Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers Prediction, NHL Odds
The Oilers are trying to shake a two-game skid, but it will be no easy feat with the fifth-best team in the league visiting. Edmonton needs some points to keep home ice in the playoffs as other teams start to creep up in the standings.
The Avs are trying to get back on track themselves after losing three of their past five games. With just six games left, Colorado is focused on playoff positioning.
Puck drop from Rogers Place is at 9 p.m. ET and our NHL odds have the Oilers as a slight favourite, at -120 on the moneyline. The OVER/UNDER set at an even six goals.
Avalanche vs. Oilers NHL Betting Odds
The Oil and Avs will face off twice in the season’s final two weeks, making the Art Ross matchup much more exciting. MacKinnon and McDavid are behind Nikita Kucherov for the league lead in points, but you can also find the pair at the top of the Hart Trophy Odds. MacKinnon leads the way at -400, while McDavid is third at +600. You can find both of these lines on our NHL Futures Board.
These squads needed extra time in their first and only meeting this season as Colorado took it 3-2 in overtime, winning on a goal from Artturi Lehkonen. Both team’s superstars were a bit quiet, with McDavid held off the scoresheet and MacKinnon getting just one assist on the overtime winner.
With their 5-2 win in Minnesota on Thursday, the Avalanche covered the spread and evened their record ATS at 38-38 on the year. They have the highest-scoring offence in the league, averaging over 3.7 goals per game. Pair that with a defence that has been just mediocre this season and it makes them a solid bet on the OVER.
The Oilers are just behind Colorado in goal scoring, averaging over 3.5 goals per game, which is good for fourth in the league. Edmonton’s surprisingly good defensive numbers have made them tougher to bet on in terms of the OVER/UNDER as they are 32-39-3 this season. The Oilers have had no luck on the spread lately, covering just twice in the past seven games.
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado moved two points closer to first place in the Central Division last night, beating their rivals the Minnesota Wild 5-2 in St. Paul. Lehkonen got the offence started with his 14th of the season, extending his point streak to three games. Jonathan Drouin scored a pair of goals, both assisted by MacKinnon. Mac added a goal of his own (48th) for a three-point night and Mikko Rantanen’s 40th into the empty secured the win.
The final score does not tell the whole story in this one, as the Wild out-shot the Avs 46-36 but had no answer for Colorado’s backup goalie, Justus Annunen, who made a career-high 44 saves in just his 16th NHL appearance.
The Avs now trail the red-hot Dallas Stars by three points for the top spot in the Central Division and the Western Conference. With six games remaining, two against Edmonton and one against the Stars, it is very possible they overtake the top spot.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers will be happy to return to Edmonton on Friday after losing back-to-back road games on their mini-road trip. After dropping a game in St. Louis, the Oil visited Dallas and got blanked 5-0.
Edmonton trailed 1-0 in the first period against Dallas after they gave up a goal in the first two minutes of the game, before the floodgates opened in the second. The Stars piled on four goals in less than six minutes in the second period and shut things down in the third to solidify their eighth consecutive win.
The Oilers out-shot the Stars 35-32 in the effort but had no answer for Stars netminder Jake Oettinger. Calvin Pickard got his 19th start of the season in goal for the Oilers and made 27 stops.
Edmonton has a much better record at home this season, so luckily for them, five of their final seven games are on home ice. Vegas is creeping up on them for second in the Pacific Division, trailing by just three points. Home ice in the first round will be crucial for the Oilers considering their struggles on the road this season.
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