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- The Edmonton Oilers enter the second round of the 2023 NHL Western Conference playoffs after eliminating the Los Angeles Kings in six games in Round 1.
- The Vegas Golden Knights head to the second round of the 2023 NHL playoffs coming off a five-game series win over the Winnipeg Jets.
- Edmonton had a 3-1 record against Vegas during the 2023 NHL regular season. Two of those games went into overtime.
The top two teams in the NHL Western Conference in the 2023 regular season face off in the second round of the 2023 NHL playoffs when the Vegas Golden Knights face the Edmonton Oilers.
Vegas had a bounce-back year in 2023. The club finished the 2022 season with a 43-31-8 record. Vegas was the best team in the Western Conference this year, with a 51-22-9 record and 111 points. As for the Oilers, they went to the 2022 NHL Western Conference finals last year, where the Edmonton Oilers eliminated them in four games. Edmonton’s 2023 regular season record was 50-23-9.
Before we look at the second-round matchup of the 2023 NHL Western Conference playoffs between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers, check out our guide to betting on the 2023 Stanley Cup and our tips for betting on the NHL.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers betting picks for NHL Western Conference Playoff Series
| To Win Rd. 2 of NHL Western Conference Playoff Series |  |  |  |  |
| Edmonton Oilers | -156 | -150 | -155 | -145 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +136 | +130 | +135 | +125 |
Vegas Golden Knights betting breakdown
The Golden Knights entered the 2023 NHL playoffs with a 25-15-1 home record and a 26-7-8 mark on the road. Vegas wrapped up the 2023 NHL regular season with a 6-1-3 record in its final 10 games.
Despite playing in just 67 games in 2023, Jack Eichel led the Golden Knights in scoring with 66 points. The team’s leading goal-scorer was Jonathan Marchessault, with 28 goals, and Chandler Stephenson had the most assists on the team, with 49. Stephenson is the team’s leading scorer in the playoffs with eight points. He and William Karlsson share the team lead in goals with four each. Eichel has five points for the 2023 NHL playoffs.
Vegas goalie Laurent Brossoit has played well in net during the playoffs. In his five games, he has a 2.42 goals against average and a .915 save percentage.
The Golden Knights have struggled on the power play in the playoffs, connecting in just 18.8 percent of their chances. On the defensive side of special teams, Vegas has the second-worst penalty kill in the playoffs at 58.3 percent.
Edmonton Oilers betting breakdown
The Edmonton Oilers wrapped up the 2023 NHL regular season with a 23-12-6 record at home while putting together a 27-11-3 road record.
Edmonton had the two highest-scoring players in the 202 NHL regular season in 2023. Connor McDavid was the NHL’s leading scorer with 153 points. He also scored the most goals with 64 and assists with 89. McDavid’s Oilers teammate, Leon Draisaitl, finished the year with 128 points (52 goals and 76 assists). Draisaitl leads the Oilers in playoff scoring with 11 points. He is also tops on the team in goals with 7. However, McDavid trails him by one point. Evan Bouchard also has 10 points for the Oilers.
Stuart Skinner is the Oilers’ starting goalie for the 2023 NHL playoffs, but his numbers are not the best. Skinner has a 3.43 goals against average and a .890 save percentage. Luckily for Skinner, the Oilers are averaging an NHL-leading 4.17 goals per game in the playoffs.
The Oilers’ power play is, by far, the best in the 2023 NHL playoffs, connecting at an amazing rate of 56.3 percent. Meanwhile, the team’s penalty kill is below average at 66.7 percent.
Golden Knights vs. Oilers Playoff Series Schedule
- Game 1: Wednesday, May 3: TBD, Edmonton at Vegas (TBD)
- Game 2: Friday, May 5: TBD, Edmonton at Vegas (TBD)
- Game 3: TBD
- Game 4: TBD
- Game 5: TBD*
- Game 6: TBD*
- Game 7: TBD*
*if necessary
Best bets for the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers Playoff Series
The Vegas Golden Knights had a fairly easy matchup in the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the 2023 NHL playoffs. However, there is nothing easy when it comes to facing the Edmonton Oilers. While the Oilers’ goaltending is suspect, the team’s scoring is not. They have the two best offensive players in the league in McDavid and Draisaitl, and the Golden Knights will struggle to contain Edmonton’s offense. The best bet is to pick the Edmonton Oilers to down the Vegas Golden Knights in six games.
Pick: Edmonton Oilers to beat Vegas Golden Knights in six games in the second round of the 2023 NHL Western Conference playoffs.
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