The Canucks have to come into the conference semifinals of the NHL playoffs with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder. Vancouver won first place in the Pacific this year and are at home on Wednesday night – yet they are still the underdogs as the Oilers come to town.

Before Betting on May 8 Oilers vs Canucks

One other reason that Vancouver should feel slighted as home underdogs in Game 1 is because they took all four games against Edmonton during the regular season. Granted three of those wins came on November 6 or earlier and the Oilers changed coach in the middle of the season, but the Canucks did pick up a 3-1 win on April 18.

Obviously the biggest task for the Canucks in Game 1 and the entire series is containing the Oilers’ #4 ranked scoring offense (3.6). Connor McDavid (12 points) and Leon Draisaitl (10 points) were their usual great selves in the 4-1 series win over the Kings in the first round but Zach Hyman is on fire also with 7 goals vs. Los Angeles.

When you face the Oilers you like stability in net, but Vancouver lost Thatcher Demko to a knee injury in the first round vs. the Predators and then backup Casey DeSmith missed time with an undisclosed illness. With third leading scorer Elias Pettersson (illness) questionable for Game 1 the Canucks are really limping into this series.

Edmonton vs Vancouver Offshore Betting Odds

Offshore Sportsbook Moneyline Total Point Spread
BetOnline EDM (1.74) | VANC (2.21) 6 EDM -1.5 (2.90) | VANC +1.5 (1.46)
MyBookie EDM (1.76) | VANC (2.08) 6 EDM -1.5 (2.90) | VANC +1.5 (1.42)
BetUS EDM (1.71) | VANC (2.20) 6 EDM -1.5 (2.80) | VANC +1.5 (1.45)
SportsBetting.ag EDM (1.74) | VANC (2.21) 6 EDM -1.5 (2.90) | VANC +1.5 (1.46)
XBet EDM (1.76) | VANC (2.08) 6 EDM -1.5 (2.90) | VANC +1.5 (1.42)

May 8 Oilers vs Canucks Prediction & Pick

The Oilers just have too much firepower for a Vancouver team facing issues in net. Edmonton is relentless – leading the NHL with 33.8 SOG in the regular season – and the Canucks could be starting Arturs Silovs at goaltender in just his 10th NHL game. 

Pick: Oilers ML

Carl Taylor
Carl Taylor

Contributor

Carl has sent many a Western Union deposit to offshore sportsbooks over the years, using his knowledge of three decades following sports to get the best lines in the globe. He\\\'s been anxiously waiting for the first off-planet sportsbook as well.

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