In their first head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Edmonton Oilers and the Columbus Blue Jackets take the ice at Nationwide Arena in an East-West showdown. Sportsnet Oilers will showcase the matchup, and the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 12.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Edmonton (+150) is entering this one as the underdog to Columbus (-170) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -110 money on the over and -110 for the under.
The Blue Jackets are 19-11 straight up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 4.9 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked first in the Metropolitan Division so far this season, hasn’t moved much from what the team produced during the 2016-17 season (50-32). Of its 30 games this season, 13 have gone under the total, while 13 have gone over and just one has pushed. The teams 11-5 SU at home this season.
Columbus has converted on just 9.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places the team in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated third overall, and it’s successfully killed off 85.7 percent of all penalties.
Columbus, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 2.8 times per game overall this season, 2.8 per game over its past five games total, and 2.6 per game over its last five home outings. The team has had to kill penalties for just 5.4 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
Sporting a .930 save percentage and 27.9 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (16 wins, eight losses, and one OT loss) has been the primary option in goal for the Blue Jackets this season. If they decide to give him the night off, however, head coach John Tortorella may turn to Joonas Korpisalo (3-3-3 record, .907 save percentage, 2.81 goals against average).
Artemi Panarin and Josh Anderson will both spearhead the attack for the Blue Jackets. Panarin (26 points) is up to seven goals and 19 assists and has recorded multiple points in four different games this year. Anderson has 11 goals and seven assists to his credit and has notched a point in 14 games.
On the other side of the ice, Edmonton is 12-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 30 regular season matches, 15 of its games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and just one has pushed. Edmonton’s 7-9 SU as an away team this season.
Edmonton has converted on just 17.5 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 23rd in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 31st overall and it’s successfully killed off 72.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Edmonton’s players have been penalized 4.2 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five on the road. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cam Talbot (.903 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Edmonton. Talbot is averaging 25.8 saves per game and has 10 wins, 12 losses, and one OT loss to his credit.
Connor McDavid (11 goals, 24 assists) has been one of the most vital playmakers on offense for the visiting Oilers.
Edmonton Oilers at Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The total has gone over in three of Columbus last five outings.
- This game features two teams that put the puck on net a lot. Edmonton has registered the leagues sixth-most shots on goal (34.5) and Columbus’s attempted the fifth-most (34.8).
- Edmonton skaters have accounted for the most hits in the league (28.1 per game), but the teams averaged just 24.8 hits over their last five away games.
