Edmonton Hasn't Made Plays It Needs To Make, Can It Stay Alive vs. Colorado?
Edmonton Now Swinging On The Gallows Pole
Something weird set in after the Edmonton Oilers lost at home to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night. What we saw a little over a week ago with the “Battle Of Alberta” came front and center.
While Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Mike Smith have not been horrible, they have not made plays at the crucial times needed. That is not their fault. It is just an illustration of how good the Colorado Avalanche is.
Canadian sports betting players again must be thankful. There were 14 goals in that Game 1. Yes, the defense and goaltending have helped settle things down. However, the Avalanche still scored four goals in Games 2 and 3.
Let us take a closer at a few quick things.
Edmonton Is Getting Beat More By Depth Deficits
As for Edmonton, the lack of actual scoring depth has haunted them from a defensive standpoint. Look at how Colorado responded after the injury to Nazem Kadri in Game 3. Players like Valeri Nichushkin and J.T. Compher continue to play with an increasing ceiling.
So, that has hurt the Oilers more than anything else. It seems like Colorado answers the bell anytime; there is a significant moment in this series. Edmonton has not been able to deliver in those moments. The Avalanche has a 3-0 stranglehold on this series.
Pavel Francouz has stepped in and provided mostly steady goaltending for Colorado. He is another reason for that series lead. Francouz makes the saves, whereas Mike Smith has not. One can argue that Smith should have stopped the second and third goals on Saturday night.
Speed kills, but shots and chances do even more. Colorado is changing depths and velocities in these two facets. It is interesting to see what the goaltender is seeing. Again, Edmonton did a better job in the last series versus Jacob Markstrom.
Once again, it is all about the middle. Colorado is getting there. Edmonton is not. That is why we are where we are.
Looking Ahead: What Happens Next For Edmonton
The Edmonton Oilers are right on that gallows pole. Can they make this a series? Can they send the series back to Colorado?
These questions and how they get answered will play a role in some fates next season when it comes to Edmonton. It did not help that Evander Kane leveled Nazem Kadri the way he did in Game 3. Kane received a five-minute major but not a game misconduct. He will sit out Game 4 because the NHL suspended him.
Losing Kane could be the fateful blow or a blessing for Edmonton. Maybe, those depth deficits lessen as other players must step up or go home. The urgency with no margin for error should be through the roof from Rogers Place.
Now comes the hard part. What is next for the Edmonton Oilers?
Edmonton Faces Some Stacked Odds Against Colorado
The video pinball references have stopped for Ontario sports bettors. The Over-Underis back at 6.5 and will stay that way for Game 4 and likely whatever may come.
The Oilers need Connor McDavid to be McDavid against Calgary. Colorado’s defense does not allow that. McDavid needs to capitalize on so many to make this series.
This series has shown that Colorado’s depth (without Andre Burakovsky and now Kadri) has still been leaps and bounds better than Edmonton’s.
Colorado remains a 1.77 favourite as Game 4 approaches against Edmonton. The focus is simple with series betting academic (Avalanche is at 1.02 and Edmonton at 19.00).
The series could end tonight. Can Edmonton extend the series? Stay tuned!
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