Two of the least-penalized clubs in the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Edmonton Oilers face off at Rogers Place for a Western Conference showdown. This one gets started at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 1 and it’s being televised live on NBC Sports Chicago.
Chicago Blackhawks at Edmonton Oilers Odds
Earning moneyline bettors 2.0 units, Edmonton is 6-5 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked 2nd in the Pacific Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 36-46 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Of its 11 regular season contests, six have gone under the total, while five have gone over and none have pushed. This season, the team is 2-3 SU at home.
The Oilers have converted on 22.0 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 28th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 69.4 percent of all penalties.
The Oilers, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties just 3.7 times per game this season, a number that’s pretty close to the 3.6 penalties per game they were whistled for last year. After serving an average of 9.2 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for 8.0 minutes per outing this year.
Averaging 26.5 saves per game with a .904 save percentage, Cam Talbot (5-5-1) has been the best goalkeeper for the Oilers this year. If the Oilers, however, decide to rest him, the team might go with Mikko Koskinen (1-0 record, .889 save percentage, 3.05 goals against average).
Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will each be focal points for the Oilers. McDavid (18 points) has tallied nine goals and nine assists and has recorded multiple points six times this year. Nugent-Hopkins has three goals and 10 assists to his name and has recorded a point in six contests.
On the other side of the ice, Chicago is 6-7 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.2 units this season. Through 13 regular season outings, seven of its games have gone over the total, while five have gone under the total and none have pushed. As a road team, the Blackhawks are 3-3 SU so far.
The Blackhawks have converted on just 14.0 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 17th overall and it’s successfully defended 76.9 percent of all penalties.
Chicago’s skaters have been penalized only 3.5 times per game this season. Last season, that number was at 3.3, which was the fifth-lowest mark in the league. After serving an average of 7.5 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s had to kill penalties for 7.4 minutes per outing this year.
Cam Ward (32.1 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Chicago. Ward owns a 3-4-3 record, while registering a .889 save percentage and 3.91 goals against average this year.
Patrick Kane (11 goals, seven assists) will lead the offensive attack for the visiting Blackhawks.
