The Nashville Predators (19-18-4) and Edmonton Oilers (20-16-6) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 9:00 p.m. EST at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Oilers are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6.5 (50-cents / 52-cents). The Oilers are a 61-cent favorite to win outright, while the Predators are 41-cents to pull off the upset on Fanatics Markets.
Let's get into my Predators vs. Oilers predictions and NHL picks.
Predators vs. Oilers Odds, Pick
- Predators vs. Oilers Spread: Oilers -1.5 (40-cents ), Predators +1.5 (63-cents)
- Predators vs. Oilers Over/Under: 6.5 (50-cents / 52-cents)
- Predators vs. Oilers Moneyline: Predators 41-cents, Oilers 61-cents
Predators vs. Oilers Preview
Nashville Predators
While Nashville has been playing solid hockey as of late, I think there’s still a consensus that the Preds may look to rebuild.
Even though they’ve won six out of their last eight games, it seems like GM Barry Trotz is OK moving on from Steven Stamkos, the team’s leading goal scorer, who has found his scoring touch again.
Since December 20, Nashville is playing an exceptional 5-on-5 game, where it’s posting a 51.39 xGF%, though on the defensive end have struggled to hold the fort with a 2.8 xGA/60.
Coach Andrew Brunette has always been a forward thinking coach, so it doesn’t surprise me that the offense is clicking, even with such an older team. All things considered, Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg are still legitimate weapons, so Nashville scoring 20.2% of the time on the power play makes a lot of sense.
I think what’s more surprising about the Predators is that Juuse Saros hasn’t had a major impact on their winning ways.
Typically, Saros is the driving force behind Nashville’s success, but this season, he’s only posting an .896 SV%. Not only that, in the last 10 games he’s played in, he holds a -3.7 GSAx, which is very unlike him.
Edmonton Oilers
You have to hand it to Oilers fans. I feel like if I were a fan invested in this team, I’d be pulling out whatever hair is left on my head.
The star power is evident. Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid will always be the most dangerous players on the ice until they’re not. And then there’s a pool of really strong complementary pieces in Zach Hyman (who’s on a heater), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evan Bouchard and Jack Roslovic.
The problem is, there is zero consistency on this team, and its lack of goaltending continues to worry me, even after trading away Stuart Skinner for Tristan Jarry.
Jarry is currently on IR, so it leaves the Oilers to turn to either Connor Ingram and Cal Pickard and mountain movers they are not.
The saving grace is their power play, where they post a league-leading 33.4% success rate. The problem is, Nashville isn’t a very penalty-laden team, so Edmonton will need to take advantage of any time it has the man advantage.
Predators vs. Oilers Prediction
How I see it, I think this is an incredible opportunity to make some cash on the total.
Edmonton, who typically averages 3.31 goals per game, has been in the midst of a dry spell since the holiday break, only averaging 2.25 goals in that span.
So a breakout should be coming. Its 5-on-5 numbers indicate that the team is playing well offensively, just hasn’t been able to convert. And we all know that you can’t silence this team for too long.
Not only that, I’m encouraged with what I’ve seen from Nashville. Given the Oilers’ goaltending struggles, I wouldn’t be surprised if to see the Preds pot a few tonight.
The total is 6.5 for a reason. The books are expecting a red-light party, and a red-light party is what we’ll give them.
Pick: Over 6.5
