Anaheim Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers Prediction, NHL Odds
The Oilers are -145 on the NHL odds with a total of 6.5 goals.
Ducks vs. Oilers NHL Betting Odds
Of course, the top three teams in each NHL division make the playoffs and then the next two clubs with the highest point totals in each conference also get in. But if a team finishes second or third in its division, then it would open the post-season against that division’s second- or third-place finisher. And that’s where Saturday’s Ducks-Oilers game could be a West preview.
Surprising Anaheim may make it a moot point by winning the Pacific Division; it sits atop currently with 86 points and is a -900 favourite to win it for the first time since 2017. That was the last time the Ducks won a playoff series, while 2018 was their last trip to the post-season. It’s possible either the second-place Oilers (+850) or third-place Golden Knights (+2500) still could catch Anaheim. The sportsbooks aren’t very high on the Ducks winning the conference, however, priced as +1800 seventh-favourites on the NHL Futures board.
The winner of Saturday’s game will claim the season series as they split the first two, with Edmonton winning 7-4 at home on Jan. 26 and Anaheim doing the same, 6-5, on Feb. 25. The Ducks and Oilers have among the five-worst team GAAs in the league this season. Mattias Ekholm (3G, 2A) leads Edmonton with five points in the series, while Tristan Jarry holds a win and Connor Ingram a loss. Four players lead Anaheim with three points in the series. Lukas Dostal won his start and Ville Husso lost his.
The Oilers are 8-2 in the past 10 meetings overall, and the over-under is 8-2.
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks won their fourth game in a row Thursday, 3-2 in overtime in Calgary. Mikael Granlund capped his hat trick with the winner at 4:59 of OT on the power play. Yes, 4:59. Granlund one-timed a John Carlson pass in the high slot past Devin Cooley and now has seven goals during the winning streak. Granlund became the sixth player in Ducks history to cap a hat trick with an overtime goal and just the second player in team annals to score multiple hat tricks in his first season with the club. The 34-year-old has played for a handful of franchises over the years. Thursday was Anaheim’s 25th comeback win of the season to pass the 2014-15 team for the second-most behind only the 26 such victories by the 2013-14 club. The Ducks have 11 third-period comeback wins to lead the NHL and are 17-4 in games decided past regulation this season for the most such wins. It was backup Ville Husso in net Thursday so it will be No. 1 Lukas Dostal on Saturday. He is 12-10-1 with a 2.82 GAA and .903 SV on the road this season. Anaheim is 5-12 in its past 17 at Edmonton.
Edmonton Oilers
If the Oilers have a realistic shot at the Pacific title, they probably have to win this game in regulation. They have followed a two-game skid (both at home) with back-to-back wins (both on the road). Edmonton got a big two points Thursday in a 4-3 OT win at Vegas. Evan Bouchard’s 20th goal of the season at 3:10 of overtime was the winner of the back-and-forth affair. Bouchard became the sixth defenceman this NHL season with at least 20 goals, the most in a campaign since six in 1993-94. The record is eight. It was also Bouchard’s seventh career overtime goal, passing Darnell Nurse and tying Jari Kurri for the third most in franchise history. The currently injured Leon Draisaitl holds the mark of 20. Connor McDavid had a goal and two helpers. He reached 800 career assists in career game No. 785, third-fastest in NHL history. Connor Ingram was in net Thursday, and it likely will be him again Saturday. Ingram has started six of the last seven overall and is 3-2-1 despite allowing at least three goals in five of those. The over is 8-4 in the Oilers’ past 12 at home.
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