The Oilers look to take the series lead once again Friday night when the NHL Playoffs resume in Dallas. Edmonton evened the series Wednesday when the Oilers pulled off an impressive 5-2 victory over the Stars.
With the series remaining wide open, which team will take command of this Western Conference Championship series?
We’ll cover that and three NHL player prop bets below as the Oilers face off against the Stars on Friday night.
After jumping out to a 2-0 lead, Dallas allowed the Oilers to score five consecutive goals to even the series. Both Wyatt Johnston and Esa Lindell scored for the Stars with the assist coming from Dallas left wing Jamie Benn.
In the series, Benn has scored the most points (7) as the 6-foot-2 veteran has provided six assists. Benn is a 15-year veteran who’s been around for multiple deep Dallas playoff runs.
He’s already tied his second-best points mark with at least two more games remaining. Expect Been – who has collected points in five straight games – to score again tonight.
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Edmonton failed to score in the 10 minutes of the initial period of Game 4, but the Oilers made up for it – and then some – by scoring five goals over the 50 minutes. Five different players found the back of the net for Edmonton, including stars like Ryan McLeod and Leon Draisaitl.
After the shaky start, Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner clamped down the scoring from Dallas while Edmonton’s defense did its part in the win. Skinner has allowed two or more goals in every game.
However, Dallas has not produced their average shots for the playoffs (see below) since Game 1. Expect the Stars to strike early and often while Skinner stops at least 25 shots tonight.
Dallas has been hitting the ice and firing during the postseason. The Stars are averaging 28 shots per game in the 17 postseason games they have played. Dallas has scored two or more goals four times during that stretch, including three goals in one game last series against the Colorado Avalanche.
Outside of Game 3, Dallas has recorded a goal in the first period for eight of their past 10 postseason matchups. The Stars have played with the lead throughout much of the postseason.
Their shots have primarily come in the first and second periods. Expect the first period again to be a fast offensive start and for the team to record at least eight shots in the initial 20 minutes.
Call this a gut feeling. Edmonton has not looked like the best team at all this series, but the Oilers won both the first and fourth games in the series by getting hot at the right times.
I expect Edmonton to do the same tonight and win Game 5. At the very least, expect them to keep the game within a goal tonight in this pivotal contest.