Welcome to NHL Predictions! The final whole week of May is upon us. The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue as the Conference Finals have changed locations for Games 3 and 4. As each day passes, we are one day closer to knowing who will meet in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. Our prediction today takes us to Game 3 of the Western Conference Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars.
NHL Predictions
Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars
Time: 3:00 P.M. EST
TV: ABC, ESPN+
Western Conference Final: Tied 1-1
The series heads to Edmonton tied 1-1. The Stars won Game 1, 6-3, behind a five-goal third period. The Oilers rebounded and took Game 2, 3-0, as Stuart Skinner stopped all 25 Dallas shots for his third shutout of the playoffs.
“It’s like I said at the beginning of playoffs, it’s a roller coaster. There’s a lot of highs, lots of lows. Sometimes the score doesn’t always tell everybody exactly how the game unfolded,” Skinner said. “I think a few minutes where we didn’t play our best looks a lot worse than what it was. So, for us, just going back tonight is really just playing the same game, doing the same thing, and just putting on our work boots and getting to work.”
Stars Seeking 5-5 Offence
The Stars may be in the Western Conference Final, but their offence has struggled scoring 5-on-5. Returning to Game 5 of the Stars second-round series, the team scored eight goals in four games. Only three have been scored 5-on-5. The Stars have scored four power-play goals and have scored an empty-net goal. Furthermore, if the power play is not scoring, the team does not score. The team has been shut out twice in the last four games.
The Stars need to find offence 5-on-5 if they want to win this series. Scoring special-team goals is essential, but it will not be good if the team is not going on the power play. In Game 1, the Stars went to the power play four times. In Game 2, however, the Stars only went on the power play twice. They cannot rely on penalties to generate their best offensive chances. The Stars need to find a way to score 5-on-5, or this series may not last much longer.
Skinner Getting Hot for the Oilers
In their first-round series, goaltending may be the downfall of the reigning Western Conference Champions. However, things got better once Calvin Pickard took over in goal. When Pickard got injured, and Skinner returned between the pipes, he found his groove again. Now, Skinner is playing like the goalie who took the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final last season. He has had three shutouts in his previous four games.
Skinner is hot, and that is excellent news for the Oilers. In last year’s Western Conference Final, Skinner gave up three goals or less in five of the six games, including two goals or less in the final three games. When Skinner is on his game, he can shut down some of the best offences in the NHL.
Prediction
The Oilers are heading home, where they have won four of five games. The Stars, meanwhile, have lost four of six road games. Both trends continue in Game 3.
Oilers win, 4-2.
Prop Bets
The over/under is set at 5.5 goals. We are taking the over with six total goals.
For prop bets, we are taking Evan Bouchard as an anytime-scorer for the Oilers. For the Stars, we are taking Thomas Harley.
Main Photo: Jerome Miron- Imagn Images
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