Edmonton Oilers vs Arizona Coyotes Picks and Predictions March 18th 2025

Leon Draisaitl, Oilers Look to Extend Streak vs. Utah

Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers are heating up at the right time. As they prepare to host the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday night, all eyes will be on Draisaitl’s 18-game point streak, the longest in the NHL this season and the best of his career.

With 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) during this stretch, Draisaitl is on the brink of history, aiming to join Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey as the only Oilers to reach a 19-game point streak.

Meanwhile, Edmonton (39-24-4, 82 points) continues its battle for positioning in the NHL Pacific Division, trailing the Vegas Golden Knights by four points for first place while trying to fend off the Los Angeles Kings for a top-two finish.

Oilers Adapting to Tight Playoff Races

Edmonton has won four of its last six games, with Sunday’s 3-1 road victory over the Rangers being its only multi-goal win in that stretch. The Oilers have scored 32 goals in their last 12 games, but the emphasis has shifted toward defensive discipline.

“Tight-checking games, that’s how we want to play,” forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. “When we stick to our structure, it actually creates more offense.”

With only 15 games left, every point matters as NHL Conference Winner and Stanley Cup continue to shift.

Utah HC in Desperation Mode for Wild-Card Spot

The Utah Hockey Club (30-26-11, 71 points) is locked in a four-way battle with Vancouver, Calgary, and St. Louis for the final Western Conference wild-card berth.

Utah has thrived in direct matchups against these competitors, boasting a 7-1-0 combined record:

• 2-1-0 vs. St. Louis
• 2-0-0 vs. Calgary
• 3-0-0 vs. Vancouver

Their latest key win came on Sunday, when they rallied from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Vancouver 3-1, with Logan Cooley and Clayton Keller scoring in the third period.

“Playoff hopes are on the line every night,” forward Alex Kerfoot said. “We’re right in the mix, but we have to keep building.”

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Goaltending Matchup & Key Injuries

• Utah’s Karel Vejmelka has started 10 straight games, going 6-2-2 with a .911 save percentage and a 2.08 goals-against average. With Connor Ingram injured, Utah will continue relying on Vejmelka.
• Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner is expected to start. He rebounded with a strong performance against the Rangers, stopping 21 of 22 shots.
• Mattias Ekholm (illness) and John Klingberg (undisclosed) remain questionable for the Oilers after missing six games.

Betting Outlook & Season Series

The Oilers are aiming for a season sweep over Utah after winning:

• 4-3 (OT) on Nov. 29 in Salt Lake City
• 4-1 on Dec. 31 in Edmonton

Final Thoughts

Will Draisaitl extend his point streak and help Edmonton maintain its push for first place? Or will Utah continue its clutch performances against wild-card contenders? With high playoff stakes, expect a hard-fought battle in Edmonton.