NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Avalanche vs Oilers (Friday, April 5)
(Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) Pictured: Connor McDavid #97 and Nathan MacKinnon #29.
Avalanche vs. Oilers Odds
| Avalanche Odds | +106 |
| Oilers Odds | -128 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 -128o / +104u |
Here's everything you need to know about the Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers on Friday, April 5 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
Colorado is riding a pretty hot streak, to the surprise of no one. The Avalanche came out on top against the Wild on Thursday night and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Not only that, but they are in a heated race for supremacy in the Central Division.
The Oilers felt the heat Wednesday, getting mauled 5-0 by the Stars. Tonight, they’ll look to avoid losing their third game in a row. Either way, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more powerful team than Edmonton.
Let's break down this matchup in our Avalanche vs. Oilers preview and pick.
Yet again, the “Big 3” in Colorado is tearing the league apart. Nathan MacKinnon is an MVP candidate with a second-best 127 points, and Mikko Rantanen registered his second straight 100-point season. Defenseman Cale Makar is a Norris Trophy favorite as well, averaging well over a point per game.
Over the course of two weeks, the Avs have played to the second-best 5-on-5 offense with a 58.58 xGF%. Along with that, they’ve had a strong defense with a 2.68 xGA/60.
Colorado’s special teams are also elite in the past 10 games. Its scoring on the power play at a 25% clip, and the penalty kill is at a staggering 96%.
Alexandar Georgiev is the main guy in the crease, but he hasn’t been very good all year. Colorado has had a top-five defense all season, but Georgiev has not been what the Avs have hoped. He’s played to an .878 SV% over the past five starts, and a 6.8 goals saved above expected (GSAx).
The marvel that is Connor McDavid continues to dazzle. He’s registered 20 points in his last 10 games and is on pace to be the first player with 100 assists since Wayne Gretzky in 1991. Leon Draisaitl is also on a tear and on pace to have his third straight 100-point season.
Beyond the two stars, Zach Hyman is having a wonderful season with a career-high 52 goals. Not only that, defenseman Evan Bouchard is averaging over a point per game.
With this team, 5-on-5 offense is always pure domination. Since March 18, Edmonton has played to a 58.3 xGF% and defensively has held its own with a 2.84 xGA/60.
Some things never change, as the Oilers have a spectacular power play, scoring at a 29% clip in the past 10 games. The penalty kill has always been a struggle, as they’ve succeeded 77% of the time.
Goaltending is currently a bit of a pain point for the Oilers. Expect Stuart Skinner to get between the pipes, but he’s been reeking of inconsistency. Over his past five starts, Skinners is playing to an .885 SV%, and for the season he has a 4.1 GSAx.
Avalanche vs. Oilers
Betting Pick & Prediction
The last time these two teams squared off it was a 3-2 overtime win for the Avalanche.
However, as mentioned, these two teams have a propensity to put the puck in the net. Not just that, but they have two very streaker netminders. While defensively they both can hold their own, sometimes the firepower can be too much.
Each are in the top five in goals scored, and both goaltenders are playing to a sub .900 SV% over the past five games. It seems like the perfect storm to have a high-scoring game.
Pick: Over 6.5 (-128)
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