NHL Game 5 Free Picks For Edmonton At Anaheim
Posted by Henry Watkins on Thursday,May 4, 2017 10:45, EDT in
When you get an NHL playoff series that goes the full 7 games, you expect there to be a few different momentum shifts along the way. These tend to happen when one team or another is able to steal away home ice advantage from their opponent. The Western Conference second round series between the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks has already had a couple of those shift, and it has gone from being a series that looked as though it might be over quickly to one that now looks certain to go the distance.
Neither of these teams has won a game in their own building in this series, and we are now headed back to Anaheim for a Game 5 with the series knotted at 2-2. If you haven’t been paying attention to this one, it’s time you started doing so, as this has been perhaps the most entertaining series in the playoffs so far. The team that comes away with the win in this game will have a definite series edge, so expect this game to be a bit of a tense affair, and don’t be surprised if it takes an extra period or two to decide it.
Analyzing The NHL Game 5 Free Picks For Oilers At Ducks
When: Friday, May 5 at 10:30 PM EST
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim
TV: NBCSN, SN, TVAS
Live Stream: NHL.TV
NHL Odds: Anaheim Ducks -1½ (+215)
Why bet on the Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers had put themselves in a real position of power by going into Anaheim and winning the opening 2 games of this series. All they really needed form their two home games was a split, but they ended up going down in both, handing home ice advantage back to the Ducks. We have all been waiting for that moment when the Oilers would finally show their playoff inexperience, and it’s fair to say that those two games may have been when that was finally revealed. This is where we find out what this team is really made of. Are they a Stanley Cup contender right now, or are they still a year or two away from being a legitimate threat?
Why bet on the Anaheim Ducks
We have spoken more than once about how playoff experience can carry a team deep into the postseason. The Anaheim Ducks realized that being down 2-0 in a series was not the end of the world, and they refused to push the panic button. This is not a team known for its great offensive displays, but they showed that they are capable of stepping things up a gear with their backs against the wall, scoring 10 times in the two games played in Edmonton. Momentum is now fully on the side of the Anaheim Ducks, but can they get over the hump and finally win a home game in this series?
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
The Edmonton Oilers have to be a little shell-shocked after losing back to back games to the Ducks, but the great thing about the playoffs is that you don’t get a lot of time to dwell on the negative. I think the Ducks can smell the blood in the water, and I think they get the win in Game 5.
Edmonton Oilers 3 Anaheim Ducks 4
