Jets vs Oilers 05/19/21 – Odds and NHL Betting Trends

The Edmonton Oilers will be looking to maintain the momentum that marked the final weeks of their regular season schedule when they kick off their first-round playoff series with the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday as -160 home favorites on the NHL odds for Game 1 at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com (how the moneyline works).

Edmonton enters the postseason with home-ice advantage in the first round after closing out the regular season in second place in the North Division standings, but has struggled in recent home outings ahead of Wednesday night’s matchup at Rogers Place.

The Oilers cemented their grasp on second place with wins in 12 of their final 16 regular season contests, and avoided consecutive losses over their past 25 games. The club’s steady performance has contributed to their strong position as -175 favorites to knock off Winnipeg on the NHL playoff series prices. However, that consistency eluded Edmonton on home ice down the stretch, with the team picking up the win in just two of its final six dates at Rogers Place.

On a more positive note, the Oilers owned Winnipeg during their nine-game season series, posting seven wins including victories in each of their past six meetings. Edmonton has been particularly successful at shutting down the Jets attack during their current head-to-head surge, limiting Winnipeg shooters to just seven total goals over their six recent wins. The Oilers’ recent success against Winnipeg also marks a dramatic change in fortune after falling to defeat in nine of their previous 12 dates with the Jets.

However, the Oilers’ domination of Winnipeg this season is no guarantee of success in the postseason. The team has enjoyed little playoff glory over the past three decades, advancing past the opening round just twice in their past seven trips to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Edmonton has also produced mixed results in previous playoff-opening contests, going 3-5 in their past eight including a 3-3 record on home ice.

The team has also struggled to find the net in previous first-round openers, averaging just 2.75 goals per game over their past four. This time around, the Oilers’ offensive success while likely hinge on the performance of Connor McDavid. The Oilers captain was spectacular down the stretch, racking up 41 points over his final 17 regular season appearances.

While the Oilers aim to maintain their groove, the Jets look to rebound from a dismal season-ending swoon as they hit the ice on Wednesday as +140 underdogs at online sports betting sites. Winnipeg struggled at both ends of the ice while losing nine of their final 12 games, and open their series against Edmonton as a lengthy +155 bet on the series prices.