NHL Hockey Betting: Edmonton Oilers at Arizona Coyotes

The Edmonton Oilers are in the midst of a very tight Pacific Division race. They’re currently tied with Anaheim for second place with 39 points and both teams are 2 back of the San Jose Sharks. The Oilers have the Calgary Flames 3 points back and the Los Angeles Kings 4 points back. So far, the Oilers have done a good job standing up to the pressure of being in playoff contention and have taken points in 8 of their last 10 games (5-2-3). They’ve got a great chance to do it again here as they take on the Arizona Coyotes. The Coyotes have the worst record in the NHL at 11-16-5 for 27 points and enter this contest on a 3-5-2 run having lost 2 straight.

Goalie Cam Talbot might not be a Vezina Trophy candidate but he has given the Oilers the first consistent play they’ve had in net in years. Talbot will bring a 16-10-4 record with a 2.52 goals against average, a 0.917 save percentage and 3 shutouts into tonight’s matchup. He’ll be opposed by Arizona’s veteran netminder Mike Smith who is having a fairly decent year playing for a bad team. Smith is 7-6-4 with a 2.65 goals against average and a 0.928 save percentage. He’s been much more effective than last year’s second half starter, Louis Dominque. Working in Arizona’s favor–they’re injury free with daily ‘casualty report’ completely empty for one of the first times this season.

Edmonton has won 3 of their last 4 with wins against Winnipeg and Tampa Bay at home and against St. Louis on the road. Their loss in that stretch was a 3-1 setback to the Columbus Blue Jackets who have won ten straight games. The Oilers are still losing games they should win but unlike last year they’re taking these games to overtime and earning a point in the process. That’s the maturation process of a young team. Arizona has dominated head to head play against the Oilers in recent years winning 11 of the last 12 meetings and 6 straight at Arizona. They’re 2-0 against the Oilers this year with a 3-2 win at home on 11/25 followed by a 2-1 win at Edmonton on 11/27. This looks like a spot where the oilers can reverse that trend.

BET EDMONTON OILERS -155 OVER ARIZONA COYOTES