The Oilers and Senators will finish their regular season series with a two-game set in Ottawa on Wednesday and Thursday.  Originally scheduled to have a day off between games, the schedule was adjusted as a result of the COVID outbreak running through the Vancouver Canucks lineup.

Edmonton opened as a –185 favourite on the NHL odds with a total of 6.0.

Oilers vs. Senators Betting Analysis

This is easily the most lopsided season series in the NHL this year.  The Oilers have won all seven meetings against Ottawa and blown them out by a combined score of 34-15.  If you’re wondering why the over/under isn’t higher for this game, it’s worth noting the total was set at 6.5 in all seven previous games and the Over only hit three times.

Edmonton has been just as successful on the road as they have been at home.  The Oilers are 19-20 against the spread and have covered in 10 of their 18 road games.  It looks like they’re starting to lock things down defensively, as they have the two top scorers in the NHL, but have been an Under team in four of their last five games.

This season hasn’t been kind to Ottawa.  They’ve lost all seven games against Edmonton this year and have only managed an 8-7-4 record at home.  The Sens are a little better at covering, going 22-17 ATS.  They’ve been an Under team in six of their last eight games and five straight home games.

Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton is solidly in a playoff position, but they’re slowly falling out of the picture when it comes to winning the North Division.  They do, however, have a comfortable five-point lead over Montreal for third place in the division and they have a great shot at home ice advantage in the playoffs, only trailing Winnipeg by a single point.  The Oilers are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to Montreal on Monday, so these two games against Ottawa will be a great chance to pick up four points and create more separation in the standings.

It’s the usual suspects when it comes to scoring for Edmonton against Ottawa.  Leon Draisaitl is giving Sens’ goalies nightmares, putting up 17 points (7G, 10A) in seven games.  Connor McDavid has added 16 points (3G, 13A) and five of Darnell Nurse‘s career-high 13 goals on the season have come against Ottawa.  The Oilers are about to make life even tougher over the next couple days for Ottawa.

Ottawa Senators

No one is pretending the Senators really had much of a playoff chance this year, so it’s not too surprising to see them drop two of their last three games.  They sit 25 points back of Toronto for the North Division lead and 13 points back of Montreal for the last playoff spot.  The Sens are struggling all over the ice.  Ottawa averages 2.62 goals scored per game (23rd in the NHL) and allows 3.72 (31st).  Their special teams aren’t any better.  Ottawa has the 26th ranked power play and 23rd ranked penalty kill.

It’s not all doom and gloom for the Senators though, as you have to look at this as a growth year.  They have a young core group of players who are all developing strongly.  Their leaders in goals, points, time on ice, goals-against average and save percentage are all under the age of 24 and will only continue to develop.  They’re also seeing breakout campaigns from Tim Stutzle (6G, 14A) and Josh Norris (9G, 11A), who are both tied for third in the rookie scoring race.  Believe it or not, the Sens do have a bright future.  We just don’t see it helping much in this game or this season.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Oilers vs. Senators?

• Regular Season

Oilers Team Leaders

EDM

Points	Connor McDavid 69
+ / -	Leon Draisaitl 23
Shots	Connor McDavid 152
Penalty Mins	Darnell Nurse 42
Wins	Mike Smith 14
GAA	Mike Smith 2.47

OTT

Points	Thomas Chabot 28
+ / -	Alex Formenton 3
Shots	Brady Tkachuk 180
Penalty Mins	Brady Tkachuk 47
Wins	Matt Murray 7
GAA	Filip Gustavsson 1.81

• Regular Season

Senators Team Leaders

EDM

Points	Connor McDavid 69
+ / -	Leon Draisaitl 23
Shots	Connor McDavid 152
Penalty Mins	Darnell Nurse 42
Wins	Mike Smith 14
GAA	Mike Smith 2.47

OTT

Points	Thomas Chabot 28
+ / -	Alex Formenton 3
Shots	Brady Tkachuk 180
Penalty Mins	Brady Tkachuk 47
Wins	Matt Murray 7
GAA	Filip Gustavsson 1.81

Injuries

Edmonton

Alex Chiasson (RW)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 21

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (C)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 09 / 04 / 21

Kailer Yamamoto (RW)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 19 / 03 / 21

Jujhar Khaira (LW)

Ques Sat Upper Body - 16 / 03 / 21

Tyson Barrie (D)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 16 / 03 / 21

Kris Russell (D)

Ques Mon Lower Body - 12 / 03 / 21

Kyle Turris (C)

Out indefinitely Illness - 09 / 03 / 21

Josh Archibald (RW)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 08 / 03 / 21

Dominik Kahun (C)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 03 / 03 / 21

Alex Chiasson (RW)

Elig Sat Poss. Suspension - 02 / 03 / 21

Ottawa

Nikita Zaitsev (D)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 14 / 04 / 21

Erik Gudbranson (D)

Ques Thurs Personal - 04 / 04 / 21

Micheal Haley (LW)

Out indefinitely Groin - 03 / 04 / 21

Jacob Bernard-Docker (D)

Out indefinitely Illness - 03 / 04 / 21

Shane Pinto (C)

Out indefinitely Illness - 03 / 04 / 21

Colin White (C)

Prob Mon Upper Body - 01 / 04 / 21

Austin Watson (LW)

Late April Hand - 23 / 03 / 21

Colin White (C)

Ques Mon Upper Body - 18 / 03 / 21

Joey Daccord (G)

out for season Lower Body - 18 / 03 / 21

Anton Forsberg (G)

Out indefinitely Illness - 18 / 03 / 21

Injuries

Edmonton

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Alex Chiasson (RW)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 21	1-1	0-2	+ -
Chaisson sat out the previous game with an undefined injury, and it is unknown if he will take on the Jets on Saturday.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (C)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 09 / 04 / 21	1-1	0-2	+ -
Nugent-Hopkins has wound up on the injured reserve list with an upper-body injury, and a timetable for recovery has yet to be established.
Kailer Yamamoto (RW)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 19 / 03 / 21	7-4	2-8-1	+ -
Yamamota has been held out of the last two contests due to an unspecified ailment, but it is anticipated that he will lace up against the Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Jujhar Khaira (LW)	Ques Sat	Upper Body - 16 / 03 / 21	7-6	3-9-1	+ -
Khaira has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, and it is uncertain if he will dress for Saturday's battle with the Jets.
Tyson Barrie (D)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 16 / 03 / 21	7-6	3-9-1	+ -
Barrie is tending to an upper-body injury, and it is unclear if he will be active Wednesday versus the Flames.
Kris Russell (D)	Ques Mon	Lower Body - 12 / 03 / 21	9-6	5-9-1	+ -
Russell has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, and it is unknown if he will play against the Flames on Monday.
Kyle Turris (C)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 09 / 03 / 21	9-8	5-11-1	+ -
Turris has been added to the COVID-19 Protocol list, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Josh Archibald (RW)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 08 / 03 / 21	9-8	5-11-1	+ -
Archibald has been absent from the previous three contests with an undisclosed issue, and it is undetermined if he will take the ice Saturday versus the Canucks.
Dominik Kahun (C)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 03 / 03 / 21	9-10	6-12-1	+ -
Kahun missed the last game with an undefined ailment, and it remains to be seen if he will face the Flames on Saturday.
Alex Chiasson (RW)	Elig Sat	Poss. Suspension - 02 / 03 / 21	9-11	6-13-1	+ -
Chiasson is serving a one-game suspension for cross-checking, and he is eligible to return against the Flames on Saturday.

Ottawa

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Nikita Zaitsev (D)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 14 / 04 / 21	2-2	2-2	+ -
Zaitsev missed the last game with an undisclosed injury, and it is unclear if he will be active versus the Canadiens on Saturday.
Erik Gudbranson (D)	Ques Thurs	Personal - 04 / 04 / 21	1-0	1-0	+ -
Gudbranson has missed the last two games for the birth of his child, and it is unknown if he will be available for Thursday's game versus the Oilers.
Micheal Haley (LW)	Out indefinitely	Groin - 03 / 04 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Haley has wound up on the injured reserve list with a groin injury, and he will miss an extended period.
Jacob Bernard-Docker (D)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 03 / 04 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Bernard-Docker is on the COVID-19 Protocol list, and it is unclear how long he will be idle.
Shane Pinto (C)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 03 / 04 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Pinto is on the COVID-19 Protocol list, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Colin White (C)	Prob Mon	Upper Body - 01 / 04 / 21	2-1	1-2	+ -
White has been activated from the injured reserve list after recovering from an upper-body injury, and he is projected to take on the Jets on Monday.
Austin Watson (LW)	Late April	Hand - 23 / 03 / 21	4-1	1-4	+ -
Watson has been placed on the injured reserve list with a broken hand, and he is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Colin White (C)	Ques Mon	Upper Body - 18 / 03 / 21	5-1	1-5	+ -
White is bothered by an upper-body injury, and it is undetermined if he will take on the Flames on Monday.
Joey Daccord (G)	out for season	Lower Body - 18 / 03 / 21	5-1	1-5	+ -
Daccord has been moved to the injured reserve list due to a lower-body injury, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Anton Forsberg (G)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 18 / 03 / 21	5-1	1-5	+ -
Forsberg has wound up the COVID-19 Protocol list, and it is unclear how long he will be idle.