Edmonton Oilers vs. Arizona Coyotes Game Preview

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A pair of clubs that have disappointed this season, the Edmonton Oilers and the Arizona Coyotes face off at Gila River Arena in a divisional showdown. The matchup gets underway at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, January 12, and you will be able to witness it live on Fox Arizona Plus.

Edmonton Oilers vs. Arizona Coyotes Odds

Edmonton is 18-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 44 regular season contests, 23 of its games have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just one has pushed. As a road team in 2017-18, the Oilers are 9-13 SU.

Edmonton has converted on just 16.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 32nd overall, and the teams successfully killed off only 71.4 percent of its penalties.

For the team as a whole, the Oilers have been penalized 3.8 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 2.8 per game over its last ten matchups. The teams been forced to kill penalties just 6.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

With a .902 save percentage and 26.5 saves per game, Cam Talbot (15-19-2) has been the top option in goal for Edmonton this year. If head coach Todd Mclellan chooses to rest him, however, Edmonton might roll with Laurent Brossoit (3-10-1), who has a .886 save percentage and 3.22 goals against average this year.

The visiting Oilers have relied on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl heavily this year. McDavid has 48 points on 15 goals and 33 assists, and has recorded multiple points 12 times. Draisaitl has 11 goals and 23 assists to his creditand has registered a point in 22 games.

On the other side of the rink, Arizona is 10-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 20.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 24 of its outings have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 5-15 SU as the home team this season.

The Coyotes have converted on just 16.8 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.9 percent of all penalties.

Coyotes players have been penalized only 3.1 times per game in total this season, and 1.8 per game over their last five games. The teams had to kill penalties just 3.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.

Antti Raanta (25.5 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for the Coyotes. Raanta has six wins, 16 losses, and three OT losses and has registered a pedestrian 2.71 goals against average and a .917 save percentage this season.

Clayton Keller (14 goals, 18 assists) will lead the attack for the Coyotes.

Edmonton Oilers vs. Arizona Coyotes Free Picks

Predictions: SU Winner – Oilers, O/U – Over

Betting Trends

  • Arizona is 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Edmonton is 1-1 in shootouts.
  • The total has gone under in three of Arizona’s last five games.
  • The Oilers have averaged the leagues third-most shots on goal (34.4) while Arizona has attempted just the 26th-most (30.1).
  • Over Edmonton’s last ten games, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
  • This game features two of the more physical defenses in the league. Edmonton skaters have accounted for the second-most hits in the league (26.7 per game) and the Coyotes have registered the fifth-most (24.1).