The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers meet Tuesday on the opening night of the 2026-27 NHL season. Puck drop from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada, is set for 10 p.m. ET. Let's analyze NHL odds around the Canucks vs. Oilers odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2025-26 season series: Oilers won 3-1, with a split in Vancouver
The Canucks struggled last season, finishing 25-49-8 with 58 points and missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs. C Elias Pettersson led Vancouver with 51 points, while LW Jake DeBrusk scored a team-high 23 goals and D Filip Hronek added 49 points from the blue line. The Canucks made a major move during the season, trading Quinn Hughes to Minnesota in a package that brought back C Marco Rossi, LW Liam Öhgren and D Zeev
Buium.
Vancouver continued reshaping its roster during the offseason, adding veterans RW Brendan Gallagher, D Jamie Oleksiak, D Luke Schenn and RW Paul Cotter while D Marcus Pettersson, LW Nils Höglander and C Teddy Blueger departed.
The Oilers finished 41-30-11 with 93 points, placing second in the Pacific Division before losing to the Anaheim Ducks in 6 games in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. C Connor McDavid led the NHL with 138 points, including 48 goals, while C Leon Draisaitl added 97 points in 65 games and D Evan Bouchard finished with 95.
Edmonton made several changes during the offseason, adding goaltenders Frederik Andersen (out with a knee injury) and Devon Levi, defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin and RW Mathieu Joseph. Longtime defenseman Darnell Nurse was traded to the San Jose Sharks, with G Calvin Pickard and C Jack Roslovic among the other notable departures.
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Canucks at Oilers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:48 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Canucks +230 (bet $100 to win $230) | Oilers -295 (bet $295 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Canucks +1.5 (+100) | Oilers -1.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Canucks at Oilers projected goalies
Kevin Lankinen (11-27-5, 3.70 GAA, .875 SV%) vs. Tristan Jarry (18-9-3, 3.32 GAA, .882 SV%, 2 SO)
Lankinen struggled to find consistency during the 2025-26 season as Vancouver endured a difficult year overall. He faced a heavy workload behind a Canucks team that regularly gave up quality scoring chances, and his performance dropped considerably from his strong first season in Vancouver.
Jarry had an uneven 2025-26 season, splitting time between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton before finishing the year with the Oilers. He continued to battle consistency issues in net and made just 1 postseason start, taking an overtime loss against Anaheim in the first round.
Canucks at Oilers picks and predictions
Prediction
Oilers 6, Canucks 2
Moneyline
PASS.
Edmonton (-295) is the clear favorite, but the steep price offers no value and requires far too much risk for a modest return.
Puck line/Against the spread
BET OILERS -1.5 (-120).
If you want to back Edmonton without paying the heavy moneyline price, the puck line provides a much more reasonable option. In fact, consider Oilers -2.5 (+125). The Oilers enter the season among the Stanley Cup contenders, while Vancouver faces considerably lower expectations after finishing at the bottom of the Pacific Division last year. Edmonton also has a significant offensive advantage and with C Thatcher Demko sidelined, the Canucks will be vulnerable in net against an Oilers team that can flat out score. Edmonton has the firepower to take control early and create some separation.
Over/Under
BET OVER 6.5 (-115).
Edmonton’s offense should have an immediate advantage Tuesday against a vulnerable Vancouver defense. The Oilers scored 6 goals twice against the Canucks last season.
Vancouver will also be without Demko, leaving Lankinen in net after a difficult 2025-26 season. Facing McDavid, Draisaitl and an Edmonton offense that can pile up goals quickly is hardly an ideal opening assignment. Vancouver should be capable of adding some offense of its own, especially with both teams playing their first meaningful game of the season.
Best prop bet
Oilers CONNOR MCDAVID ANYTIME GOAL SCORER (+115).
McDavid draws an excellent opening-night matchup against a Vancouver defense that allowed an NHL-high 314 goals last season. McDavid finished with 48 goals and 138 points and will skate alongside Draisaitl on Edmonton’s top line, giving Vancouver plenty to worry about from the opening faceoff. Although he failed to score in 4 games against the Canucks last season (he had 7 assists), he does have 24 goals in 51 career games vs. Vancouver.
The special teams matchup is also favorable, as the Canucks finished with a league-worst 71.5% penalty kill while Edmonton converted 30.6% of its power-play opportunities. McDavid should have no shortage of quality scoring chances Tuesday.
Betting odds calculator
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers odds, picks and predictions
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