It’s down to a best-of-three in the NHL Western Conference Final, with the Dallas Stars hosting the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5 tonight.
The Oilers evened up the series 2-2 with a big win at home on Wednesday, scoring five unanswered and ringing up a 5-2 win for a rare scoring outburst in this series.
Regardless, find out why the Under is now more appealing in my Oilers vs. Stars predictions and NHL picks for Friday, May 31. For more analysis of Game 5, make sure to also check out Chris Faria's Oilers vs. Stars props!
Oilers vs Stars prediction
My best bet
Under 6 (-120 at Sports Interaction)
My analysis
Credit the Edmonton Oilers for taking a page out of the Dallas Stars' offensive repertoire in Game 4. With the wheels appearing to come off after falling behind 2-0 in the first period, Edmonton got contributions across the board in the comeback win.
Leon Draisaitl was one of five different players who scored goals for Edmonton, while 11 different players picked up a point in the victory, sending this one back to Big D all squared. That included fresh faces in the lineup, as Corey Perry set up Ryan McLeod to start the rally. The pair subbed in for Warren Foegele and Sam Carrick.
It looks like the Stars might have to be making their own lineup adjustment, after defenseman Chris Tanev left the game after blocking a shot with his foot. His status is unknown for Game 5.
Dallas is also trying to solve the Oilers’ top-rated penalty kill in the postseason. The Stars are 0-for-9 in the series with the man advantage, part of 23 straight Oiler kills going back eight games.
The Stars’ inability to cash in on the power play has limited their capacity to put the puck in the net. Save for a five-goal outburst in Game 3, Dallas has only put up 2.33 goals across the other games in the series. This is a team that ranked third in scoring during the regular season, potting 3.59 goals per game.
Look for Stars goalie Jake Oettinger to rebound from his worst start of the series, coming off a game where he allowed four goals on a series-low 28 shots.
Couple that with the stakes — the winner moves to within a win of playing for the Stanley Cup — and I expect to see a tighter-checking affair, with the scoring reverting to the first two games of he series, hitting the Under.
Oilers vs Stars same-game parlay (SGP)
Under 6.5
Leon Draisaitl anytime goal
Wyatt Johnston anytime goal
After getting pointless for the first time in the playoffs in Games 2 and 3, Draisaitl finally broke through with a goal, his second of the series.
He’s hit the scoresheet in both previous Game 5’s for Edmonton in the playoffs, with varying degrees of impact. Draisaitl bagged two in a series-clinching closer against the Kings, while picking up an assist in a loss to Vancouver.
The rest of the Oilers lifted Edmonton to a Game 4 win, somewhat relieving the offensive burden Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman have had to carry.
Now? It’s time for the stars to carry them in a biggie.
It’s an equal-opportunity Dallas offense, but Wyatt Johnston has been rising above the pack as the Stars’ go-to guy in this series.
Johnston tallied his ninth of the postseason and scored in his second straight game — the third time he’s scored in back-to-back games in the playoffs.
He now has five goals against the Oilers in 10 career games. I’d target him to come through again Friday night.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Oilers vs Stars odds
Oilers vs Stars live odds
Oilers vs Stars opening odds
- Puck line: Edmonton +1.5 | Dallas -1.5
- Moneyline: Edmonton +113 | Dallas -127
- Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6
Oilers vs Stars moneyline and Over/Under analysis
- Edmonton has won four of its last six playoff games.
- Each of the Oilers' last four road games have gone Under the total.
- The Under hit in Dallas in both games in this series at a total of 5.5.
- Dallas hasn’t been great at home in these playoffs, going just 4-5, while Edmonton has gone 5-3 away from Rogers Place.
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Oilers vs Stars trend
Edmonton has failed to cover the puck line in six of its last seven road games. Find more NHL betting trends for Oilers vs. Stars.
Oilers vs Stars game info
| Location: | American Airlines Arena, Dallas, TX |
| Date: | Friday, 5-31-2024 |
| Puck drop: | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Sportsnet, TNT |
Oilers vs Stars latest injuries
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