by Chuck Sommers
Sunday, Feb 19, 2023
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Where to watch: HULU, ESPN+, SN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Avalanche -120, Oilers +100
FanDuel: Avalanche -120, Oilers +100
BetMGM: Avalanche -120, Oilers +100
Caesars: Avalanche -120, Oilers +100
Season record
Oilers: 30-19-7
Avalanche: 30-19-5
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Oilers - Avalanche preview, prediction and analysis
The Edmonton Oilers will be playing the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, February 19 in Denver, Colorado.
The Edmonton Oilers lost against the New York Rangers last Friday, February 17 at Rogers Place in Edmonton with a score of 5-4 ending in a shootout. The Edmonton Oilers currently rank 4th in the Pacific Division.
Connor McDavid had two assists to surpass 100 points, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and assist, and Zach Hyman had two assists for the Oilers (30-19-7). Jack Campbell made 34 saves.
"[Campbell] played really well; it was disappointing," said McDavid, who is Edmonton's captain. "We had a 4-1 lead, but I didn't think it was a 4-1 game. I thought we did a lot of good things on the power play and capitalized on some chances, but it wasn't good enough."
Nugent-Hopkins gave Edmonton a 1-0 lead on the power play at 7:52 of the first period on a rebound in front after Hyman was stopped by Shesterkin. McDavid got an assist for his 100th point this season.
Tyson Barrie made it 2-0 at 12:11 on a shot from the slot off a centering pass from Mattias Janmark, and Derek Ryan scored 19 seconds later at 12:30 from the right face-off circle to give the Oilers a 3-0 lead.
Chris Kreider cut it to 3-1 on the power play at 13:36, tapping in a cross-crease pass from Mika Zibanejad. Leon Draisaitl made it 4-1 with a power-play goal at 18:27, converting a pass from McDavid.
New York managed to tie and won in overtime. Edmonton will try to bounce back Sunday at the Colorado Avalanche.
"We had a clear understanding that the team that came in was one of the hottest in the League and they have a lot of skill on their team, and we knew they weren't going to surrender," Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. "We were a little bit soft on the coverage on the third goal and then they scored a 5-on-3. It was disappointing that we didn't find the second point tonight."
The Edmonton Oilers have won five of their last 10 games.
The Colorado Avalanche won against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, February 18 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri with a score of 4-1. The Colorado Avalanche currently rank 3rd in the Central Division.
Bowen Byram scored twice, Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist, and Justus Annunen made 19 saves in his first start of the season for the Avalanche (30-19-5), who are 3-0-1 in their past four games and 10-2-2 in their past 14. Nathan MacKinnon, Samuel Girard and J.T. Compher each had two assists.
"It was a big game for us," Colorado forward Artturi Lehkonen said. "The first leg of the back to back, we wanted to keep that going, what we started in Minnesota (a 3-2 win Wednesday), got a big two points."
Rantanen's first goal in six games was also his 200th in the NHL, a one-timer from the right face-off circle that gave Colorado a 1-0 lead at 16:37 of the first period. Byram made it 2-0 at 7:37 of the second period, a shot from the left circle that rode up and off the stick of Blues defenseman Colton Parayko.
"It's part of what our identity is," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "Our [defensemen] have always been active participants in our offense. 'Bo's' obviously missed some time, but getting back up to speed, we're starting to see him contribute a little bit more."
Sammy Blais cut it to 2-1 at 15:28 of the second with his second goal since being acquired from the Rangers in the Tarasenko trade.
Valeri Nichushkin's power-play goal made it 3-1 at 2:56 of the third when he redirected a rebound from near the top of the crease. The play was reviewed for a kicking motion, but Nichushkin played it with his skate off his stick and deflected it past Binnington. Byram's one-timer from the right circle during a man-advantage made it 4-1 at 9:40 of the third period.
"It's been stale a little bit here recently," Bednar said of the power play. "I think it's trying to be too cute and looking for the perfect play. We just encouraged them after the second to shoot the puck, make sure your work ethic and competitiveness is where it needs to be and just getting more competitive, more simple, shoot it and go to the net."
The Colorado Avalanche have won six of their last 10 games.
Prediction
I'd normally think playing a second game of a back to back would be horrendous, but the Avs won and now return home. If Cale Makar is good to go, I'd expect a big day from the champs. Avalanche 4, Oilers 2
The Edmonton Oilers lost against the New York Rangers last Friday, February 17 at Rogers Place in Edmonton with a score of 5-4 ending in a shootout. The Edmonton Oilers currently rank 4th in the Pacific Division.
Connor McDavid had two assists to surpass 100 points, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and assist, and Zach Hyman had two assists for the Oilers (30-19-7). Jack Campbell made 34 saves.
"[Campbell] played really well; it was disappointing," said McDavid, who is Edmonton's captain. "We had a 4-1 lead, but I didn't think it was a 4-1 game. I thought we did a lot of good things on the power play and capitalized on some chances, but it wasn't good enough."
Nugent-Hopkins gave Edmonton a 1-0 lead on the power play at 7:52 of the first period on a rebound in front after Hyman was stopped by Shesterkin. McDavid got an assist for his 100th point this season.
Tyson Barrie made it 2-0 at 12:11 on a shot from the slot off a centering pass from Mattias Janmark, and Derek Ryan scored 19 seconds later at 12:30 from the right face-off circle to give the Oilers a 3-0 lead.
Chris Kreider cut it to 3-1 on the power play at 13:36, tapping in a cross-crease pass from Mika Zibanejad. Leon Draisaitl made it 4-1 with a power-play goal at 18:27, converting a pass from McDavid.
New York managed to tie and won in overtime. Edmonton will try to bounce back Sunday at the Colorado Avalanche.
"We had a clear understanding that the team that came in was one of the hottest in the League and they have a lot of skill on their team, and we knew they weren't going to surrender," Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. "We were a little bit soft on the coverage on the third goal and then they scored a 5-on-3. It was disappointing that we didn't find the second point tonight."
The Edmonton Oilers have won five of their last 10 games.
The Colorado Avalanche won against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, February 18 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri with a score of 4-1. The Colorado Avalanche currently rank 3rd in the Central Division.
Bowen Byram scored twice, Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist, and Justus Annunen made 19 saves in his first start of the season for the Avalanche (30-19-5), who are 3-0-1 in their past four games and 10-2-2 in their past 14. Nathan MacKinnon, Samuel Girard and J.T. Compher each had two assists.
"It was a big game for us," Colorado forward Artturi Lehkonen said. "The first leg of the back to back, we wanted to keep that going, what we started in Minnesota (a 3-2 win Wednesday), got a big two points."
Rantanen's first goal in six games was also his 200th in the NHL, a one-timer from the right face-off circle that gave Colorado a 1-0 lead at 16:37 of the first period. Byram made it 2-0 at 7:37 of the second period, a shot from the left circle that rode up and off the stick of Blues defenseman Colton Parayko.
"It's part of what our identity is," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "Our [defensemen] have always been active participants in our offense. 'Bo's' obviously missed some time, but getting back up to speed, we're starting to see him contribute a little bit more."
Sammy Blais cut it to 2-1 at 15:28 of the second with his second goal since being acquired from the Rangers in the Tarasenko trade.
Valeri Nichushkin's power-play goal made it 3-1 at 2:56 of the third when he redirected a rebound from near the top of the crease. The play was reviewed for a kicking motion, but Nichushkin played it with his skate off his stick and deflected it past Binnington. Byram's one-timer from the right circle during a man-advantage made it 4-1 at 9:40 of the third period.
"It's been stale a little bit here recently," Bednar said of the power play. "I think it's trying to be too cute and looking for the perfect play. We just encouraged them after the second to shoot the puck, make sure your work ethic and competitiveness is where it needs to be and just getting more competitive, more simple, shoot it and go to the net."
The Colorado Avalanche have won six of their last 10 games.
Prediction
I'd normally think playing a second game of a back to back would be horrendous, but the Avs won and now return home. If Cale Makar is good to go, I'd expect a big day from the champs. Avalanche 4, Oilers 2
Betting trends
Oilers have lost last five in Colorado.
Favorite is 10-1 in the last 11 meetings.
The under is 5-1-1 in the Avalanche's last seven against the Pacific Division.
Projected lines
Oilers:
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Connor McDavid -- Zach Hyman
Evander Kane -- Leon Draisaitl -- Kailer Yamamoto
Mattias Janmark -- Ryan McLeod -- Warren Foegele
Devin Shore -- Derek Ryan -- Jesse Puljujarvi
Darnell Nurse -- Cody Ceci
Brett Kulak -- Tyson Barrie
Philip Broberg -- Evan Bouchard
Stuart Skinner
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Connor McDavid -- Zach Hyman
Evander Kane -- Leon Draisaitl -- Kailer Yamamoto
Mattias Janmark -- Ryan McLeod -- Warren Foegele
Devin Shore -- Derek Ryan -- Jesse Puljujarvi
Darnell Nurse -- Cody Ceci
Brett Kulak -- Tyson Barrie
Philip Broberg -- Evan Bouchard
Stuart Skinner
Avalanche:
Artturi Lehkonen -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Valeri Nichushkin
Evan Rodrigues -- J.T. Compher -- Mikko Rantanen
Andrew Cogliano -- Alex Newhook -- Logan O'Connor
Matt Nieto -- Ben Meyers -- Denis Malgin
Cale Makar -- Devon Toews
Josh Manson -- Bowen Byram
Samuel Girard -- Andreas Englund -- Kurtis MacDermid
Alexandar Georgiev
Artturi Lehkonen -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Valeri Nichushkin
Evan Rodrigues -- J.T. Compher -- Mikko Rantanen
Andrew Cogliano -- Alex Newhook -- Logan O'Connor
Matt Nieto -- Ben Meyers -- Denis Malgin
Cale Makar -- Devon Toews
Josh Manson -- Bowen Byram
Samuel Girard -- Andreas Englund -- Kurtis MacDermid
Alexandar Georgiev
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
