Golden Knights vs Oilers Odds: NHL Preview, Prediction
Via Ethan Miller/Getty Images. Pictured: Connor McDavid skates with the puck against Jonathan Marchessault.
Golden Knights vs. Oilers Odds
| Golden Knights Odds | -110 |
| Oilers Odds | -110 |
| Over / Under | 6 -115 / -105 |
Here's everything you need to know about the Vegas Golden Knights vs Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, April 10 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
Vegas has lost two games in a row but, prior to that, the team was on an absolute tear by winning six out of seven. The Golden Knights are not safe in the playoff race, but they have a game in hand and are sitting five points ahead of the Blues for the final wild-card spot.
Fresh off clinching a playoff spot, the Oilers have won two games in a row and have gone 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. They also have two games in hand over the division-leading Canucks, so there’s plenty of time to catch up for the division title.
Find my Golden Knights vs. Oilers prediction and NHL betting preview below.
Reinforcements are showing up for Vegas. Tomas Hertl finally dressed in gold on Monday, and fellow trade acquisitions Anthony Mantha and Noah Hanifin are performing at a high level. Jonathan Marchessault also accomplished his first-ever 40-goal season, while Jack Eichel is averaging well over a point per game.
The Knights have played okay when it’s 5-on-5. Since March 25, they’re 15th in Expected Goals with a 51.29 xGF%, and defensively they are seventh with a 2.92 xGA/60.
Vegas’ power play has been inept in the past 10 games, scoring at only a 14% clip. Luckily the Penalty Kill is working well at 81%.
With Adin Hill still out with injury, expect to see Logan Thompson between the pipes. In the past two games, Thompson didn’t play very well, but prior to that, he was enjoying the best stretch of the season with a .944 SV% over seven games. However, he has shown a ton of inconsistency this season, so he may be in the middle of another down period.
For the first time since 1990, we may see a player reach 100 assists in a season. Connor McDavid continues to blaze trails in this league, and his partner Leon Draisaitl has posted another 40-goal season. Aside from the top two, Zach Hyman is enjoying his first-ever 50-goal season, and defenseman Evan Bouchard is netting a point per game.
Edmonton has played amazing 5-on-5 hockey, ranking fourth with a 59.57 xGF% over a three-week period. Defensively, it’s been just as good with a fourth-best 2.73 xGA/60.
The Oilers’ power play is usually dominant, and this recent 10-game stretch is no different. They’ve scored at a 27.8% clip, while the Penalty Kill has struggled mightily at 65%.
Stuart Skinner will probably start tonight since Cal Pickard started Edmonton’s most recent game. Skinner has had a similar season to his counterpart netminder in Thompson as he has also been riddled with inconsistency and played to a weak .889 SV% in his past five starts.
Golden Knights vs. Oilers
Betting Pick & Prediction
I think this game is pretty even, and the books seem to agree. We have two dynamic teams playing solid hockey, each with inconsistent netminding.
Edmonton still hasn’t forgotten Vegas knocking it out in the Western Conference Finals last year, and there may be motivation from the Oilers to make the Golden Knights’ lives more difficult.
While I think the Knights are going to be a major threat come playoff time, I don’t see them coming out on top tonight. This is a crucial time for them, and they have already dropped two in a row. The Oilers, on the other hand, are still hunting for that division title.
I’m going to back Edmonton tonight on the moneyline at -118.
Pick: Oilers (-118) | Play to -125
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