NHL best bets: Canucks vs. Oilers Game 6 odds, preview, prediction for Sat. 5/18

Canucks vs. Oilers Odds

Saturday, May 18, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN & ESPN+

Odds via bet365. Get up-to-the-minute NHL odds here.

Vancouver Canucks

Rookie goaltender Arturs Silovs is once again slated to guard the cage for Vancouver, and he should be a great candidate to back. He has done a tremendous job filling in for injured Thatcher Demko this postseason, posting a 5-3 record with a .907 SV% and 2.62 GAA.

Silovs has done a particularly good job in quelling this high-powered Edmonton offense. He's allowed three or fewer goals in each of the past three games. Over that stretch, he is 2-1 with a commanding .918 SV%.

Now, it certainly helps his cause that the Canucks have done a good job at suppressing high-danger scoring chances. At 5-on-5, they rank second among the remaining seven playoff teams in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).

The offense hasn't necessarily been as efficient, but they can get away with it against goaltender Stuart Skinner.

Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton is likely to go back to Skinner after trying out backup Calvin Pickard over the past two games. I actually don't think the Oilers should do so, but all signs are suggesting that they will, which could be bad news in an elimination game.

Yes, Pickard isn't good, but Skinner was performing even worse before getting pulled. In his three starts in this series, Skinner is 1-2 with a troubling .793 SV% and 4.40 GAA.

With all due respect, that is an atrocious stat line, especially against a relatively tame Vancouver offense. Now, to be a bit more fair to Skinner, he is playing behind a struggling blue line as well.

At 5-on-5, Edmonton ranks fifth among the remaining seven playoff teams in xGA/60 this postseason.

Canucks vs. Oilers

Betting Pick & Prediction

The Oilers have two advantages in this game: offense and home ice. Let's discuss the latter.

While playing on home ice will always benefit come playoff time, we've seen Vancouver fans travel well to Edmonton. On top of that, the Oilers are just 2-2 over their past four home games.

Meanwhile, the Canucks are 4-1 while playing on the road this postseason. Finally, Vancouver has won seven of the past nine meetings between these two teams.

We'll take Vancouver to close out the series in Game 6 tonight.

Pick: Canucks (+165 at bet365 | Play to +160)