Oilers vs Canucks NHL Line & Handicapping
Canucks Host Rival Canucks in pacific Division Battle
The Vancouver Canucks will try to keep their Hot December going Friday night when they take on the Edmonton Oilers – a team that has been playing better of late but is coming off a 4-2 home loss to the Boston Bruins Thursday night.
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Edmonton (11-19-2-1) at Vancouver (18-10-2-3)
When: 9:00 PM ET, Friday, December 13, 2013
Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
Oilers vs. Canucks Betting Lines
Edmonton Oilers +1½ -170 +181 Ov 5½ +105 Ov 2½ +115 Un 2½ -145
Vancouver Canucks -1½ +150 -200 Un 5½ -116 Ov 3½ +140 Un 3½ -170
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Vancouver is 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and are 5-0-0 in December while the Oilers are 5-4-1 in their last 10 and have looked much more competitive over that span. The Canucks won the only meeting of the season between the clubs – 6-2 on October 5.
Edmonton arrives in Vancouver Friday off a hard-fought loss against Boston in a game that they controlled for a good amount of time – they gave up three goals to the Bruins in a 10 minute span to end the first period but outshot Boston in the game 41-31.
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Offense hasn’t been the problem for the Oilers so far this season – defense has. The team is giving up a staggering 3.39 goals against – not nearly good enough to be competitive in this league. Last night it was Devan Dubnyk that let a soft goal in that may have cost the Oilers. Dubnyk is 1-1-0 with a .512 GAA and .848 save percentage in his last two starts meaning that Jason LaBarbera may get the start – and he was in the minors just a couple of weeks ago. LaBarbera is 4-1-1 with a 2.11 GAA in six career starts against Vancouver.
The Oilers average 2.70 goals per game – slightly better than the Vancouver Canucks. David Perron has been the hottest Oiler by far – five goals and nine points in the Oilers’ past five games, including both goals against the Bruins, Taylor Hall has seven points in four games, Jordan Eberle has three points in two games and Nial Yakupov has two points in two games. Jordan Eberle has seven goals and seven assists in 17 career games against Vancouver, while Taylor Hall has five goals and eight assists in his last 12 matchups. The young guns are producing but this game will come down to whether or not Edmonton can keep the puck out of their own net.
The Vancouver Canucks have won the first three on their current five game home stand and have given up a total of just three goals over that span – defense and goaltending have been the key to their recent success. Roberto Luongo is 3-0-0 with a 1.30 GAA and .960 save percentage in his last three starts while backup Eddie Lack is 2-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA and .968 save percentage in his last two. Luongo will start Friday looking to keep his HOT play going.
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Offensively, Vancouver continues to be middle of the pack – typical Tortarella! It has been the second and third liners that dominate Vancouver’s Hot List though – Chris Higgins has four points in two games, Mike Santorelli has three points in two games and a couple of defensemen have been chipping in in the offensive zone – Jason Garrison has six points in five games and an Hamhuis has two points in three. On the flip side, David Booth has zero points in five games and Kevin Bieksa hasn’t hit the score sheet in 11.
Henrik Sedin’s 72 career points against Edmonton are his most versus any opponent, and Daniel Sedin’s 33 goals against the Oilers are his most versus any other team. Current linemate Jannik Hansen has two goals and five assists in his last eight matchups with Edmonton, but he has only one goal and two assists in his past 10 games.
Dave’s FREE NHL Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• EDM are 13-46 in their last 59 vs. Pacific.
• EDM are 2-6 in their last 8 Fri. games.
• Under is 34-12-5 in EDM last 51 vs. Pacific.
• Under is 21-3-4 in VAN last 28 home games.
• Under is 33-16-9 in VAN last 58 overall.
• EDM are 5-16 in the last 21 meetings in Vancouver.
• EDM are 3-7 in the last 10 meetings.
The Vancouver Canucks are hot – everything seems to be going right for them at the present time. It has been total Vancouver domination on home ice. I can’t see that changing on Friday night. Defense and goaltending are likely to plague the Oilers again while Vancouver’s defense and goaltending will shine.
Pick: Vancouver Canucks -200
