Avalanche vs Oilers Picks and Predictions: Avs Keep Oilers at Bay

The Edmonton Oilers are putting their six-game winning streak on the line Saturday night as they host the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs are on a streak of their own, having won their last five games, including a 5-4 overtime victory over Winnipeg on Friday. 

The home team is undefeated in the last four meetings between the two, but Colorado comes in as the heavy favorite. Edmonton is the second-best team in the Pacific Division, but will have to try and upset the top team in the NHL. 

Who will continue their winning streak in this Western Conference clash? Find out in our free NHL picks and predictions for Avalanche vs. Oilers on April 9. 

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Avalanche vs Oilers odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The road team Avalanche are the favorites, opening at -139 and increasing as high as -145 at a couple of sportsbooks. The line dropped Saturday morning, however, with Wynn Bet and DraftKings checking in at -115. The Oilers began at +115, but dropped to +100 at BetMGM and Caesars. The total has stayed at 6.5 since it was posted. The over was at -133, but has dropped to -110 at FanDuel. The under was +105, but is now -105 at several sportsbooks.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Avalanche vs Oilers predictions

• Prediction: Avalanche ML (-115)
• Prediction: Under 6.5 (-105)
• Best bet: MacKinnon anytime goal (+145)

Predictions made on 3/9/2022 at 2:05 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Avalanche vs Oilers game info

• Location: Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
• Date: Saturday, April 9, 2022
• Puck drop: 10:00 p.m. ET
• TV: Sportsnet West

Avalanche vs Oilers betting preview

Key injuries

Avalanche: Devon Toews D (Probable), Samuel Girard D (Out), Nazem Kadri C (Out), Ryan Murray D (Out), Gabriel Landeskog F (Out). 
Oilers: Josh Archibald F (Out). 
Find our latest NHL injury reports.

Avalanche vs Oilers head-to-head record

Avalanche: 3-1 SU, 15 goals for.
Oilers: 1-2-1 SU, 11 goals for.

Betting trend to know

The Avalanche are 4-2 in the second game of their last six back-to-backs. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Oilers.

Avalanche vs Oilers picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Moneyline analysis

The Colorado Avalanche have been playing like the Stanley Cup odds favorites that they are, winning their last five games, three of which against expected playoff teams. 

Saturday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers is the final contest of a three-game road trip. In the previous two, they outscored the Pittsburgh Penguins and Winnipeg Jets, 11-8. The Avs have the third-best offense in the league, averaging 3.80 goals for per game and are also fifth on the power play, converting 25.3% of the time. 

There are six players for Colorado that have 20 or more goals, led by Mikko Rantanen, with 35. He also has 51 assists, putting him 10th in the league in points. Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon are also in the Top 20 in the NHL in points. 

The Oilers are no slouches when it comes to offense. They rank seventh in goals for per game at 3.47. They are also fourth in power-play conversion at 25.7%. The two engines that run Edmonton’s scoring are Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid leads the league in points with 108, while Draisaitl is third, and is second in goals with 50.

The home team is 4-0 in the two teams’ most recent meetings, but the favorite is 4-0 in those same contests. Look for Colorado to snap Edmonton’s six-game winning streak, while adding their sixth consecutive victory. 

Prediction: Avalanche ML (-115 at DraftKings)

Over/Under analysis

These teams love to score goals in bunches, but the Under is 5-2 in the last seven games these two have played against each other.

While the emphasis has been on the offense, and how highly-ranked both teams are, the defense kind of gets lost. It shouldn’t.

The Avalanche are eighth in goals against per game, averaging 2.76. They’re also fifth in save percentage at .918 and third in shutouts with seven. The Oilers are 20th in GAA at 3.17. They’re tied for 23rd in save percentage at .904.

That is where the problem lies for the Oilers. With the Avalanche’s powerful offense, the defense is going to have to step up and have a better defensive effort. 

Neither team is very good when they are a man down. Colorado is 17th in the penalty kill at 78.74%, while Edmonton is 21st at 77.48. This game should get some goals, but not enough to push over the 6.5 total. 

Prediction: Under 6.5 (-105 at Caesars)

Best bet

The Avs held their breath when forward Nathan MacKinnon hurt his hand in a fight with Minnesota Wild’s Matt Dumba two weeks ago. It was initially suspected he had fractured his hand and he was sent back to Denver for doctors to look at it.

Fortunately, he was only out for one game, and since his return, he has been on a tear. In four games, the center has three goals and three assists. 

The most surprising thing is that he has been thriving without his left wing, Gabriel Landeskog, who has been out since the middle of March with a knee injury. MacKinnon does benefit having the team’s leading scorer, Mikko Rantanen, on his right, but he has been able to share ice, and scoring, with the righ- winger.

MacKinnon also is on the team’s first power play unit, which is fifth in the league in conversions. 

Look for MacKinnon to get a goal on Saturday night, especially when the two teams are at even-strength. 

Pick: Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (+145)

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