Oilers vs Penguins Prediction, Picks & Same-Game Parlay for Tonight’s NHL Game

We've seen this before. The Oilers start slowly before rounding into form around December and going on a mega run of success. Connor McDavid is on fire and will propel Edmonton to a win against the flailing Penguins.

Neil Parker - Analyst at Covers.com
Neil Parker • Betting Analyst
Dec 16, 2025 • 09:13 ET • 3 min read

NHL

Match starts: 7 hrs
PIT
42 %
EDM
58 %
EXPERT PICK - MONEYLINE
Edmonton -137 Edmonton -137
Read Analysis
Connor McDavid Edmonton Oilers NHL
Photo By - Imagn Images. Oilers F Connor McDavid (97) after scoring a goal.

The Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins meet for the first time since swapping goalies last week, and the two teams are also trending in opposite directions ahead of this showdown at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday, December 16.

My top Oilers vs. Penguins predictions and NHL picks are calling for Edmonton and superstar Connor McDavid to take over this matchup tonight.

Oilers vs Penguins prediction

Oilers vs Penguins best bet: Oilers moneyline (-140)

The Edmonton Oilers have begun flipping the script with a 6-3-1 run, ranking sixth in goals percentage and seventh in expected goals percentage at 5-on-5, and owning the third-highest power-play percentage during the stretch.

Edmonton is also in a ripe rebound spot after losing 4-1 on the second leg of a back-to-back road game to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.

Superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have played a leading role in the turnaround with a combined 12 goals and 36 points during the 10-game stretch, and McDavid’s 20 points pace the NHL during the stretch.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have also dropped five straight, and after a solid start to the season, the recent slump aligns with the injury to star center Evgeni Malkin (upper body).

Depth isn’t the Pens' calling card, and I expect the McDavid-Draisaitl combo will give Pittsburgh matchup nightmares throughout tonight's bout.

I also have more confidence in the Edmonton lineup capitalizing on the familiarity of facing former goalie Stuart Skinner than I do in Pittsburgh bullying Tristan Jarry in the blue paint. Plus, Jarry backstopped the Oilers to a convincing 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in his Edmonton debut.

Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account Add as a preferred source on Google

Oilers vs Penguins same-game parlay

McDavid’s heater actually dates back further than the highlighted 10-game surge, with the superstar posting multiple points in 13 of his past 21 games. His 38 points during the run are tied for the NHL lead, and the Penguins have also allowed a healthy 4.0 goals per game and the seventh-most expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five since Malkin went down.

It’s been a similar story with McDavid’s shot volume throughout the season. He’s recorded three or more shots in 21 of 33 games to rank in the 97th percentile of NHL forwards in shots on goal. 

Oilers vs Penguins SGP

  • Oilers -1.5 puck line
  • Connor McDavid Over 1.5 points
  • Connor McDavid Over 2.5 shots on goal

Oilers vs Penguins odds

  • Moneyline: Oilers -140 | Penguins +120
  • Puck Line: Oilers -1.5 (+165) | Penguins +1.5 (-200)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)

Oilers vs Penguins trend

The Pittsburgh Penguins have only won 35 of their last 81 games (-7.00 Units / -8% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Oilers vs. Penguins.

How to watch Oilers vs Penguins

Location PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Date Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Puck drop 7:30 p.m. ET
TV TNT

Oilers vs Penguins latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

Pages related to this topic

Neil Parker - Covers
Betting Analyst

Neil Parker is, first and foremost, a sports fan. A huge supporter of the Cowboys, Cubs, and Maple Leafs, he has managed to parlay his passion into writing gigs at some of the top websites in the industry.

Neil takes a numbers-based approach to his handicapping and complements his in-depth statistical analysis with a keen eye on the markets to provide the best available odds. He loves to lean on his rolodex of idioms to offset his inner nerd. When it comes to wagering, he throws down on anything that catches his eye at bet365, Betway and BetVictor. He also keeps a close eye on CoolBet because the polar bear brand often has outlier NHL and NFL moneyline prices.

Neil graduated with honors from St. Thomas University in 2007 before completing his BEd at Acadia University in 2010. After teaching a myriad of courses and subjects, he found a groove delivering fun lessons to exceptional learners in non-traditional classroom environments. If his decade-plus teaching run taught him anything about sports betting, it’s to stay the course and use the summer – or offseason – to refresh and prepare to be better in the year to come.

Popular Content

Covers is verified safe by: Evalon Logo GPWA Logo GDPR Logo GeoTrust Logo Evalon Logo