Oilers vs. Canucks Recap: 16-Goal Track Meet Cashes the Over

The Edmonton Oilers beat the Vancouver Canucks 9-7 in regulation, a 16-goal game that swung from a blowout to a scramble. Edmonton led 5-0 just 27 seconds into the 2nd and 8-2 after two shorthanded goals 34 seconds apart midway through that period. Vancouver answered with four straight goals, from the final second of the 2nd through 7:37 of the 3rd, to make it 8-6 before Leon Draisaitl's power-play goal restored the cushion. Edmonton outshot Vancouver 31-22, and both starting goalies had a rough night. Two DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

ALT: Over 4.5 total goals (alt): CASHED - Our read: Tuesday's meeting between these teams was a 6-5 Vancouver win in overtime, and the Canucks allowed a league-worst 3.83 goals a game last season. Kevin Lankinen saved .875, and Edmonton had not confirmed its starter. We liked goals. - What happened: 16 total goals, 11.5 over the line. The over was home at 0:27 of the 2nd, when Draisaitl made it 5-0, and the Oilers had eight by 8:23 of that period. Devon Levi made 15 saves on 22 shots for Edmonton. Lankinen allowed 8 goals in 28:23 before Leevi Merilainen took over and stopped 10 of 11. - Worth watching: An alt total this far under the main number only pays at a heavy price, so it is a ladder piece, not a standalone bet. When a starter is unconfirmed and the last meeting was high scoring, the low alt over is worth a look again at the right price.

Elias Pettersson under 2.5 shots on goal (-160 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Pettersson averaged 1.78 shots a game last season and stayed at 2 or fewer in 74% of 74 games. He was set to center DeBrusk and Lekkerimaki in the home opener. - What happened: 2 shots on goal in 17:36 (3:24 on the power play), under by 0.5. He still had a big night on the sheet: 1 goal, 2 assists and 8 hits. His goal was a power-play slap shot at 7:37 of the 3rd, and he set up Arshdeep Bains at 19:59 of the 2nd and Jamie Oleksiak at 18:31 of the 3rd. - Worth watching: Three points on two shots is the profile behind this angle. He can drive offense without shooting much, so his shot total can stay low even on a night his team scores 7. Our pregame number was pass past -170, so the price matters.

How the game played out

The 1st and the start of the 2nd decided it. Edmonton scored four times in the 1st, opening with a Vasily Podkolzin power-play goal at 9:26, then added Draisaitl at 0:27 of the 2nd. The swing came on the penalty kill: Connor McDavid scored shorthanded at 7:49 and Kasperi Kapanen did it again at 8:23 for an 8-2 lead. After Lankinen was replaced, Vancouver pushed all the way back to 8-6, but Draisaitl's power-play goal at 9:26 of the 3rd stopped the run.

Trends to watch

• McDavid had 1 goal and 4 assists in 22:03, including 4:39 on the power play and 2:11 shorthanded. He touched five of Edmonton's nine goals.
• Special teams were loud on both sides. Edmonton had 2 power-play goals on 5 chances and scored twice shorthanded. Vancouver had 1 power-play goal on 3 chances.
• Goalie workload is the story for totals. Levi stopped 15 of 22, and Lankinen and Merilainen combined to allow 9 on 31 Edmonton shots.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. More on the board at /nhl, past games at /recaps/nhl, and how alt totals work at alt lines.