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Avalanche vs. Oilers Prediction and Odds (Edmonton Fighting for Home-Ice Advantage)

By Matt De Saro

Edmonton Oilers v Montreal Canadiens
Edmonton Oilers v Montreal Canadiens / Minas Panagiotakis/GettyImages
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The Edmonton Oilers are set to play host to the Colorado Avalanche in Western Conference action. The Avs have already clinched first place in the Central Division, but are playing with a lot of injuries right now. They are likely to pull back over the last few games of the year and try to lick their wounds before the playoffs start. If you need any further evidence of this, consider that the Avs lost to the last place Kraken on Wednesday night 3-2. Colorado is on a two-game losing streak and I don’t think they really care. 

The Oilers, on the other hand, care very much about what happens in this game. The Oilers are currently in second place in the Pacific Division after overtaking the Los Angeles Kings. They can’t catch the Flames for the Division title, but they can hold onto the second seed heading into the postseason. 

Here are the odds for tonight’s matchup, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

Avalanche vs. Oilers Odds and Total

Moneyline:

  • Avalanche -115
  • Oilers -105

Puck line:

  • Avalanche +1.5 (+190)
  • Oilers -1.5 (-230)

Total:

  • 6.5 (Over -115/Under -105)

Avalanche vs. Oilers Prediction and Pick

It's clear to me that the Oilers' chance to secure home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs is spurring their recent surge. The Oilers have won three in a row and nine of their last 11 games. They have two 4-0 shutout wins in their last three games against the Golden Knights and Predators, and a +11 score differential in that span. 

Mike Smith will be handling goalie duties tonight with a 14-9-2 overall record. He has a solid 2.88 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. As a team, Edmonton has allowed an average of 0.67 goals per game in the last week of play. 

And the Avs. Well, they lost to the Kraken the other night. I think their best course of action is to just rest up for the playoffs and ignore their win-loss record for the rest of the regular season. While that is a bit extreme, I think that Colorado is smart enough to at least take their foot off the gas a little. 

This is a great spot to grab the Oilers at home at solid odds. They are playing much better hockey and I think hand the Avs a third loss in a row. 

Pick: Oilers -105 to win

Follow all of Matt De Saro’s betting picks HERE

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