Two clubs that are facing each other for the final time this season, the Boston Bruins and the Edmonton Oilers meet at Rogers Place in an East-West matchup. The opening face-off takes place at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 20, and fans at home can see it live on Sportsnet West.
Boston Bruins at Edmonton Oilers Odds
Boston is 36-21 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 5.3 units this year. Through 57 regular season contests, 29 of its games have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Bruins team is 17-10 SU on the road.
Boston has converted on 20.8 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. Additionally, it has the third-best penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 84.0 percent of all penalties.
The Bruins, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, 3.8 per game over its past five total, and 4.0 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties 12.4 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Averaging 24.9 saves per game with a .922 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (24-15-4) has been the top option in goal for Boston this year. Rask played yesterday, however, so the team might choose to rest him and turn to Anton Khudobin instead (12-9-4 record, .923 save percentage, 2.34 goals against average).
The visiting Bruins will be led by Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. Marchand (55 points) has tallied 22 goals and 33 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 17 different games. Bergeron has 27 goals and 25 assists to his name (and has registered at least one point in 31 games).
Edmonton is 24-34 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 28 of its outings have gone over the total, while another 28 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team is 12-16 SU as the home team.
The Oilers have converted on just 14.6 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 31st in the NHL. Its penalty kill is also ranked 31st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 71.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Edmonton players have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 4.6 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Cam Talbot (26.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for the Oilers. Talbot has 21 wins, 25 losses, and two overtime losses and has maintained a subpar .902 save percentage and 3.12 goals against average this year.
The home team offense will be led by Connor McDavid (26 goals, 43 assists).
Boston Bruins at Edmonton Oilers Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Edmonton is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Boston is 3-2 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in each of Boston’s last five games.
- Over Boston’s last ten games, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-3 in those games).
- This game features two of the tougher teams in the league. Boston skaters have accounted for the ninth-most hits in the league (23.7 per game) while the Oilers have recorded the second-most (26.7).
