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🏈 CFB Kickoff
Last Updated: May 20, 2025 7:23 AM EDT • 6 minute read X Social Google News Link
The Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars are set to square off in the Western Conference Final for the second consecutive season as we offer our Oilers vs. Stars prediction.
Edmonton, looking to win it all for the first time in 35 years, has shorter Stanley Cup odds at our best sports betting sites. The Stars, meanwhile, are attempting to secure their Stanley Cup Final berth after falling at this hurdle in the last two seasons.
Further below, we also offer our AI pick for the series.
The odds are via our best NHL betting sites and are updated in real time.
Updated betting info via BetMGM as of Thursday at 6:30 a.m. ET
There’s not much to choose between these teams, which should make for an instant classic. If you’ve followed our picks and predictions throughout the season, I’ve been bullish about the Oilers. And I’m not stopping now, as they can beat you in any number of ways.
Concede the first goal, no worries. Go into the third period at a deficit; all good. Win in enemy environments. Their 4-2 road record in the playoffs, which includes four straight wins, speaks volumes. Excluding the opening two games of the postseason, it hasn’t mattered who’s between the pipes.
Want to go toe-to-toe with the Oilers in a run-in-gun, high-scoring affair? I dare you.
How about a low-scoring, defensive slugfest? Refer back to Games 4 and 5 against Vegas. Is dragging the game into overtime the way to go? Their 3-0 sudden death record says otherwise.
The Oilers are among the most balanced offenses in these playoffs. Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid were in on just 20% of the goals in the second round against the Golden Knights and 18.5% in the opening round against the Los Angeles Kings. Those percentages are way down from 30.1% in the regular season.
Unless Oettinger stands on his head throughout, the Oilers should get back to the dance.
💡 Western Conference Final prediction: Oilers
💰 Best odds: -110 via DraftKings
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Offense: The Oilers made off with all of Winnipeg’s jet fuel before the postseason started, which continually propels the league’s most dynamic and explosive offense.
The Oilers have scored the second-most goals per game (4) and the third-most per 60 minutes 5-on-5 (2.99), while the Stars have tallied the sixth-fewest (2.62) overall and per 60 minutes 5-on-5 (1.85).
Edmonton’s scoring is also incredibly balanced this postseason, belying the narrative of seasons past. Sixteen players have scored in their 11 playoff games, and only three who’ve played at least nine games haven’t lit the lamp (John Klingberg, Brett Kulak, and Ty Emberson).
Meanwhile, the Stars have relied on Mikko Rantanen for nine of their 34 goals (26%).
Compare that to the Oilers, whose leading scorers – Draisaitl and Corey Perry – have 10 of the team’s 43 goals (23.2%).
Defense: While the Oilers defense continually improves, the nod has to go to Dallas. Miro Heiskanen is back and getting closer to returning to his best vintage. Even without their all-star defenseman for most of the first two rounds, the Stars have the fourth-best goals against (2.92) and the sixth-best goals against per 60 minutes 5-on-5 (2.04).
The Oilers have done remarkably well recently despite not having their best shutdown defenseman (Mattias Ekholm) available, but they can’t match the depth of Dallas’ D.
5-on-5: The Oilers have the third-best goal differential (+8), while the Stars’ minus-2 is tied for sixth-worst with the eliminated Washington Capitals. Edmonton is receiving more secondary scoring and can also overturn a deficit better than any team, which it showcased by winning its first five games after allowing the first goal.
Special teams: While the Oilers have the personnel, pedigree and past success to flip this scenario in an instant, Dallas’ special teams currently gets the nod.
The Stars have the third-best power play (30.8%) and the third-best penalty kill (86.1%). On the other hand, the Oilers’ power play struggled against Vegas, bringing it down to 25%, the sixth-best. Its penalty kill ranks third-last with a dour 66.7%.
Goaltending: While this category was never in doubt, the Calvin Pickard and Stuart Skinner duo, one of the more unconventional yet effective playoff partnerships, has muddied the water slightly.
Whenever Skinner falters, which he inevitably does, Pickard does an admirable job in relief. After winning all six playoff starts, Pickard picked up an injury in Game 2 against the Golden Knights, giving Skinner another kick at the can, akin to last year’s playoffs.
Skinner has two shutouts in three games since returning to the crease, and he’s an astonishing 12-1 in the last 13 games at the tail end of a series (Games 4 through 7). The only defeat came in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
So, while Jake Oettinger is still the pick, it’s not as cut and dry as it once was.
Odds via FanDuel
We asked ChatGPT, a large language model chatbot from OpenAI, for its best prediction to win the Eastern Conference Final. Please note that ChatGPT is not an experienced bettor but can provide additional information and insights into the tournament and betting markets. This is for entertainment purposes only.
💡 AI Western Conference Final prediction: Stars 4-2
💰 Best odds: +500 via DraftKings
1. Defensive depth & structure
2. Jake Oettinger’s consistency
3. Forward depth & physicality
4. Mikko Rantanen factor
All games start at 8 p.m. ET with the exception of Game 3, which starts 3 p.m. ET.
Game 1: Wednesday, May 21, American Airlines Center (Dallas) 📺/🛜: ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN+
Game 2: Friday, May 23, American Airlines Center (Dallas) 📺/🛜: ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN+
Game 3: Sunday, May 25, Rogers Place (Edmonton, Alta.) 📺/🛜: ESPN, ABC, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN+
Game 4: Tuesday, May 27, Rogers Place (Edmonton, Alta.) 📺/🛜: ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN+
Game 5: *Thursday, May 29, American Airlines Center (Dallas) 📺/🛜: ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN+
Game 6: *Saturday, May 31, Rogers Place (Edmonton, Alta.) 📺/🛜: ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN+
Game 7: *Monday, June 2, American Airlines Center (Dallas) 📺/🛜: ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC, ESPN+
Want to bet on the Stanley Cup playoffs? Check out the best NHL betting sites and best sportsbook promos for today’s games:
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Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.
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