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Pittsburgh Penguins vs Edmonton Oilers Picks and Predictions – Thursday, January 22, 2026
The Pittsburgh Penguins head to Rogers Place to take on the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night, with puck drop set for 9:00 PM on ESPN+. Pittsburgh comes in at 23-14-11 and sitting third in the Metro, while Edmonton is 25-18-8 and holding second in the Pacific. This is one of those cross-conference games where the points feel heavier than normal, especially with both teams trying to keep pace in tight divisional races.
Edmonton is priced like the better side at home, but the matchup is not clean. Pittsburgh has been playing confident hockey lately and has shown it can win away from home when the special teams show up. Edmonton’s ceiling is still higher, though, and their style tends to force opponents into the kind of game that creates chaos around the total.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Edmonton Oilers Odds
These are the current betting lines, and you’ll want to keep an eye on the latest NHL odds for any movement tied to goalie confirmation or late lineup news.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +141 | +1.5 | 6.5 |
| Edmonton Oilers | -193 | -1.5 | 6.5 |
Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Form
Pittsburgh’s recent form has been sharp, and the results are starting to match the underlying profile. When the Penguins are getting clean exits and turning those into controlled entries, they generate enough second-chance looks to keep the puck in the right end. That matters a lot against Edmonton because you cannot live in your own zone and expect to survive the Oilers’ pressure and power play.
The biggest betting swing for Pittsburgh is availability on the blue line. If key defensemen are out or limited, the Penguins can still compete, but it usually shows up in transition defense and in how often they take penalties while scrambling. Before you bet anything tied to Pittsburgh’s defensive hold, check Pittsburgh Penguins stats and results and track who is actually available at puck drop.
For injuries and scratches, use the linked Pittsburgh Penguins injury report to make sure you are pricing the roster correctly, especially if their top pair is still thinned out.
Edmonton Oilers Betting Form
Edmonton’s record is strong, and their offensive profile is still the reason. This team can score in bunches, and they do it in multiple ways: speed through the neutral zone, layered zone time, and a power play that changes the math on any game. When Edmonton is getting to the interior and drawing penalties, totals become fragile, because they do not need many chances to turn a 2-1 game into a 4-2 game.
Home ice matters more for Edmonton than most teams. The last change helps them chase matchups, and their top-end skill tends to create longer stretches where the opponent is forced into icings and tired shifts. If you’re looking for signals on whether Edmonton is in a “push pace” posture or playing a more controlled game, start with Edmonton Oilers schedule and stats and note how often their wins come with volume and special teams.
Injury news matters here too, especially if a top center is out, because it can change how Edmonton distributes minutes and how the power play looks. Keep the linked Edmonton Oilers injury report in your workflow before locking anything in.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Edmonton Oilers Matchup Breakdown
At 5v5, the game comes down to whether Pittsburgh can keep Edmonton from living in the slot. The Penguins can score, but their path to winning as an underdog is usually about limiting high-danger looks, staying out of the box, and letting their power play do real damage. That’s the most direct way to shorten the gap between these teams.
Special teams are the accelerant. Pittsburgh’s power play has been a real weapon this season, and Edmonton’s is even more explosive. If the whistle gets tight, the favorite is in a better position to separate. If it stays more even-strength heavy, Pittsburgh has more outs, because they can trade chances without constantly defending extended power play sequences.
Goalie edge is the one piece I’m not willing to assume. If either team confirms a backup or if a starter is dealing with anything, that matters immediately for totals and for any puck line look. If you’re betting early, make sure you’re comfortable taking that uncertainty, because a goalie confirmation can move both price and total quickly.
The situational angle is simple: Pittsburgh travels into a tough building and a tough time slot, and Edmonton generally plays faster at home. That does not automatically mean “Over,” but it does raise the likelihood of the kind of third period where one empty-net situation turns into multiple goals and flips an Under.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Edmonton Oilers Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Edmonton to win, but -193 is not a price I love if you’re not getting extra clarity on goaltending and Pittsburgh’s defensive availability. Edmonton is the better team, and the matchup still points their way, but the number is already asking you to pay for that edge.
Where I see more value is the total. Even with Edmonton trending Under recently, that can be a misleading stretch if the underlying chances and power play opportunities are still there. The Penguins can get theirs, and Edmonton can score on anyone, especially at home with matchup control.
If Pittsburgh is still missing key defensive pieces, it becomes harder to keep Edmonton’s top line from generating extended zone time. That pushes the game toward higher event hockey, more penalties, and more rebound chances. If Pittsburgh’s lineup is healthier than expected and the confirmed goalies are both in top form, that’s the main counterweight to the Over.
Best Bet: Over 6.5
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re playing this slate seriously, it helps to compare your number to the market and to other bettors who are consistently beating it. The NHL picks page is a clean way to scan leans across the board, then narrow down to the games where the market is still leaving room.
If you want to follow proven performance, start with the best handicappers and cross-check current form on the leaderboard. For bettors who prefer full-card coverage, you can also look at premium packages through buy picks, and keep this matchup in context with the broader slate on the NHL previews hub. If you’re tightening up process, the NHL betting guide is useful for matchup-based pricing, and the Stanley Cup betting guide is a solid framework once futures and schedule density start to matter more.
