The Edmonton Oilers are on an 8-2 run that has seen them surge up the standings and get within shouting distance of the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights.
They’ll attempt to stay hot this afternoon, and my Sharks vs. Oilers predictions see the home side doing just that, with star offensive defenseman Evan Bouchard helping lead the way.
Let’s take a closer look with my NHL picks for December 21.
Oilers vs Sharks prediction
My Oilers pick
Evan Bouchard Over 2.5 shots (-145 at BET99)
My Oilers analysis
Evan Bouchard cleared 2.5 shots at a 50% clip a season ago. He's ramped up his volume quite a bit since then, jumping from 5.7 attempts per game to 6.6 this year.
We've seen the most noticeable spike on home soil. Bouchard has averaged 6.8 attempts in Edmonton and enters play riding a three-game Over streak.
Bouchard has perhaps the best matchup imaginable to build on his current run. The Sharks have played at the league’s highest 5-on-5 pace over the last 10 games, while the Oilers also rank inside the Top 10. This should be a fantastic shooting environment for Bouchard.
The Sharks are in truly miserable form defensively. No team has allowed 5-on-5 shots at a higher clip over the last 10, while their penalty-killing metrics are also subpar.
As a cherry on top, a lot of the volume the Sharks give up comes from defensemen. They rank dead last in shot suppression vs. blueliners and have shown no signs of improvement, holding down that same slot in recent weeks.
Bouchard ranks second on the Oilers in 5-on-5 attempts and is but one back of the team lead on the power play, so he’s plenty capable of taking advantage of this mouthwatering matchup.
Oilers vs Sharks same-game parlay (SGP)
Evan Bouchard Over 2.5 shots
Evan Bouchard Over 0.5 points
Oilers moneyline
Bouchard was a little slow out of the gate, recording just one point over his first six games of the season, but he's since tallied 22 points spanning 26 games — including 12 over his past 15 in Edmonton.
The Sharks have been a team to target for offense all season long, allowing 3.49 goals per game. That is with many Mackenzie Blackwood starts baked into the numbers.
With Blackwood, who has saved 5.8 goals above expectation, moving onto greener pastures, the goaltending should only get worse in San Jose.
Bouchard has also had their number in recent years. He has 13 points over his last 11 head-to-head meetings with the Sharks and has hit the scoresheet in six straight. There’s no reason to expect that to change.
As for the Edmonton Oilers, they’ve won eight of the past 10 games and have lost only one home game over the past calendar month.
The Sharks have won just five of 19 road games and one of their last seven overall. It’ll be tough for them to get back on track against the high-flying Oilers.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Bet on the NHL at BET99!
One of Canada's best sportsbooks for hockey betting, join BET99 and get up to $1,500 bonus bets back if your first bet doesn’t win when using our BET99 promo code COVERSBONUS!
*Not available in Ontario. 19+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Oilers vs Sharks odds
Oilers vs Sharks live odds
Oilers vs Sharks opening odds
- Puck line: Edmonton -1.5 (-160) | San Jose +1.5 (135)
- Moneyline: Edmonton -405 | San Jose +330
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)
Odds courtesy of BET99
Oilers vs Sharks trend
Evan Bouchard has hit the scoresheet in five straight home games against San Jose. Find more NHL betting trends for Oilers vs. Sharks.
How to watch Oilers vs Sharks
| Location: | Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB |
| Date: | Saturday, 12-21-2024 |
| Puck drop: | 4:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | SN |
Oilers vs Sharks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
