The fourth game of the regular season for each team, the Edmonton Oilers and the New Jersey Devils face off at the Prudential Center. Sportsnet West will air this cross-continent matchup, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 10.
Edmonton Oilers vs. New Jersey Devils Odds
New Jersey (-135) is favored over Edmonton (+115), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 7 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -115 for the over and -105 for the under.
Edmonton is 3-0 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 3.5 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked first in the league so far in this young season, is a welcomed improvement over the 35-47 record from the 2018-19 season campaign.
Edmonton has impressively converted on 33.3 percent of its power play opportunities thus far. That’s a nice improvement from last year, when it was ranked eighth in the NHL by scoring on 21.2 percent of its extra-man chances. Its penalty kill has also gotten stronger year-over-year, as the team has gone from successfully defending 74.8 percent of all opponent power plays (ranked 30th overall last season) to 90.9 percent this year.
For the team as a whole, Edmonton has been sent to the penalty box 3.7 times per game this season. Last year, that number was the mark in the league at 3.7 penalties per game. After serving an average of 9.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 7.3 minutes per matchup this season.
With a .892 save percentage and 29.0 saves per game, Mike Smith (2-0) has been the primary option in goal for Edmonton this year. If it decides to give him a rest, however, Edmonton could roll with Mikko Koskinen (1-0), who has a .926 save percentage and 2.00 goals against average this year.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Oilers. McDavid has eight points via two goals and six assists this season; Draisaitl has one goal and six assists to his credit through the early stages of the regular season.
On the other bench, New Jersey is 0-3 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. Two of its matches have gone over the total, while zero have gone under and none have pushed.
New Jersey has killed off a remarkable 50.0 percent of all penalties, a few points lower than the 84.4 percent the team posted a year ago (when it was ranked fourth overall). It’s found the net on 0.0 percent of its power plays this year after converting on 17.6 percent (ranked 21st in league) last season.
The Devils have been penalized 3.3 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 3.8, the fifth-highest mark in the league. After serving an average of 9.1 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to kill penalties for only 6.7 minutes per matchup this year.
The winless Cory Schneider has stopped 24.5 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for New Jersey. Schneider has zero wins, two losses, and one OT loss to his credit and has registered a pedestrian 3.51 goals against average and a subpar .891 save percentage this year.
Blake Coleman (two goals, one assist) will lead the attack for the Devils.
Edmonton Oilers at New Jersey Devils Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Devils, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- After going 3-4 in games decided by a shootout last year, New Jersey is off to a 0-1 start in shootouts this season. Edmonton went 3-3 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
- Edmonton has managed 27.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while New Jersey has been attempting 39.0 shots per game over its last five at home.
- New Jersey has averaged 2.0 goals per game, while allowing 5.3, in its last three contests (the team is 0-3 SU over that stretch).
- Edmonton skaters registered 26.7 hits per game last season, while the Devils logged 23.5 hits per contest.
