The Edmonton Oilers got the monkey off their back Saturday with a win over the Flames, which snapped a seven-game losing skid. However, the media noise will still be loud if they can’t go into Vancouver and take two points against a shorthanded Canucks team.
Will the Canucks be down to their third option in net tonight thanks to COVID? Can the Oilers put that epic losing streak in the rearview and build off Saturday’s win? Find out in our free NHL picks and predictions for Oilers vs. Canucks on January 25.
Oilers vs Canucks odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
The Oilers opened up as -130 favorites and have since moved to -145 on the moneyline. The total sits at 6.5 and leans to the Under. Edmonton closed -130 on the ML in Vancouver back in late October in what was a 2-1 Edmonton win — the total closed at 6.5.
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.
Oilers vs Canucks predictions
Predictions made on 1/25/2022 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Oilers vs Canucks game info
• Location: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
• Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2022
• Puck drop: 10:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN+
Oilers vs Canucks betting preview
Key injuries
Oilers: Zach Hyman F (Out), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins F (Questionable), Mike Smith G (Out), Tyson Barrie D (Out).
Canucks: Bo Horvat F (Questionable), Thatcher Demko G (Out), J.T. Miller F (Questionable), Travis Hamonic D (Out), Spencer Martin G (Questionable).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Oilers vs Canucks head-to-head record (Since 2021)
Oilers: 10-4 SU, 44 goals for.
Canucks: 4-10 SU, 36 goals for.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 9-2-3 in the last 14 meetings in Vancouver. Find more NHL betting trends for Oilers vs. Canucks.
Oilers vs Canucks picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Moneyline/Puck line analysis
Things could have been disastrous for the Oilers if they had lost to the Flames Saturday night, but Dave Tippett’s team found a way to pick up the victory despite trailing 2-0 early in the game. The win was just the team’s third win in its last 16 games as this has been the second-worst team in hockey in points percentage since December. The win wasn’t even that impressive, as Money Puck had the Flames winning that game 87% of the time over 1,000 simulations.
The Oilers are still dealing with some injuries as Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Tyson Barrie might all miss another game. Nugent-Hopkins has the best chance to suit up, but he's still dealing with a lower-body injury. The Canucks, on the other hand, are getting healthier but will still be without Thatcher Demko (COVID) and Vancouver will turn to Spencer Martin tonight.
Despite having to use their No. 3 goalie and missing key offensive pieces, the Canucks are 10-6 SU in their last 16 games and the losses in regulation have come against some solid competition — St. Louis, Carolina, Tampa Bay and Florida. The Canucks may not be scoring a ton of late (just 10 goals last five games) but they have been playing well as heavy underdogs and are getting back to full health.
Since Christmas, the Canucks are 4-4-2 with a very respectable 2.40 goals against, while the Oilers are 2-5-1 and are allowing an absurd 4.50 goals per game. Even this anemic Vancouver offense should be able to score against Mikko Koskinen and the Oilers.
Koskinen is coming off his best game of the season and needed to make 44 saves to do so. The Oilers didn’t do him any favors Saturday, but he got it done, which was great news for the goalie as he was in a bad place professionally with his recent play. Getting another big performance out of the Finnish goalie is asking a lot tonight. Koskinen has allowed at least three goals in eight straight games and has a 4.12 GAA over that stretch.
With Martin in for the Canucks, many will likely shy away from this Vancouver ML, but Martin played well in his last start versus the high-powered Panthers, where he finished with 1.7 goals saved above expected in the 2-1 shootout loss. If he can keep the Panthers' No. 2 offense in check, Edmonton could easily see that same lack of production offensively.
The defensive-minded Canucks have held the Oilers to just four regulation goals through two meetings this season and will have a chance to stymie their Canadian rivals yet again tonight, as this once prolific Edmonton offense has become one of the worst in hockey.
Over their last 16 games, the Oilers are scoring just 2.50 goals per game, which ranks as the seventh-worst mark in hockey and is slightly worse than the Philadelphia Flyers. The power play has been league average over that time, which is concerning as it was the best unit in hockey out of the gates. Connor McDavid has just two points over his last four games while Leon Draisaitl is coming off his first multi-point game in eight games.
We aren’t ready to throw our support at the Oilers here at -145 and think there is a little meat on the bone with the home side at +125. The Canucks have played some great teams of late and Martin looked sharp against the Panthers. He could be instrumental in sending Edmonton to their 14th loss in 17 games. Edmonton has taken both of the meetings already this year but each game was close and that was when the Oilers were at their best.
Prediction: Canucks ML +125
Over/Under analysis
Jacob Markstrom had a rough game versus the Oilers on Saturday and finished with -2.27 goals saved above expected. The Edmonton offense hasn’t returned in our opinion and scoring depth is the most obvious concern for backing the Oilers on the Over — especially with the injuries to Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins.
With the Canucks showing they can play some good teams competitively, the Under is 4-1 in Vancouver’s last five games and two of those starts included games from goalies Mike DiPietro and Martin. This Vancouver team held the Panthers to one goal in regulation, the Predators to one and Capitals to two goals over the last 10 days. Vancouver’s 2.28 GAA at home this season is the third-best mark in hockey and is a big reason it’s 14-3-1 to the Under — tops in the league.
The Vancouver Canucks are 14-3-1 to the Under on home ice this season which is tops in the league.
— Josh Inglis (@Covers_josh) January 25, 2022
At home this season:
goals for -- 2.17 (31st)
goals against -- 2.28 (3rd)
PP 18% (21st)
Thatcher Demko 2.16 GAA (8th) .932SV% (4th)
Both of the previous matches cleared the Under convincingly with just a total of seven regulation goals scored in two games. The Canucks are struggling to score themselves of late as players return from COVID issues, while the lineup has been in a blender since before Christmas. At home this season, the Canucks are scoring a putrid 2.17 goals per game. They keep it low-scoring and tight at Rogers Arena.
Even with Koskinen likely in net, we don’t project either offense to run things up Tuesday night. Vancouver has shown they can limit the opposing offense even with missing pieces and a third-string goalie while the Oilers’ struggles offensively were not magically cured by a win vs. Calgary where they managed over two goals above expected. Even with both teams’ penalty kill struggles, we’ll take the Under 6.5, please.
Prediction: Under 6.5 (-120)
Best bet
A 3-14-1 O/U mark at home is legit while the Canucks have already shown that they can keep the Oilers in check. With Martin in net, the team will have to play smart in front of him and likely take less chances.
Bruce Boudreau has done a wonderful job taking over this team, and its commitment to defense, despite a lack of talent, is evident. It’s an Under for us.
Pick: Under 6.5 (-120)
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