The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers meet in an opening night Battle of Alberta Wednesday. Puck drop from Rogers Place is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Flames vs. Oilers odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

2024-25 season series: Oilers won 2-1

The Flames look to bounce back after just missing the playoffs, losing in a tiebreaker with the St. Louis Blues for the final postseason spot. Each team had 96 points, but St. Louis had 44 victories compared with just 41 for Calgary.

These teams met twice in Edmonton, with Calgary posting a 4-1 win as a huge underdog (+210) at Rogers Place in the first meeting Oct. 13, 2024. The Oilers won the other meetings, but the teams tied 8-8 in goals scored in the 3 regular-season matchups. Calgary has won 2 of the past 3 trips to Edmonton dating back to Feb. 24, 2024.

Oilers C Connor McDavid signed a 2-year, $25 million contract extension this past week, which is a bit of a deal for Edmonton given McDavid’s superstar status. He’ll once again be paired with LW Leon Draisaitl on the top scoring line and power-play unit.

G Dan Vladar left the Flames in free agency and signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, so it’s the G Dustin Wolf show this season. He is expected to handle the lion’s share of the starts.

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Flames at Oilers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:28 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Flames +185 (bet $100 to win $185) | Oilers -225 (bet $225 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Flames +1.5 (-125) | Oilers -1.5 (+105)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -115 | U: -105)Flames at Oilers projected goalies

Dustin Wolf (29-16-8, 2.64 GAA, .910 SV%, 3 SO in 2024-25) vs. Stuart Skinner (26-18-4, 2.81 GAA, .896 SV%, 3 SO in 2024-25 regular season)

Wolf, the 24-year-old goaltender from California, posted a 9-8-4 record with a 3.13 GAA and .891 SV% in 21 road starts last season. All 3 of his shutouts came at home. He took the loss in a 3-2 OT defeat in Edmonton March 29 in his only start against the Oilers last season.

Skinner has been battling the flu late in training camp, but he is expected to be OK to start after practicing Sunday. He was 16-8-2 with a 2.85 GAA and .899 SV% with 2 SO in 28 starts at home, while going 1-1-0 with a 2.55 GAA and .915 SV% in 2 outings against the Flames last season.

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Flames at Oilers picks and predictionsPrediction

Oilers 4, Flames 3

The Oilers (-220) will cost you more than twice your potential return, which is far too expensive for a standalone bet. Even with a boost or promo, it’s not a recommended wager.

If you were to fold Edmonton into a parlay, that would be OK, however.

PASS.

FLAMES +1.5 (-135) isn’t priced out of line if you’d like some insurance.

Calgary won outright in Edmonton early last season in October, and the underdog has won outright in 5 of the past 10 meetings in the Battle of Alberta dating back to Oct. 15, 2022. In that 10-game span, 4 of the contests have been decided by a single goal.

OVER 6 (-115) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at best.

We’re going against the trends in the series here, as the Under hit in all 3 meetings last season and went 7-2 in the past 9 battles.

However, with Skinner under the weather, and the Oilers hungry for a quick start, let’s look for at least 7 or more goals.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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