Another Battle of Alberta is set for Sunday, May 22, when Edmonton hosts Calgary for Game 3 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Western Conference Semifinals at Rogers Place, so here’s the best Flames vs. Oilers betting pick. 

The series is tied at 1-1 after a couple of games at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. The Flames open as -120 moneyline favorites for Game 3, while the Oilers are +100 home underdogs with a total of 6.5 goals at MyBookie Sportsbook. 

The Flames blew a two-goal lead in Game 2                         

After smashing the Oilers 9-6 in Game 1, the Calgary Flames blew a big chance to grab another victory on the home ice this past Friday. They had a 3-1 lead early in the second period, but the Flames couldn’t hold on, allowing the Oilers to score four unanswered goals. 

The Flames took 40 shots toward Edmonton’s goalie. They won 21 faceoffs more than the Oilers (42-21), but it wasn’t enough. The Flames’ defense had another bad day in the office, including Jacob Markstrom, who was excellent in the first-round series against Dallas. 

Markstrom yielded six goals on just 28 shots in Game 1 against the Oilers. Last Friday, the 32-year-old goaltender surrendered five goals on 40 shots. Markstrom is now 5-4 with a 2.41 GAA and .915 save percentage this postseason. 

The Oilers bounced back in style, five guys found the back of the net             

The Edmonton Oilers got off to a slow start in each of the previous two contests. They rallied from a 6-2 deficit in Game 1 but fell apart in the crunch time. Last Friday, they put on a much better performance and fully deserved to tie the series at 1-1. 

Five different players found the back of the net in Game 2, including Leon Draisaitl and Duncan Keith, who recorded two assists apiece. Connor had one goal and one assist, while Mike Smith turned aside 37 shots. 

Smith was pulled after just six minutes of action in Game 1. He surrendered three goals on just ten shots, while Mikko Koskinen yielded five goals on 37 shots in relief. Smith, who’s 5-3 with a 2.72 GAA and .929 save percentage this postseason, should get another starting call Sunday in Game 3. 

Trends:

Calgary: 

  • 12-7 in the last 19 games on the road   

Edmonton:

  • 6-11 in the last 17 outings as underdogs 

Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers Pick 

The Flames got off to a flying start in each of the first two games of this series, but they slowed down quickly on both occasions. On paper, they are a much better defensive team than the Oilers, but the Flames have to prove it on the ice. 

I’m expecting a much better performance from Jacob Markstrom this time around. He’s been outstanding all season, and the Flames desperately need their first-choice goalie at his best. Frankly, this game could easily go either way, as Edmonton owns plenty of attacking weapons, but I’m looking for the Flames’ D to make the difference down the stretch. 

Pick: Take Calgary Flames at -120             

The Total:

Five of the last six encounters between the Flames and Oilers have gone over the total, producing seven or more goals in the total. After a couple of proper high-scoring affairs at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, I can only ride this betting trend. 

The Oilers love to play at a fast tempo. Their defense is not an elite one, but the Oilers can score against any team in the league. On the other side, the Flames have scored a whopping 21 goals over their previous three meetings with the Oilers. 

Pick: Go over 6.5 goals at -130