Two teams squaring off for the first time this year, the Colorado Avalanche and the Edmonton Oilers meet at Rogers Place in a Western Conference showdown. The puck drops at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 1, and you are able to catch it live on Sportsnet West.
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers Odds
Colorado is 27-22 straight up (SU) and has earned 9.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. 27 of its games have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Avs are 9-14 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Colorado has converted on 20.3 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the sixth-best penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 83.5 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Avs have been penalized 4.2 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, and 3.2 per game over its past five match ups. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .912 save percentage and 28.5 saves per game, Semyon Varlamov (14-12-2) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado this season. If Colorado chooses to rest him, however, they might roll with Jonathan Bernier (14-11-2 record, .917 save percentage, 2.67 goals against average).
The visiting Avalanche will be led by Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. MacKinnon (61 points) is up to 24 goals and 37 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 18 different games. Rantanen has 17 goals and 32 assists to his credit (and has logged at least one point in 30 games).
On the other side of the ice, Edmonton is 22-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 11.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. 25 of its contests have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 11-14 SU at home this season.
The Oilers have converted on just 14.5 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the bottom overall among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is also ranked 31st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 72.2 percent of all penalties.
Edmonton players have been penalized 4.0 times per game in total this season, and 5.0 per game over their last five games. The team has had to kill penalties a whopping 17.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Cam Talbot (26.0 saves per game) has been the top netminder in goal for the Oilers. Talbot has 19 wins, 20 losses, and two overtime losses to his name and has maintained a pedestrian 3.14 goals against average and a subpar .901 save percentage this year.
Connor McDavid (15 goals, 39 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the home team.
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers Free Picks
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Colorado is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Edmonton is 2-1 in shootouts.
- The over has hit in three of Edmonton’s last five outings.
- Colorado has managed 27.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Edmonton has been attempting 34.2 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Nine of Colorado’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 7-2 in those games.
- The Oilers this season have registered the second-most hits per game (26.9).
