145

Flames vs Oilers Game 3 betting preview

Key injuries

Flames: Christopher Tanev D (Questionable).
Oilers: Kyle Turris C (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.

Flames vs Oilers head-to-head record

Flames: 5-6 SU, 43 goals for.
Oilers: 6-5 SU, 41 goals for.

Betting trend to know

The Flames are 1-6 in their last seven games in Edmonton. Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs. Oilers.

Flames vs Oilers Game 3 picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Moneyline analysis

The saying in sports is “speed kills” and the Edmonton Oilers showed just how lethal they can be. You expect it from Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but it seems like all four lines are flying up and down the ice. 

In their Game 2 victory, Edmonton broke a 3-3 tie when Zach Hyman scored on a short-handed breakaway. It seemed like the Flames were chasing the Oilers all night long.

Calgary might have to ramp up their already-physical game. Roughing up McDavid can be somewhat effective, as the referees either didn’t see or didn’t want to call a couple of questionable hits on the Oilers' superstar. 

However, if the Flames employ that gameplan and the refs decide to get more active, it might backfire on Calgary. The Oilers have been extremely effective on the powerplay, ranking third among remaining teams at 27.6%. 

The Flames are already the most penalized team in the postseason, racking up 149 penalty minutes. Matthew Tkachuk is second on the team in the playoffs in penalty minutes with 20.

He is someone the Flames can’t afford to have off the ice, especially if they are trying to keep up with the Oilers' offense, with four goals among 10 postseason points thus far. 

Edmonton has won six of the last seven meetings at Rogers Place and they should come out with a victory on Sunday. 

Prediction: Oilers moneyline (+100 at Caesars)

Over/Under analysis

In the first two games, the Over hit with ease. The total was set at 6.5 in Games 1 and 2 and the biggest sweat bettors had was walking to the window to collect. In the first game, 15 goals were scored, the second game saw eight of its own. 

Sportsbooks decided to open tonight's line at 7, and though several sportsbooks knocked it back down to 6.5, it shouldn't matter. Calgary and Edmonton should be firing pucks in the net on Sunday just like they've been doing in the first two games.

While both offenses have been clicking, another reason for the uptick in goalscoring has been the play of Calgary's netminder Jacob Markstrom. In the first round against Dallas, he a goals against average fo 2.28, including a shutout. In two game this series, he has a 5.5 GAA.

Oilers goalie Mike Smith struggled against the Kings in the first round, with a GAA of 2.42. It carried over to the first game, where he allowed three goals on 10 shots in the Game 1. In Game 2, he allowed just three.

Regardless of how the goalies play, it looks like the scoring will continue. Another high-scoring affair is expected.

Prediction: Over 7 (+114 at Unibet)

Best bet

Leon Draisaitl has been his usual steady offensive point machine. He is second only to McDavid in points in the playoffs, 20 to 15. 

Draisaitl, though, has more goals than McDavid. Draisaitl has seven, tied for the lead with Evander Kane, while McDavid has scored six times. 

Multi-point games are not an anomaly with Draisaitl, but rather the norm. In the first two games of the Calgary series, he has had a goal and two assists. 

In the first-round series with the Kings, Draisaitl had two games with at least two points. 

In addition to being on the first line with McDavid and Kane, who all have a combined 45 points, Draisaitl is quarterbacking the power play. Sitting at the blue line whilst feeding Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and McDavid definitely gives him opportunities to get points. On the team’s lone power-play goal this series, Draisaitl tallied a helper. 

It seems logical that with Draisaitl’s balanced scoring attack he will either be scoring or assisting at least once in each category. That should continue Sunday night. 

Pick: Leon Draisaitl Over 1.5 points (+140)

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John Reger - Covers
Contributor

John Reger has been covering professional sports for more than 30 years. Some of the events he has attended are the NCAA basketball championships, The Masters, Rose Bowl, MLB, NHL, and NBA playoffs. He has taken that knowledge and has applied it to sports betting writing for the last 10 years.

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