'I'm in trouble' says Charles Barkley about picking Edmonton Oilers to win Stanley Cup

Article content

Charles Barkley is known for his gambling losses and he might have erred again when it comes to the NHL playoffs.

The basketball hall of famer turned broadcaster, who also enjoys hockey and follows it closely, had created a buzz earlier this week by going on the NHL on TNT panel and predicting the Edmonton Oilers would win the Stanley Cup.

“This is the look of a man who I’m assuming thought the Edmonton Oilers were going to win this game,” was how Barkley was greeted Wednesday during a return appearance on the panel.

“I’m in trouble right now,” Barkley said.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

The Oilers are off to a disastrous start, surrendering six goals in each of the first two games, both losses, against the Los Angeles Kings.

Barkley is an Oilers fan and also picked them to win last year when they fell just short in the final. Oilers star Leon Draisaitl even gifted him a jersey, but the Oilers will need another miraculous rally to keep going.

Barkley also picked Colorado to make the Western Conference final and seemed bummed out by the overtime win by Dallas, which put the Stars up 2-1 in the first-round series. He said he also bet on the game and had a bad night, which led to ribbing from the panel.

“I’m in shock right now,” Barkley said, mentioning the Avalanche blew four power plays.

He said he expected Colorado to win because of the return of captain Gabriel Landeskog after a three-year injury absence, saying he is “all heart” and that he thought the team would rally around him.

Barkley joked that he needed a drink and said he was “under a lot of pressure that night,” when he had made his predictions.

They tried to cheer up Barkley by mentioning his other Stanley Cup final pick, the Toronto Maple Leafs, were doing quite well against the Ottawa Senators.

“They look really good,” Barkley said, before quickly returning to his shock over how the Avalanche fared. “We had a power play in overtime. I can’t believe we lost” (Colorado actually had a four-minute advantage late in the third period).

Barkley had been doing NBA playoff coverage, but stuck around even though the games were done to watch hockey and then go on the NHL panel.

He then gave his predictions for Thursday’s games.

“In (Tampa Bay coach) Jon Cooper we trust,” Barkley said, calling for the Lightning to even the series against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, and said Vegas let him down in Game 2, without making a call for Game 3 against Minnesota.

Barkley’s message for the Oilers: “They’ve played awful, you can’t give up that many goals and expect to win. There’s not a lot you can say if you’re giving up six goals.

“I mean, that reminds me of me playing defence back in the day, that’s bad defence.”

He’s now off the bandwagon. Asked if the Oilers are coming back, Barkley replied: “I don’t think so.”