The 2022 Stanley Cup Western Conference Finals head to Rogers Place in Edmonton for Game 3 on Saturday, June 4, so we have prepared the best Avalanche vs. Oilers betting pick and odds. 

Colorado has emerged victorious in the first two contests on the home ice, outlasting Edmonton 8-6 as a -190 fave and 4-0 as a -175 fave. The Avalanche open as -130 road favorites for Game 3, while the Oilers are +110 moneyline underdogs with a total of 7.0 goals on Bookmaker Sportsbook.  

The Avs overcame Darcy Kuemper’s absence                          

Despite missing their starting goalie Darcy Kuemper and winger Andre Burakovsky in Game 2, the Colorado Avalanched easily satisfied the odds and trounced Edmonton 4-0. Pavel Francouz recorded his fourth win and first shutout in the 2022 Stanley Cup, while the Avs outshot the Oilers 40-24. 

Four guys found the back of the net, including Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, while Nazem Kadri accounted for three assists. MacKinnon increased his playoff tally to 16 points (ten goals and six dishes).  

Kuemper suffered an upper-body injury in the opening clash of the conference finals, and his status remains in limbo. Francouz should get another starting call Saturday and a chance to improve his numbers. The 32-year-old netminder sits at 2.48 GAA and .917 save percentage this postseason. 

The Oilers have to improve on both sides of the ice                 

The Edmonton Oilers nearly overcame a 7-3 deficit in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Their defense couldn’t cope with the Avs’ frontline, while the Oilers’ offense fell apart in Game 2 after scoring 31 goals over the previous six contests. 

Colorado’s blue line held the Oilers in check for all 60 minutes last Thursday, and Edmonton took just 24 shots toward the Avs’ net. After yielding six goals on just 25 shots in the opener, Mike Smith surrendered four goals on 40 shots to the Avalanche in Game 2. 

Smith is now 8-4 with a poor 3.19 GAA and a .916 save percentage in the 2022 Stanley Cup. The Oilers haven’t announced who’ll patrol the crease in Game 3, and Mikko Koskinen is waiting for his chance. Koskinen is 0-2 with a 4.02 GAA and .897 save percentage in three relief appearances this postseason. 

Trends:

Colorado: 

  • N/A 

Edmonton:

  • 17-3 in the last 20 games at home 
  • 14-6 in the last 20 games against the Western Conference 

Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers Pick 

The Oilers have to wake up as soon as possible and try to replicate their performance from the second-round series against Calgary. Edmonton’s offense is way more dangerous than it showed last Thursday, and I’m expecting a much better performance in Game 3. 

Playing in front of the home fans should be a massive boost for the Oilers, who have won 17 of their previous 20 contests at Rodgers Place. It’s a tough wager given the Avalanche’s performance on both sides of the ice, but I’m backing the Oilers to win. 

Pick: Take Edmonton Oilers at +110           

The Total:

After a proper high-scoring affair at the start of this series, we saw only four goals on the scoreboard in Game 2. If they want to stand any chance of winning Game 3, the Oilers will have to put on a strong offensive performance, while their defense should continue to struggle. 

Hereof, I lean toward the over. The Oilers won’t beat the Avs on the back of their defense. But with the line at exactly seven goals, the totals are a tricky bet in this duel. 

Pick: Go over 7.0 goals at -110