Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers Prediction, NHL Odds
The Vancouver Canucks conclude one of the worst seasons in franchise history on Thursday night when they visit playoff-bound Edmonton, which still has plenty to play for but can’t win the Pacific Division. The Oilers are whopping -330 favourites on the NHL odds with a total of 6.5 goals.
Canucks vs. Oilers NHL Betting Odds
While first-year coach Adam Foote might be safe, there figure to be a lot of changes in Vancouver this summer after just an embarrassing campaign in which the Canucks will finish with by far the fewest points in the league … but also the best chance (25.5 per cent) to win the NHL draft lottery. Doing that would make this year somewhat palatable. The Canucks have never picked No. 1 overall.
It has been a good but not great regular season for Edmonton, which will be playing extra hockey for the seventh straight year and 28th time in franchise history. The Oilers can no longer win the Pacific as Vegas clinched that Wednesday by beating Seattle.
But ideally, the team would finish second and thus have home-ice advantage in Round 1 against an opponent TBA. Some good news on star Leon Draisaitl as while he won’t return from his injury in time for Thursday, he practiced this week and should be ready for Round 1.
Edmonton is 2-1 vs. Vancouver this season, but they haven’t played since Jan. 19. Jack Roslovic (3G, 1A) leads the Oilers with four points, while Draisaitl has three goals and Connor McDavid three assists. Calvin Pickard started two in net and Tristan Jarry one, pitching a shutout. Out-for-season Thatcher Demko went 1-1 in his two starts for Vancouver, and Nikita Tolopilo lost his.
Vancouver is still 6-4 in the past 10 meetings overall, while the over-under is 5-4-1.
Vancouver Canucks
With absolutely nothing to play for in a while, the Canucks are playing pretty freely having won three straight games – all past regulation and by the exact same 4-3 score. Jake DeBrusk’s 23rd goal of the season was the winner in OT on Tuesday against the Kings in Vancouver’s home finale. That was not on the power play, and DeBrusk needs one Thursday with the man advantage to tie Tony Tanti (19 in 1983-84) for the fifth most in a single season in Canucks history.
Kevin Lankinen was in net Tuesday and recent rotation patterns would suggest Nikita Tolopilo Thursday. The 26-year-old won his last start Saturday in Anaheim but has a brutal 4.22 road GAA in eight outings this season.
Perhaps consider Elias Pettersson for at least a point. He has 25 points in 35 career games against the Oilers (including playoffs), which is tied with the Predators for his fourth most against a single franchise. Vancouver is 5-15 in its past 20 vs. Pacific Division foes.
Edmonton Oilers
It’s very simple for Edmonton: Get a point to clinch second in the Pacific as it holds any tiebreakers against Anaheim and Los Angeles. But a regulation loss, as far-fetched as that seems, could drop the Oilers to third in the division or even a wild-card spot should the Ducks win in Nashville and the Kings do the same in Calgary.
Some good news for Edmonton as forward Zach Hyman (51 points) is expected to play when it was thought he would not return from an undisclosed injury until the playoffs. Offence is needed considering the Oilers have managed just one total goal in a two-game skid.
Connor McDavid has clinched yet another Art Ross Trophy and is two goals shy of reaching 50 for the second time in his career (2022-23). He would become the fifth player in franchise history with multiple 50-goal seasons but as noted hasn’t scored this campaign vs. the Canucks.
Connor Ingram should be in net. He has allowed only four goals over his past three but has a single win to show for it due to lack of offence. Edmonton is 4-1 in its past five at home in this series.
