Odds against ‘heavy underdogs’ Vancouver Canucks: PlayNow

As Vancouver prepares to face the Edmonton Oilers in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, an online betting portal has declared the Canucks a “heavy underdog.”

B.C.’s only legal gambling website, PlayNow.com released an analysis Monday that says the odds are in Edmonton’s favour to win the series in six games.

According to PlayNow, if the Canucks manage to survive the Oilers in Round 2, a $10 wager on Vancouver would pay out a total of $30, whereas a successful $10 wager on Edmonton would only pay $14.

The site says most betters are expecting the Oilers to defeat the Canucks in six games, followed by the same result in five games, seven games, and four games.

Currently, the outcome with the shortest odds is Vancouver beating Edmonton in seven games.

PlayNow says that qualifies the Canucks as “heavy underdogs” going up against the Oilers’ “big five” players —Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins— who accounted for a combined 15 goals and 30 assists in their wins against the Los Angeles Kings.

“For Vancouver’s part, they’ll need more offense than what they showed in the first round,” said the analysis.

“Especially from star centre Elias Pettersson, who recorded just three assists in their six-game series against Nashville. However, Pettersson did record seven points across his four meetings with the Oilers this season, more than any other club he faced. His odds of leading the series in points are a lofty [11 to one].”