Chicago Blackhawks vs. Edmonton Oilers Prediction, NHL Odds
The Chicago Blackhawks continue their western road trip with their next stop in Edmonton to face off with Connor McDavid and the Oilers on Saturday night.
It’s no longer guaranteed win night when welcoming in the Blackhawks as they are 5-4-2 on the season with Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar leading the way. Bedard’s 14 points leads the Blackhawks, which is also the same output this season as Connor McDavid.
The Bedard vs. McDavid matchup was an easy call for the NHL schedule makers to headline Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada slate, but also serves as another good challenge for Chicago who opened this six-game road trip with a tough 6-3 loss at Winnipeg. Saturday’s the final of three straight home outings for the Oilers, who are 1-0-1 so far.
Puck drop at Rogers Place goes at 10 p.m. EDT with the Oilers a -295 moneyline favourite and then -118 to cover the -1.5 puckline. The total is set at six on the NHL odds.
Blackhawks vs. Oilers NHL Betting Odds
The Oilers are still without a regulation loss in five home games this season, maintaining one of the NHL’s top home ice advantages. Edmonton’s scored six goals in two of their last home outings and the over is 4-1 in their last five home contests this season. The over has also hit in 13 of the last 18 times hosting Chicago. Still, Edmonton’s 3.17 goals per game (18th in the league) is much lower than the high standard they’ve set over the past few years. Chicago’s done an exceptional job so far keeping pucks out of their net this season too, allowing 2.82 per outing which is tied for 10th in the NHL. The Blackhawks defensive efforts are an underrated aspect in this short turnaround in the win-loss column. The under is 4-7 in Blackhawks games this season.
Chicago Blackhawks
A two-assist night on Tuesday made it back-to-back multi-point games for Connor Bedard. The 20-year-old phenom opened the week by netting his first career hat-trick and is up to a team-high six goals and eight assists. Chicago’s getting more from a lot more forwards this season too, as Frank Nazar is on a point-a-game pace with five goals and six assists, and off-season addition Andre Burakovsky has seven points in 10 games. Ryan Donato also has six goals on the season, and had a four-game scoring streak during the middle of October.
Last season’s Seth Jones—Spencer Knight trade is paying dividends for both sides too as Knight has emerged as a clear number one in net for Chicago. In eight games, Knight is 4-3-1 this season with a .914 save percentage. Expect him between the pipes on Saturday night.
Edmonton Oilers
With two goals versus New York on Thursday, Darnell Nurse has now tied Connor McDavid with three goals this season. It’s been a weird start to McDavid’s year, as his 14 points in 12 games is considered quiet and Edmonton’s 5-4-3 record reflects that. Edmonton is getting a little more depth scoring though as the likes of Andrew Mangiapane has three goals as well; Edmonton’s now had 18 skaters score a goal this season. The Oilers are still without Zach Hyman too, which is reportedly getting close to returning to the lineup but will not play Saturday.
Goaltending continues to be a weak point in Edmonton too. The duo of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have a combined .880 save percentage but Skinner’s easily been the better of the two with an .896 percentage. Expect Skinner to make his third straight start and play Saturday.
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