Predicting the Edmonton Oilers’ Path to Stanley Cup Glory
Grant White
Host · Writer
Stanley Cup Final - Carolina Hurricanes
In a 2006 Stanley Cup Final rematch, the Oilers can exact revenge on the team that prevented them from hoisting Lord Stanley's Mug 18 years ago. The Carolina Hurricanes have been one of the most consistent franchises in the regular season but have failed to meet that standard come playoff time.
The Eastern Conference bracket will be littered with top-end opponents who have fallen by the wayside. Getting to the Stanley Cup Final will take its toll on the Hurricanes, giving Connor McDavid and the Oilers a leg up in the final.
Edmonton's end to the campaign will contrast with how it began. The Oilers can undo decades of heartache and underachieving, becoming the first Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens.
There are many reasons why the Oilers are one of the Stanley Cup betting favorites. But they finally deserve that distinction for the first time in over three decades.
Stanley Cup Betting Odds: Edmonton Oilers +850
Playoff Position - 2nd Seed Pacific Division
Edmonton's 2-9-1 record to open the season is a distant memory and one that the Oilers' faithful are quick to forget. But if they had secured just one or two more wins in that stretch, we could be talking about an Edmonton side en route to its first division title in nearly 30 years. Instead, the Oilers will likely be competing from the second seed in the Pacific Division.
Opening Round - Vegas Golden Knights
It might not be reflected in the standings, but we're predicting the Oilers will have to eliminate the defending Stanley Cup champions in the opening round of the playoffs. Heading into Tuesday's action, the Vegas Golden Knights occupy a wild card spot but sit just a point back of the Los Angeles Kings for the third seed with a game in hand. Considering their current form and remaining schedule (vs. Chicago Blackhawks, vs. Anaheim Ducks), it appears to be just a formality for Vegas to usurp the Kings.
That's the poetic first-round matchup the Oilers deserve. The Oilers succumbed to the Golden Knights in last year's postseason, giving them an opportunity to seek revenge early in this year's run.
Second Round - Los Angeles Kings
In a shocking twist, we expect the Vancouver Canucks to suffer an early playoff demise. Vancouver will be outmatched by a tenacious Kings squad, setting up a second-round clash with the Oilers. Edmonton bested the Kings in last year's bracket; a similar result is expected in 2024.
Edmonton won the season series versus the Kings, going 3-1-0 versus its division rivals. Combined with LA's recent downturn in its analytics, they could do nothing to slow down the high-octane Oilers offense. Goaltending will once again be a limiting factor for the Kings.
Conference Final - Dallas Stars
If there's one team that can hang with the Oilers analytically, it's the Dallas Stars. Consequently, it's only fitting that their path to the Stanley Cup Final runs through the Lone Star State.
The Stars come close to matching Edmonton, but there's a clear gap between the second and third-place teams in expected goals-for rating. Heading into the final few days of the season, the Oilers have a 2.0% advantage over Dallas. It may appear insignificant, but that gap represents the difference between the third-place Stars and seventh-place Philadelphia Flyers in the same category.
Try as they may, the Stars won't be able to keep pace with the Oilers' unrelenting attack.
Stanley Cup Final - Carolina Hurricanes
In a 2006 Stanley Cup Final rematch, the Oilers can exact revenge on the team that prevented them from hoisting Lord Stanley's Mug 18 years ago. The Carolina Hurricanes have been one of the most consistent franchises in the regular season but have failed to meet that standard come playoff time.
The Eastern Conference bracket will be littered with top-end opponents who have fallen by the wayside. Getting to the Stanley Cup Final will take its toll on the Hurricanes, giving Connor McDavid and the Oilers a leg up in the final.
Edmonton's end to the campaign will contrast with how it began. The Oilers can undo decades of heartache and underachieving, becoming the first Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens.
There are many reasons why the Oilers are one of the Stanley Cup betting favorites. But they finally deserve that distinction for the first time in over three decades.
Stanley Cup Betting Odds: Edmonton Oilers +850
Playoff Position - 2nd Seed Pacific Division
Edmonton's 2-9-1 record to open the season is a distant memory and one that the Oilers' faithful are quick to forget. But if they had secured just one or two more wins in that stretch, we could be talking about an Edmonton side en route to its first division title in nearly 30 years. Instead, the Oilers will likely be competing from the second seed in the Pacific Division.
