Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers Prediction, NHL Odds
The Oilers enter Thursday’s action on a two-game win streak after topping San Jose by a 5-3 score on Tuesday, and have won four of six overall, leaving them just one pint back of the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks. While the Oilers jockey for playoff positioning, the Panthers find themselves playing out the string of a lost season. The champs arrive in Edmonton on the rebound after opening their current four-game road trip with back-to-back decisive losses, capped by Tuesday’s 5-2 defeat in Vancouver. Overall, the Panthers have won just five of their past 16 overall, and just one of eight on the road, and now find themselves in a tight two-way battle with Toronto for last place in the Atlantic Division standings.
The Oilers get set to hit the ice as -160 home favourites on Thursday’s NHL odds. The Panthers lag as a +135 bet on the NHL moneyline, and the total is listed at 6.5.
Panthers vs. Oilers NHL Betting Odds
The Oilers snapped a four-game head-to-head losing streak with a decisive 6-3 victory when they visited Florida on November 22, and now face the challenge a halt a two-game slide versus the Panthers on home ice. There has been plenty of offence when these teams meet, with 6+ total goals scored in each of their past nine dates, and the OVER going 5-1 in their past six clashes. The Oilers have also rediscovered their scoring touch during a late-season surge, potting 4.22 goals per game over their past nine home dates and have the OVER go 7-1-2 in their past 10 at home. Conversely, the Panthers have seen their scoring woes deepen. The club has scored just two goals in each of their past three overall, and just 2.14 goals per game over their past seven road dates.
Florida Panthers
With their offence sputtering, the Panthers have failed to claim a lead in regulation in each of the past three games, and have not entered the third period with a lead in 10 games. However, they have still managed to generate some early offence, potting at least one first-period marker in six of their past nine outings. Injuries have not helped the Panthers snap out of their offensive funk. Already missing Sam Reinhart, who is not travelling with the team due to an undisclosed injury, the club also lost veteran Brad Marchand to injury this week. However, Matthew Tkachuk has stepped up to do the heavy lifting. The super-pest tallied a goal and an assist in Tuesday’s loss to the Canucks, and has gotten in on 12 of the team’s 20 total goals this month, scoring four times and adding eight assists in the past eight games.
Edmonton Oilers
Injuries have also emerged as a concern for the Oilers, who will be without the services of Leon Draiaitl, who saw his season ended this past week by a lower-body injury. However, the supporting cast has stepped up. Most notably Zach Hyman, who ended a four-game scoring drought with markers in each of the past two games. Matt Savoie has also made key contributions with a goal and two helpers during a three-game points streak while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has bulged the twine three times in his past four outings. Connor McDavid has started another points streak, cracking the scoresheet in three straight outings but has scored just three times in the past 13 contests.
FLA
EDM