The Edmonton Oilers have looked like a completely different club under Ken Hitchcock, as the Oil have gone 7-2-1 SU since Hitchcock took over head coaching duties from Todd McLellan on November 20. Connor McDavid and company will look to keep the momentum rolling in Colorado on Tuesday, where sportsbooks opened the Avalanche as -150 home favorites with a total of 6.
- The total has gone OVER in three of the Oilers’ last four games on the road vs the Avalanche.
- The Avalanche are 41-16 ATS in their last 57 games at home.
- The Oilers are 0-8 SU in their last eight games on a three-game SU winning streak.
Oilers vs Avalanche Game Center
Oilers continue to win close games
Even more impressive about the Oilers’ transformation under Hitchcock is their ability to win tight games, as Edmonton is 6-0-1 in one-goal contests with the new bench boss in place. The power play could use some work, however, evidenced by the Oilers going 0-for-17 with the man advantage in their past five games. On the flip side, the Avalanche have killed only seven of 11 penalties in their past three tilts.
Colorado is set to play five of its next six at home after a disappointing 7-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday capped a 2-2-0 road trip. The Avalanche took the first of three meetings this season thanks to a 4-1 victory in Alberta on November 11, which started a 10-2-2 run that launched them to the top of the Central Division standings. After recording seven goals and 15 points in his first eight games against the Avalanche, McDavid was held off the scoresheet vs Colorado in that game.
Avs have been a fantastic puckline wager in the Mile High City
When the Avalanche and Oilers get together, high-scoring affairs tend to follow. In the past four meetings between the clubs, the OVER is 3-1. Bettors will want to take that trend with a grain of salt, however, as the Oil have gone UNDER in six of their past seven games with an average combined score of 4.1 goals.
How good have the Avs been at covering the puckline at home? Dating back to last season, Colorado is now 41-16 on the puckline in its previous 57 games. Colorado is available at -1.5 at Sportsbook for a price of +185.
Oilers set to turn to Koskinen in net
Mikko Koskinen is expected to start in between the pipes for the Oilers. Koskinen (9-3-1, 2.06 goals-against average, .929 save percentage) has outplayed Cam Talbot in goal this season and looks to have earned the majority of the work in the crease going forward. Koskinen has fared much better at home compared to on the road, though, as he’s compiled a 6-0-0 record with a 0.91 GAA and .970 SV% at home compared to numbers of 3-3-1, 3.17 and .889 in seven road contests this year.
