Oilers vs Canucks Odds & Picks: Oilers Desperate To Make Up Lost Ground

After their catastrophic plummet down the Pacific Division standings, the Edmonton Oilers (19-16-2) are now level with the Vancouver Canucks (18-19-4) at 40 points. Vancouver’s defensive game has improved of late, which makes tonight’s Oilers vs Canucks prediction a close call. 

Oilers vs Canucks Odds & Analysis

Sportsbook Odds

The Oilers, who snapped a seven-game losing skid with a 5-3 triumph over Calgary on Saturday, opened as the favorites in this matchup and have maintained that position with -123 odds. Vancouver’s odds of +115 have barely moved but there has been a shift with the OVER now available at +102.

Get the best Oilers vs Canucks odds and lines available from our recommended sportsbooks for your favorite picks of the night. 

Oilers Looking For Two Straight Wins For First Time In Over A Month

Edmonton’s most recent win against its bitter provincial rival should serve as a massive morale boost for a team that hadn’t won since the calendar flipped to 2022 and has only three wins in its last 13 games.

The Oilers have some ground to make up in the Pacific standings but they trail the Flames and Sharks by only four points and have at least five games in hand on the Golden Knights, Ducks and Kings, who occupy the top three spots in the division.

An Oilers vs Canucks prediction has to take into account Edmonton’s absentees, a list that includes key performers Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Mike Smith and Tyson Barrie. Zack Kassian might be returning to the lineup after missing a game with an undisclosed illness.

Mikko Koskinen had a huge performance against the Flames, stopping 44 of 47 shots for the win. He will likely see fewer pucks Tuesday as Vancouver’s short-handed offense continues to struggle.

Solid Defensive Displays A Source Of Pride For Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks have been ravaged by COVID-19 in recent days. As things stand, Bo Horvat, J.T. Miller, Conor Garland, Thatcher Demko, Spencer Martin, Jaroslav Halak and Brandon Sutter are all on the COVID-19 protocol list.

It remains to be seen if any of those players will get cleared to play on Tuesday. Even if they do get cleared on short notice, their condition for the game may not be ideal. With the organization’s top three goaltenders on the depth chart set to miss this clash, Michael DiPietro may once again be handed the start.

The Canucks will have to dig deep defensively to protect the young netminder from Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. In their last 16 games, the Canucks have held their opponents to two or fewer goals 10 times and have given up more than three goals only three times.

With both teams missing key players, there’s no doubt those absences will play a part in determining the Oilers vs Canucks prediction.

Oilers vs Canucks Pick & Insights

Oilers: Keys To Victory 

Draisaitl and McDavid are always vital to this team’s success but the reliance on them is even greater when facing defensive teams like the Canucks. Barrie, Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins are huge losses as secondary scorers and will factor into the Oilers vs Canucks pick. Warren Foegele, now on the second line, must adapt and make space on the ice for Draisaitl to dominate. 

Canucks: Keys To Victory 

With such a lengthy list of absences, it’s difficult to execute a strict game plan but the Canucks have been playing well defensively and obviously will want to limit the damage McDavid and Draisaitl can do. The Oilers are missing key players as well and have been struggling for some time to get consistent production from other parts of the lineup. 

Odds Shark’s Computer Oilers vs Canucks Prediction: Canucks +115

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