The Edmonton Oilers (37–23-3-1, 23-41 PL, 29-34-1 O/U) meet the New Jersey Devils (35-25-5-1, 28-38 PL, 24-40-2 O/U) in an inter-conference showdown on Thursday evening. The Oilers dropped a road meeting against the Sabres in their previous clash. The Devils posted a solid home win against the Blue Jackets. The Devils posted a road win in the first meeting.
Can the Devils extend their winning streak? Keep reading for the Oilers vs. Devils prediction. Nobody does it better when it comes to NHL Picks!
Edmonton Hit With Defeat to Begin Road Trek
The Edmonton Oilers continue a road trek spanning four games on Thursday. Edmonton has been shaky the past few weeks and has plummeted five points out of the first win in the division. They are 3-2 in their past five games. This includes a home loss against the Ducks and an overtime home win against the Canadiens last week. Next, they posted a 6-5 home win against the Stars on Saturday. The Oilers began the road trek with a 3-2 road defeat against the Sabres on Tuesday.
Conor McDavid has issued eight points this month. The 28-year-old star has not been quite as dominant as last season but has outstanding numbers, accumulating a total of 82 points. Leon Draisaitl continues to shine, amassing nine points in his past five games. The 29-year-old center leads the NHL in goals and is second with 97 points on the season.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been quiet, managing two points in his past five clashes. The veteran center has recorded 39 points. Darnell Nurse has recorded a point in two straight games. The defensemen is solid, recording 24 points and a +5 rating. Mattias Ekholm has missed the last few games and is questionable.
The Oilers need better goaltending. Stuart Skinner is having a poor season and has especially struggled this month. He now has a weak 2.88 GAA, an .896 save %, accompanied by a 22-16-4 record on the season. Backup Calvin Pickard is subpar, issuing a 2.76 GAA and an .896 save %.
Edmonton is averaging 3.3 goals per game, ranking them ninth. The Oilers are conceding an average of 2.9 goals, placing them 15th.
New Jersey Earns Second Consecutive Win
The New Jersey Devils are seeking their third straight win. New Jersey has been inconsistent, and first place in the division is out of reach. They are six points out of second place. The squad has posted a 2-3 record in its past five games. The Devils lost meetings against the Stars and Jets last week and replied with a home win against the Flyers on Sunday. The success continued in a solid 5-3 home win against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
Jack Hughes is out for the remainder of the season. Jesper Bratt has found a groove after a bit of a slump, recording five points in his past four games. The 26-year-old winger is having an outstanding season, issuing 73 points. Nico Hishier will need to step up with Hughes out. The veteran center only has four points this month and 50 points on the season.
Timo Meier has scored three goals and added one assist on the month. The 28-year-old winger is having a disappointing season, managing only 42 points on the season. The Devils are playing without top defensemen Dougie Hamilton. Jonathan Kovacevic is being relied on defensively. The young defenseman has been solid, collecting 19 points and a +15 rating.
The Devils are relying on Jacob Markstrom with so many injuries. The veteran goalie has sharp numbers, sporting a dazzling 2.36 GAA, a .906 save %, and a 22-12-5 record. He was in the net in the win on Tuesday. Backup Jake Allen has a 2.58 GAA and a .908 save %.
New Jersey is scoring an average of 3.0 goals per game, rating them 15th. The Devils are conceding an average of 2.5 goals, good for fourth.
Best Bets for Edmonton Oilers vs. New Jersey Devils
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
The Edmonton Oilers have been shaky and are only 3-5 in their past eight games. They have especially struggled on the road, dropping four of their past five road games after a defeat against the Sabres on Monday. The New Jersey Devils have confidence after posting two straight wins.
Furthermore, the Oilers' goaltending has been exploited as Skinner and Pickard have a save % below the .900 mark. New Jersey has collected eight goals in their past two games. Also, Jacob Markstrom is steady in the net for the Devils. The Oilers have squandered four or more goals in eight of their past ten games.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
I expect goals to be at a premium. Edmonton has been surprisingly quiet on the offensive end, scoring three or fewer goals in four of their past five games, including only two on Monday. They rely on their PP but have a challenge against a Devils' PK that is 5th. They were shut out in the first meeting.
In addition, New Jersey has a scoring void without Hughes. They have only scored 15 goals in their past six games. The Oilers are displaying signs of better defensive recently, conceding 16 goals in their past five games. The under is 4-1 in the Oilers' past five games against a team in the Eastern Conference.
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