The Colorado Avalanche (42-20-5) take on the Edmonton Oilers (40-21-3) Saturday at Rogers Place. Puck drop is set for 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Avalanche vs. Oilers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Avs have won 5 straight after a 4-3 overtime winner at the Vancouver Canucks Wednesday. C Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist, and he’s making a push for his 1st Hart Trophy with 10 goals and 20 assists in his last 14 Games. Entering Saturday, the Avs are in a 3-way tie with Winnipeg and Dallas at 89 points atop the Central Division.
The Oilers have won 2 in a row by a combined score of 11-2 over the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals. The latest rout was a 7-2 finish against Washington Wednesday. LW Zach Hyman had a hat trick to extend his career high to 46 goals on the season. C Connor McDavid and C Leon Draisaitl also flicked the switch on the lamps with a goal each. Edmonton is firmly in 2nd place in the Pacific Division but 9 points behind Vancouver.
Stream the NHL all season on ESPN+, with your team’s out-of-market games, exclusive games, originals and more. Get ESPN+ now!
Avalanche at Oilers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:42 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Avalanche +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Oilers -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Avalanche +1.5 (-210) | Oilers -1.5 (+170)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7 (O: +110 | U: -130)
Avalanche at Oilers projected goalies
Alexandar Georgiev (34-15-3, 2.85 GAA, .901 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Stuart Skinner (30-13-3, 2.57 GAA, .907 SV%, 2 SO)
Georgiev has been solid in 4 starts this month. He’s 3-1-0 with a 2.49 GAA and .912 SV%. His last start was a 4-3 win in Vancouver, stopping 18 of 21 fired his way. He hasn’t faced Edmonton this season, but he was 2-0-1 with a 2.87 GAA and .918 SV% in 3 starts against them last season.
Skinner has lived up to his name with a 3-0-1 record this month with a 1.46 GAA and .941 SV%. He has allowed just 6 goals in 4 starts after going through a stretch in mid-February where he allowed 4+ goals in 4 of 5 starts. He was 1-0-1 with a 1.94 GAA and .960 SV% in 2 starts against the Avs last season.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Avalanche at Oilers picks and predictions
Prediction
Oilers 3, Avalanche 2
Moneyline
Oddly enough, this is the 1st meeting between the Western Conference powerhouses this season. The last 4 matchups have gone to overtime. The Oilers got the last victory in Colorado, but the Avs won 6 straight before that.
Both teams are smokin’ hot as the Avs have won 7 of 8, and the Oilers have won 6 of 8. Colorado is just average on the road at 16-14-2, though. The difference maker to me is Skinner. He presents a big enough advantage between the pipes
TAKE OILERS (-130).
Puck line/Against the spread
No interest in the puck line here, but I will take LW ZACH HYMAN OVER 3.5 SHOTS (+115). He has 4+ SOG in 3 of his last 4 games.
Over/Under
This total is too high, but they have the arsenal in order to hit it. These teams will play one another tightly. The last time they met, it was a 2-1 finish. Colorado is 3-6-1 O/U over the last 10, and Edmonton is 3-7.
All signs point to go UNDER 7 (-130).
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Ryan Dodson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
