The Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers, fierce rivals from the Pacific Division, are set to clash in the opening game of their 2025 Stanley Cup conference semifinals series on Tuesday.
Vegas advanced to this round after a challenging six-game series victory over the Minnesota Wild. Meanwhile, Connor McDavid and the Oilers also navigated a six-game first-round matchup, staging a comeback from a two-game deficit to overcome the Los Angeles Kings. The series opener will be hosted at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
Heading into Game 1, the Vegas Golden Knights are positioned as the favorites according to various analyses and simulations that have assessed the potential outcomes of the matchup.
Key Predictions for Game 1:
Prediction 1: Edmonton Oilers to cover the spread.
Recent history between these two teams suggests a competitive matchup, including a narrow victory for Edmonton at T-Mobile Arena during the regular season. Considering Vegas`s recent playoff wins have often been decided by just one goal, the Oilers are well-equipped to keep the score close in the first game.
Prediction 2: Leon Draisaitl to record multiple points.
Leon Draisaitl has been a significant offensive force throughout the 2025 postseason, consistently contributing points for the Oilers. His performance against the Golden Knights in the regular season has been strong, particularly when facing goaltender Adin Hill, who has conceded multiple goals in each of his first-round starts.
Elton Marrow