Chicago Blackhawks vs. Edmonton Oilers Betting Odds, Preview August 1

The Chicago Blackhawks vs. Edmonton Oilers game Saturday starts at 3 pm ET and features a line of Edmonton -147, Chicago +127.  Bookmaker.eu offers a generous welcome bonus (maximum $1000 bonus).

TIME: 3:00. ET. TV: NBC

Hot Trends

• Blackhawks are 15-7 in the last 22 meetings.
• Blackhawks are 13-6 in the last 19 meetings in Edmonton (which is where this game is being played).

Preview

The fifth-seeded Oilers sense the urgency of setting the tone against the No. 12 Blackhawks.

Spectators will not be allowed in the Oilers' home arena due to the Covid-19 pandemic as Edmonton serves as the hub city for games in the West.  The Oilers have otherwise enjoyed great success against Chicago here.

"The first game in a best-of-five, it's imperative that you start well," Edmonton coach Dave Tippett said. "If you lose Game 1, does this mean you lose the series? No. But winning that first game certainly puts you at an advantage.

"You have to make sure your team is ready to play in Game 1, and you have to make sure your goaltender is ready to play in Game 1."

Edmonton boasts a solid goaltending tandem in Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith while forwards Leon Draisaitl (110) and captain Connor McDavid (97) led the league in points during the regular season.

Although Koskinen has not logged one minute in the Stanley Cup playoffs, his postseason pedigree in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League is sound -- 50-24 with a 1.64 goals-against average, .938 save percentage and two championships.

- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com