NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Oilers vs Ducks
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images). Pictured: Connor McDavid.
Oilers vs. Ducks Odds
| Oilers Odds | -310 |
| Ducks Odds | +245 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 -114o / -106u |
Here's everything you need to know about the Edmonton Oilers vs. Anaheim Ducks on Friday, February 9 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
After their 16-game winning streak came to an end Tuesday in Vegas, the Oilers will continue their Pacific Division road trip with visits to Anaheim and Los Angeles this weekend.
The matchup against the Ducks is part of a three-game NHL slate Friday, and will mark the third meeting of the year between the two sides. So far, Edmonton has had no trouble coming out on top, winning 8-2 on home ice in late November and 7-2 at Honda Center on New Year's Eve. Friday may not bring another blowout, but the Oilers should be motivated to get themselves back on track ahead of a big game against the Kings on Saturday night.
Let's get to our Oilers vs. Ducks preview and prediction.
As you've probably heard, the Oilers fell one game shy of tying the NHL's all-time record for consecutive wins when they lost in Vegas on Tuesday.
And while Lady Luck probably smiled on the Oilers a time or two during the winning streak, they may have deserved a better fate in Vegas, where they controlled nearly 60% of expected goals and got trumped by a hot goaltender.
Throughout the streak, Edmonton was steady on offense and strong on the power play. The more noteworthy elements of the Oilers' game were an efficient penalty kill — now up to 83.2% for the year — and a commitment to defense that saw them give up two goals or less for 14 straight games before William Karlsson hit the empty net in Vegas on Tuesday.
Edmonton is now the top team in the league in 5-on-5 expected goals share at 57.36%. And despite its woes in net early on, it's now up to a respectable 5-on-5 team save percentage of .9123.
With the Oilers playing back-to-back games in Southern California this weekend, Calvin Pickard will get the nod in net in Anaheim. The 31-year-old has been solid since his recall from Bakersfield, with a .915 save percentage and 1.7 goals saved above expected.
Friday's game will be Anaheim's first since the All-Star Break. The Ducks were playing well before the pause, collecting seven of a possible eight points while averaging better than three goals per game — prolific output, by their standards.
And that's with some pretty significant injuries. Up front, Trevor Zegras and Max Jones remain on the sidelines, and while Alex Killorn skated before practice on Thursday, he's still some distance away from returning. Impressive rookie defenseman Pavel Mintyukov took part in main practice, less than four weeks after suffering a separated shoulder that was given a six-week timeline for healing.
Most of the Ducks' stats are near the bottom of the league rankings. One bright spot is 5-on-5 team save percentage, which is in the middle of the pack at .9115 and just slightly below Edmonton's. John Gibson has been seeing most of the action, so he should be back between the pipes Friday. Gibson's save percentage is .901 but he's now up to 5.6 goals saved above expected for the year.
Oilers vs. Ducks
Betting Pick & Prediction
The frustration among the players was palpable after the Oilers' loss to the Golden Knights. The question for bettors: Was that a one-off or the beginning of some regression in a sport that's rife with randomness?
Like many teams that are finding their way, the Ducks are very streaky. It's hard to know if their good results from before the All-Star Break can carry over to this new section of the schedule. Will the time off have left the team refreshed, or rusty?
The one thing we do know is the Ducks' two losses to the Oilers earlier this season were among their most lopsided of the year. And while a -275 moneyline for an Oilers win doesn't deliver enough value to warrant a play, a puckline bet at -110 for a win by two goals or more seems achievable — and offers a decent potential payout.
Look for Edmonton to get another streak started against a team that it has matched up extremely well against this season.
Pick: Oilers -1.5 (-110 at DraftKings; play down to -125)
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