Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Edmonton Oilers Prediction, NHL Odds

Nik Kowalski | Updated Dec 05, 2024

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The Columbus Blue Jackets continue an emotional road trip when they visit the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night.

Columbus
23-19-6-1
AT
December 05, 2024, 9:00 PM ET
Rogers Place
Edmonton
30-15-3
Puckline +1.5 -105
Moneyline +240
Over / Under o +7
Matchup Odds
Puckline -1.5 -115
Moneyline -300
Over / Under u +7
Matchup Odds

The Blue Jackets are coming off a 3-0 defeat at Calgary on a night where both organizations paid tribute to the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. It was Columbus’ first regulation loss since November 16. A 5-0-1 stretch in between has put the Blue Jackets right outside the logjam that is the Eastern Conference Wild Card. 

Edmonton’s coming off a 2-1 road trip but most recently got shut out at Vegas on Tuesday. And if allowing one goal and losing wasn’t painful enough for goalie Stuart Skinner, he was one of many Oilers who were snubbed off the 4 Nations Face-Off rosters unveiled on Wednesday. So it’s safe to say he and the likes of Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be feeling a little extra fiery when they hit the ice Thursday.

Puck drop at Rogers Place goes at 9 p.m. EST with Edmonton a -275 moneyline favourite and -110 on the -1.5 puckline, while the over-under is at 6.5 on the NHL odds.

Blue Jackets vs. Oilers NHL Betting Odds

The Edmonton Oilers are a sub .500 home team on the season, in one of the more bizarre NHL stats so far this season. With a win on Thursday, the Oilers can get back to .500 though as they currently stand 5-6-1 in their 12 home contests. Columbus is 3-17 in their last 20 road outings.

Ironically enough, the Blue Jackets have found a ton of recent success over the Oilers as Columbus is 5-1 in their last six meetings with Edmonton. Back on October 28, Columbus defeated Edmonton 6-1. Sean Monahan scored twice and Cole Sillinger registered a goal and two assists. Prior to that October meeting, four straight Blue Jackets–Oilers games played in Edmonton had finished under the total.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets’ 16 shots on net in Tuesday’s 3-0 loss at Calgary was very uncharacteristic. Columbus ranks second in the NHL — only behind Edmonton — with 32.4 shots per game. Defenceman Zach Werenski’s led the charge all season with 90 shots, 25 greater than any other Blue Jackets skater. Werenski’s offensive punch, which includes a team-high 26 points and eight goals (tied for the NHL lead among defenceman) factored heavily into earning a spot on Team USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster too.

In net, Elvis Merzlikins has been a complete workhorse with seven straight games played, although the results haven’t necessarily paid off. Merzlikins has an .894 save percentage this season which would be his second-worst in his six-year NHL career.

Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton’s scoring issue in 2024–25 isn’t about depth, it’s now the whole team. After Tuesday’s shutout loss the Oilers now rank 18th in the NHL with 2.88 goals per contest. Missing Zach Hyman (undisclosed) the last five games hasn’t helped but Hyman’s three goals this season have him 51 back of his total last campaign — he’s only of many Oilers in a slump.

It’s going to sound like a broken record, but Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid each have nearly double the points of all Oilers skaters outside of Evan Bouchard. And these three aren’t even having their greatest seasons so far, which all leads to the Oilers sitting in the West’s final playoff spot as December rolls around. Thursday should be the spot to turn things around.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Blue Jackets vs. Oilers?

NHL Predictions
SportsInteraction
  • CLB
  • +240 -300
  • EDM
Matchup NHL Odds