darrell,

The Stanley Cup playoffs are here! Edmonton, a #8 seed has made an improbable run to get here. They are the first team seeded this low to win the conference title since this playoff format went into effect 12 years ago. They beat the team with the best regular season record, Detroit, in the first round on the road. They then spotted the Sharks a couple of games and went on to win 8 of 9 games to dispose of San Jose and Anaheim. Carolina took a more traditional route, winning their division and barely missing the top seed. Carolina took care of New Jersey and Buffalo to arrive here. Let's get to it!

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Keep your head up and stick on the ice, darrell!

Game: Edmonton at Carolina (8:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 1 star on Edmonton +135

There aren't many believers in the Oilers despite what they've done of late. People can't help but remember that they squeaked into the playoffs in the final days of the regular season. They almost missed the chance to do what they have done. What they have done has been incredible. To dispose of the #1 seed on the road and then progress through the next two rounds with relative ease is unheard of. So, have they been lucky or good? I say good. You don't win in the playoffs, against the league's elite without having solid game. The big difference for this team has been Dwayne Roloson. They didn't have him for most of the season which deflated their record. He's 12-5 since coming over to the Oilers from Minnesota, allowing just 2.22 goals per game and posting a 93.1% save percentage. If what they say is true, defense wins championships and I like Edmonton's defense. Carolina could be caught off guard here, facing the #1 seed at home off a grueling series against Buffalo. Let's take the underdog value.