The Edmonton Oilers (48-23-9) take on the Colorado Avalanche (49-24-6) Tuesday at Ball Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. (ESPN). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Oilers vs. Avalanche odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Edmonton is 8-1-1 over the last 10 games as it ends the season determined to slay the ghosts of playoffs past. The Oilers are the 2nd seed, 1 point ahead of Colorado and 2 points behind Vegas for the top spot. Edmonton holds the tiebreaker with VGK with 8 more regulation wins.
The Avs are tied with Dallas for the Central Division lead. With a win, they’ll knock Edmonton down to the 3rd seed, and the Avs would be in line to take on the LA Kings in the 1st round as the 2-seed instead of the Seattle Kraken. The Avs are 9-1-0 in the last 10, and this one should be fun.
Oilers at Avalanche odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub Lines last updated at 9:39 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Oilers -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Avalanche +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Oilers -1.5 (+195) | Avalanche +1.5 (-250)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -130 | U: +105)
Oilers at Avalanche projected goalies
Stuart Skinner (27-14-5, 2.80 GAA, .912 SV%, 1 SO) vs Alexandar Georgiev (38-16-5, 2.54 GAA, .919 SV%, 5 SO)
The 24-year-old Skinner went 10-1-1 with a 2.83 GAA in March and has not cooled off. In 2 April starts, he’s 2-0 with a .955 SV%. He has allowed 2 goals in the last 3 starts combined. Skinner faced the Avs in Edmonton in January and suffered a 3-2 overtime defeat. He stopped 43 of 46 shots.
Georgiev is 4-0 with a 2.47 GAA and .919 SV% in 4 April starts. He stopped 38 of 41 shots in a 4-3 win at the LA Kings Saturday. Georgiev is 2-0 with a 3.31 GAA and .900 SV%. He’s the epitome of the bend-but-don’t-break goalie.
Oilers at Avalanche picks and predictions
Prediction
Oilers 4, Avalanche 2
Moneyline
C Connor McDavid is on a mission. He became the 6th player in NHL history and 1st player since Mario Lemieux 27 years ago to reach 150 points in a season. The Oilers will need and receive a big game from the eventual Hart Trophy winner. The Oilers are hungrier.
Take the OILERS -120.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Oilers are 45-35 on the puck line and 24-16 on the road. Six of their last 8 wins were by multiple goals.
Colorado has beaten them 6 straight times, 9 of 10, and the last 3 were in overtime. This is a revenge game for McDavid & Co.
Take the OILERS -1.5 (+195) for a HALF UNIT.
Over/Under
This one can go either way, but with the playoff atmosphere, I’m going to side with the Under.
Edmonton is 4-4-2 O/U over the last 10, and 5 of the last 9 meetings the last 2 years went Under this total.
LEAN UNDER 6.5 (+105), although a pass would be understandable.
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