The Vancouver Canucks visit the Edmonton Oilers to open the 2020-21 NHL regular season Wednesday for a 10 p.m. ET puck drop at Rogers Place. Below, we analyze the Canucks-Oilers NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Canucks at Oilers: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:57 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Canucks +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Oilers -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Canucks +1.5 (-275) | Oilers -1.5 (+220)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Canucks at Oilers: Projected starting goalies
Braden Holtby (25-14-6, .897 SV%, 3.11 GAA) at Mikko Koskinen (18-3-3, .917 SV%, 2.75 GAA)
Holtby joins the Canucks this season, and he will likely be in a timeshare with up-and-comer G Thatcher Demko. The veteran Holtby won a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2019. He faced the Oilers just once last season, suffering an overtime defeat in Edmonton Oct. 24, 2019, stopping 36 of 40 shots. Both C Leon Draisaitl (2 G, 1 A) and C Connor McDavid (1 G, 2 A) had three points against him in that one, including Draisaitl’s OT winner, which was assisted by McDavid.
Koskinen figures to draw the starting nod for the home side. The 32-year-old Finnish backstop had mixed results against the Canucks last season, going 1-1-0 with a 2.54 GAA and .915 SV%. He was actually better on the road last season, going 9-6-3 with a 3.26 GAA and .903 SV% in 19 appearances at Rogers Place, and 9-7-0 record, 2.23 GAA and .932 SV% in 19 appearances on the road.
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Canucks at Oilers: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Oilers 4, Canucks 2
Money line (ML)
The OILERS (-115) are the play at home, as the Canucks begin life with Holtby taking over for the departed Jacob Markstrom (now with the Calgary Flames). It actually might be a bit of a downgrade at the position with Holtby getting a little long in the tooth. The Canucks haven’t had a lot of success in Edmonton either, going 2-6 in the past eight trips, and Holtby is unlikely to help turn that around.
Against the spread (ATS)
The lean is to the Oilers -1.5 (+220) as doubling up and then some is awfully tempting. But I tend to wait a few weeks and get some current season data before playing puck lines. I’d say PASS officially, but I don’t hate Edmonton laying the goal and a half.
Over/Under (O/U)
The O/U line of 6 is likely to be right on the number. If you go by series trends, the lean is to the Under. The Under is 6-1-3 in the previous 10 meetings, and 3-1-1 in the past five in Edmonton. That’s the bet if you want to play the total here, but I’d AVOID.
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