Lots of questionable marks around Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, as their series against the Ducks shifts to Anaheim
How much of an impact will the injury suffered by the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid have on their first round NHL playoffs series against the Ducks, which heads back to Anaheim for Game 3 tonight?
The Oilers’ captain suffered what appeared to be a knee injury in the second period of Game 2 in Edmonton Wednesday night, after getting tangled up with Oilers’ defenceman Mattias Ekholm, a game the Ducks won 6-4.
McDavid left the ice but returned.
“I just rolled up on it a little bit,” he told Sportsnet after the game. “It’s fine.”
It does raise some questions going into Game 3, since the Oilers’ vaunted power play, the best in the NHL during the regular season, at a 30.6% clip, is dead last in the league through the playoffs so far.
The Ducks’ power play through two games is at 60%, however.
So tonight, do the Oilers turn on the jets, say goodbye to trying to play buttoned down defensive hockey in a series so far that has generated 17 total goals, and look to outscore the young, fast Ducks, on Anaheim home ice?
BEST BETS
Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m. EST, Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
Series tied 1-1
Canadiens Moneyline +100
At Betway, the Lightning are -120 favourites on the Moneyline, the Canadiens +100. Against the Spread: Lightning -1.5 (+200), Canadiens +1.5 (-275). Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (Over is -125, Under is +105).
This is turning into a helluva series, lots of hitting and hate, going into what will be a raucous Bell Centre tonight. The Lightning’s Brandon Hagel had the “Gordie Howe hat trick” in Game 2 – a fight, goal and assist in the same game.
Still, I am projecting a low-scoring affair tonight, under the 5.5, but will take the Canadiens on home ice at +100.
The Habs have done a nice job limiting Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov. Their power play is 4-for-9 in the series, and they’ll rely on that again tonight, especially if the game gets out of control.
Vegas Golden Knights at Utah Mammoth, 9:30 p.m. EST, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Series tied 1-1
Mammoth ATS
At Betway, the Golden Knights are slight favourites, at -115, on the Moneyline, and the Mammoth are at -105. Against the Spread: Golden Knights -1.5 (+200), Mammoth +1.5 (-275). Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (Over is -125, Under is +105).
I had the Golden Knights blowing through the Mammoth in Game 2 Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Sin City, to go up 2-0. I was wrong – a 3-2 Utah win, their first playoff victory in franchise history.
The Mammoth have a great second line – Dylan Guenther (40 goals), Logan Cooley (24) and Kailer Yamamoto (13) – that gives the team a lot of scoring depth. Their defence really clamped down the Golden Knights in Game 2, with Karel Vejmelka strong in goal, controlling rebounds, mopping things up.
I thought the Golden Knights would cruise through this series, coming off a 7-0-1 finish to the regular season under new head coach John Tortorella, but I am not sure now, after watching the Mammoth’s impressive performance in Game 2.
Vegas was so-so on the road this season, at 19-14-8, and against the Mammoth defence, they’ll have a tough time tonight.
Edmonton Oilers at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m. EST, Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
Series 1-1
Over 6.5
At Betway, the Oilers are -130 favourites on the Moneyline, the Ducks +110. Against the Spread: Oilers -1.5 (+165), Ducks +1.5 (-210). Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (Over is -165, Under is +125).
Back to McDavid – zero points so far in the series, and the power play has produced nothing. That ends tonight. I am leaning Oilers Moneyline but will take the Over, since I expect the high scoring to continue.
The Ducks have a young core that’s a bright spot – Leo Carlsson (29 goals), Cutter Gauthier (41), and Beckett Sennecke (23), that gives them punch up front.
