NHL Betting: Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers

Mar 20, 2008 | By Scott Burgess | Picks Articles Archive

The newly rejuvenated Edmonton Oilers are looking to crawl up the Western Playoff Standings with a win over the Vancouver Canucks on home ice. The Canucks are already on the inside while the Oilers sit outside looking in. BetUS.com has the Canucks as 125-moneyline favs over the Oilers with the over/under set at 5. Get your NHL Pick in now at BetUS.com

GAME: (37-32-2-3)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, March 20 - 9:00 PM EST
LINE: BetUS.com TOTAL: 5
PICK: Over 5

The Oilers are riding a three game winning streak and they’ve won eight of their last ten to get a sniff of a playoff chance. The Oilers have gone 10-2-0 SU to move to 10th place - one point behind Nashville and five back of Vancouver, Calgary and Colorado - three teams tied for sixth in the West. The Oil recently beat Phoenix 8-4 at home. Rookie Sam Gagner added a goal and two assists, while Dwayne Roloson turned aside 26 shots in his third straight start for Edmonton, which scored eight goals for the first time since 2003. They’ve averaged 3.80 GAG in their last five and their power play is red hot with ten goals in seven games or 27 tries. However their penalty kill has allowed a goal in six games straight. Goalie Dwayne Roloson has given up 3.00 GAG in his last five and overall he’s 11-14-1-3 with a 3.07 GAA and a .902 SVPCT.

The Canucks just went two for two on their last road trip and they’ve recorded back to back wins. They recently beat Phoenix 3-1 at home. Since their recent lack of scoring coach has opted to split up the Sedins, which proved to be successful. Henrik Sedin scored two goals, and twin brother Daniel Sedin assisted on both to give the Canucks a home victory. Tonight they’ve decided to call up the tough guys to install some grit into the Canucks lineup. "We're going to ice a lineup that can take care of itself and go in there and play a hard game," Vigneault said. Canucks are 1-3 SU against the Oilers.The Canucks have averaged 2.00 GAG in their last five and their power play has three goals in two games or eight tries. On defense they’ve given up three goals on the penalty kill in four games or 17 kills. Goalie Roberto Luongo has three wins in his last five starts for a 2.20 GAA. Overall he’s 33-22-1-8 with a 2.25 GAA and a .922 SVPCT. He’s 3-0-2 with a shutout and a 1.74 GAA in five starts against the Oilers in 2007-08.They are in a three-way tie in the Northwest Standings with Colorado, Calgary. They sit 3pts behind first place Minnesota. The Canucks are 17-15-0-5 away from home.

Recent Trends

Home team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Canucks are 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
Over is 4-0 in Oilers last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Over is 6-0 in Oilers last 6 home games.
Over is 6-0-1 in Oilers last 7 Thursday games.
Over is 9-1 in Oilers last 10 games following a win.

The Bottom Line: It’s going to be a rough and dirty game with lots of goals, but for whom? Play it safe and go for OVER 5 goals. Get your NHL Pick in now at BetUS.com

NHL Betting: Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers

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