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Anaheim (0-0) at Edmonton (0-0)
- When: Apr 20 2026, 10:00 PM
- Where: Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB, CAN
- TV: ESPN2
Anaheim vs Edmonton NHL Preview & Pick
Moneyline: Edmonton -185
Spread: Edmonton -1.5 (+137)
Total: 6.5
Edmonton Oilers: Rusty Star Returns
Ah yes, Edmonton. Big favorites at -185, crowd feeling confident, and everyone already penciling them into Round 2 like it’s a formality. What could possibly go wrong?
Leon Draisaitl might be back, which is great… assuming he’s not running on playoff adrenaline and vibes after missing 14 straight games. Still finished with 97 points in 65 games, which is ridiculous, but “just coming back” in Game 1 isn’t exactly a lock button situation.
Edmonton’s feeling good after a late-season surge, and sure, they’ve got Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and a structured plan to slow things down. Problem is, playoff hockey doesn’t care about your plan. It cares about chaos.
Also, being the favorite in Game 1? That’s basically a trap wrapped in a gift box.
Anaheim Ducks: Underdog Chaos Crew
Now here comes Anaheim. The underdog. The “they haven’t made the playoffs in eight years” team. The “nobody expects anything” squad. You know… the exact type that ruins parlays across North America.
This team is sneakier than it looks. Troy Terry and company bring speed, and they’re backed by a locker room full of guys who have actually done this before. Alex Killorn has two Cups. John Carlson has one. Chris Kreider has been to the Finals. Mikael Granlund just made a deep run. Jacob Trouba has 73 playoff games.
And then there’s the coach, Joel Quenneville, who casually owns three Stanley Cups and looks like he treats Game 1 like Christmas morning. That’s not a guy you want to fade lightly.
They don’t need to be perfect. They just need to be annoying. And spoiler alert… they’re very good at that.
LVSB NHL Playoffs Prediction
So let me get this straight. Edmonton is -185 because they’re “supposed” to win, and Anaheim is sitting at +160 like they just showed up for snacks?
Yeah… no thanks.
This is exactly the kind of spot where the favorite comes in a little too comfortable, and the underdog shows up like it’s their Super Bowl. Anaheim has the experience, the pace, and just enough chaos to mess this up.
Total at 6.5 feels about right, but if this turns into a track meet, don’t be shocked if it flies over.
Score Prediction: Ducks 4, Oilers 3 – Yes, we’re doing it. Embrace the chaos.
Pick: Anaheim ML (+160)
Total: Over 6.5 (-133)
- NHL Playoffs Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
