Oilers vs Golden Knights Odds, Picks and Predictions – Vegas Listed as Home Favorite in Friday NHL Odds

• The Oilers and Golden Knights meet in what should be an entertaining game Friday night starting at 10pm ET
• Robin Lehner is projected to start against Stuart Skinner in this Pacific Division clash
• Read below for the NHL odds, game preview, and betting pick

The Edmonton Oilers travel north to Las Vegas as the two Pacific Division heavyweights clash for the first time this season. The game will be played on Friday, October 22nd (10pm ET) at T-Mobile Arena and will be broadcast on SN1 and SportsNetRM.

Vegas is listed as slight -135 home favorites in the NHL odds to win their second game of the season. Meanwhile, the Oilers vs Golden Knights odds indicate Vegas as +1.5 at -200 on the NHL betting line.

Will the Vegas Golden Knights get the win or can Edmonton find a way to glory?

Oilers vs Golden Knights Odds 

Odds as of October 21st at DraftKings

Mike Smith Injury Hurts Division Rivalry

NHL odds and numbers shifted a little when upon news that Edmonton goalie Mike Smith injured his leg. He was placed on the Injured Reserve list. That means Smith cannot return for at least a week. It will be intriguing to see how fast Smith does recover. He is approaching 40, after all. That birthday comes in March.

Coach Tipp notes that the plan is for Mike Smith to take a couple days off before returning to on-ice training on Monday. #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/a3uZc3QDpm

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 21, 2021

The injury appeared to be more serious but hearing the words training and not therapy or surgery is encouraging. Smith was a top contender in the Vezina Trophy odds. For now, Edmonton will rely on backup Mikko Koskinen, who won in relief against the Anaheim Ducks.

Koskinen should get a couple of starts before Smith can return. Even with the good news, that makes little difference in the NHL odds at this juncture.

Golden Knights Odds and Goaltender Analysis

In the early going, there are some questions about what their Stanley Cup Odds should be.  This is a team that advanced to the Stanley Cup Final three years ago. Last year, they battled all sorts of scoring demons, got to the Stanley Cup Semifinal then lost to Montreal in six games. It was the series that got away. Vegas had so many chances but could not get that needed goal.

Vegas has not gotten off to a very good start as they are just 1-2 on the season. Worse, Robin Lehner does not have the form that he did at times the last couple of seasons. He has a 3.40 goals-against-average and a .909 save percentage. With Marc-Andre Fleury now in Chicago, Laurent Brossoit is the backup.

🎥 DeBoer: It's the first team to three, usually. We've got to find three goals a night some way some how. pic.twitter.com/mBOsbcjNxf

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) October 21, 2021

Are the Golden Knights going to improve? That is a great question. Again, the defense and particularly goaltending feeds off players like Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty. Players like Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore have to step up and take command. Can they do it? They need to if Vegas is to get back above .500 and then work on moving up the Pacific Division standings.

 Oilers vs Golden Knights Recent Results

Oilers vs Golden Knights Pick and Prediction

Vegas looks reasonable on Saturday night, but NHL betting lines have 43% of the betting percentage on Golden Knights so far (Vegas is 53% on the ML and 53% on the PL). Vegas is missing Pacioretty and Stone. That makes things difficult.

For Vegas, the key will be to establish their strength and physical play. Chandler Stephenson will be vital in his role as he mostly plays on the first line and Vegas needs his brute strength to fight off some of the opposition at the right possible time. If the Golden Knights can keep their turnovers down and find the back of the net three times, they should be just fine.

Pick: Golden Knights Moneyline (+135)