A loaded 13-game Thursday NHL slate is capped off with the Edmonton Oilers facing the Colorado Avalanche.
The pregame narrative: Two of the hottest teams in the Western Conference duke it out in Denver in a primetime slot. I’m taking Connor McDavid to produce on the power play. I also have plays on Leon Draisaitl and Devon Toews.
Check out my Oilers vs. Avalanche prop picks for Jan. 16.
Oilers vs. Avalanche prop picks
Go to full NHL betting markets.
Best bet: Toews under 0.5 points (-159)
Toews has reached the 50-point mark in each of his last three seasons with Colorado. But he’s in jeopardy of hitting that mark this year.
The 30-year-old is on pace for just 40 points, which would be his lowest output since the 2020-2021 season.
Given the offensive prowess of linemate Cale Makar, it makes sense that Toews’ scoring has taken a hit. He’s still regarded as one of the strongest pure defencemen in the NHL, though, and his inclusion on Team Canada’s 4 Nations roster proves that.
In the past 13 games, Toews has gone pointless nine times but has a +12 rating and averages over 26 minutes of ice time.
Key stat: Toews has recorded just three points in nine games against the Oilers as a member of the Avalanche.
Quick picks
Draisaitl over 2.5 shots (-120): Get this number on Draisaitl while you still can.
The German has had three-plus shots in six of his last seven contests. And he’s missed the mark just four times in his last 17 games.
I suspect that Draisaitl’s shot prop will climb to 3.5 — or even 4.5 — in the next week or two.
Edmonton leads the NHL in shots per game (32.3) and has the eighth-best power play (25.0%), which creates more shooting opportunities for Draisaitl.
Colorado also allows the seventh-most shots per game (26.6).
McDavid over 0.5 power-play points (+130): I took this bet yesterday in Edmonton’s clash versus Minnesota, and I feel emboldened to go back to it tonight.
The Wild only took one penalty, but that’s all McDavid needed to bury a goal on the Oilers’ man advantage.
Colorado is the seventh-most penalized team in the league (6.9 minutes/game), and Edmonton’s power play has been lethal this season.
McDavid plays over three minutes per night on the man advantage and paces Oilers skaters with 19 power-play points.
Picks made at 4:10 p.m. ET on 01/16/2025.
