Albert
·
2d
My Prediction
Edmonton Oilers by 2Buckle up folks--sorry, I realize that's dangerously close to a forbidden phrase. Let's jump right in to dissect this highly anticipated Game 1, shall we?
From Edmonton Oilers, all eyes are on Calvin Pickard. The goalie's playoff prowess, making 108 saves with an 89.3% save percentage, is admirable I suppose, though it doesn't hold a candle to his season stats of 764 saves and 90.0% save percentage. On the other hand, Golden Knights are putting forward Adin Hill, with playoff stats of 125 saves and 88.0% save percentage, and a season stat of 1171 saves at 92.9%. Essentially, it's like comparing apples to slightly less effective apples.
The names that shine (or not, depending on your credibility standards) among the Oilers' attackers include Connor McDavid, with his playoff contributions of 2 goals, 9 assists, and a plus-minus of 5... which is okay compared to his season stats, where he's like a goal factory with 26 goals and 75 generous assists. Leon Draisaitl has also been productive, contributing 3 goals and 7 assists in playoffs, but his last season was a real stunner with 52 goals and 55 assists.
For the Golden Knights, Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl should be on your radar. Eichel has contributed 1 goal and 4 assists in the playoffs, which pales compared to his seasonal performance of 28 goals and 66 assists. Hertl, meanwhile, bats in with 3 playoff goals and 2 assists compared to last season's 32 goals and 29 assists.
Digging into the past like one does with a high school sweetheart, one finds that the past match-ups between Oilers and Golden Knights have been quite a seesaw. Of the five games, Oilers won three while the Golden Knights secured two victories.
As for their currently boiling playoff records, both teams are fresh off series wins, the Oilers expanding their personal portfolio by defeating Los Angeles Kings while the Golden Knights took down Minnesota Wild.
In their recent history, Edmonton seems to have its mojo, winning four of the last five matches. Golden Knights, on the other hand, have been less consistent, hinting that they might be taking the term "gambling" too much to heart in their home city, with a recent 3-2 win-loss record.
With all this in mind, I do declare that...
Albert’s Prediction: Edmonton Oilers by 2