Oilers vs Canucks Odds
| Oilers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +146 | 6.5 -130o / +106u | -154 |
| Canucks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -178 | 6.5 -130o / +106u | +128 |
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The opening of the 2023-24 NHL season continues on Wednesday evening as the Vancouver Canucks host the Edmonton Oilers in a Pacific Division tilt.
Despite the offensive talent on each side, the under is 6-1-1 over the past eight meetings between these two clubs.
Will that trend continue on Wednesday, or will the Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl combination be too much for Thatcher Demko and company?
Here's a look at the odds, as well as my Oilers vs. Canucks betting pick and prediction.
Edmonton Oilers
We know what we are going to get from McDavid and Draisaitl. Those two are virtually unstoppable, especially once they get on the power play.
Consequently, the Oilers are a popular pick for a Cup run, especially because of their blue-line play that has finally improved.
At 5-on-5 last season, Edmonton ranked 12th in the league in Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (xGA/60). The addition of Mattias Ekholm helped (even though he is questionable for opening night), but this improvement is a product of everyone marginally improving their play as defense was such a key focus of improvement entering last year.
Goaltender Stuart Skinner backs up this stingier defense, and he was a Calder Trophy candidate last season due to his terrific play in net. Through 50 appearances between the pipes, he produced a .914 save percentage (SV%) and finished 12th among starting netminders in Goals Saved Above Expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60) at 5-on-5.
He will have some competition in the crease this year with Jack Campbell also on the roster, but due to Skinner's efforts last season, we should expect him to start as the 1A.
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks were a different team after firing Bruce Boudreau and hiring Rick Tocchet behind the bench. After the change, Vancouver went 20-12-4.
That improvement can be attributed to better defensive play and penalty killing, which are two necessary components in slowing down the Oilers. Under Boudreau, the Canucks had a historically bad special teams unit that improved by approximately 10% under Tocchet.
Subsequently, we saw six or fewer total goals scored in 15 of Vancouver's final 25 games under Tocchet.
Demko's play in net also improved after an injury-riddled first half of the season. He returned in February and went 11-4-2 over his final 17 games of the season with a strong .918 SV%.
Entering this year healthy, I expect Demko to return to his normal ~.915 SV% form, which we saw when he returned to the crease last season.
Oilers vs Canucks
Betting Pick & Prediction
It's always a "hold your breath" affair when betting the under in a game with McDavid and Draisaitl. However, that improved penalty kill under Tocchet could limit their damage, which is how the Oilers score so many of their goals.
I also trust both Demko and Skinner to play well in net.
We've seen plenty of lower-scoring affairs between these two teams over the past few seasons with the under going 6-1-1 over the past eight meetings, so I'll take a shot here at plus-money for that trend to continue.
