NHL Odds, Prediction, Preview: Hurricanes vs Oilers Pick (Wednesday, December 6)
Via Paul Swanson/Getty Images. Pictured: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on during the first period against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Place on November 28, 2023 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Hurricanes vs. Oilers Odds
| Hurricanes Odds | -102 |
| Oilers Odds | -118 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 -124/ +102 |
Here's everything you need to know about Hurricanes vs. Oilers on Wednesday, Dec. 6 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
Rested or rusty?
After nearly a week away from game action, the Edmonton Oilers look to extend their four-game winning streak when the Carolina Hurricanes visit Rogers Place on Wednesday.
When we last saw the Oilers, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl had returned to their usual selves, and Stuart Skinner was stopping pucks again.
In Carolina, they'll face a Metro Division heavyweight that is 6-3-1 in its last 10 games but still hasn't played up to its full potential this season.
With the Canes a little shaky on the road and the rested Oilers knowing they've got a lot more work ahead, here's a look at why the home side is worth your attention as the TNT spotlight shines on Edmonton on Wednesday night.
Find my NHL betting preview and prediction for Hurricanes vs. Oilers below.
A popular pick to win the Stanley Cup this year, the Hurricanes haven't been as dominant as clubs like the Rangers, Bruins or Golden Knights in the early going.
As we've seen in the past, Carolina's puck possession is terrific.
The Canes' 58.26% Expected Goals Share at 5-on-5 is the second-best mark in the league, behind only the Los Angeles Kings.
After their struggles to score ended their playoff hopes last season, they're in the top 10 in goals per game this year, with a scoring-by-committee approach that features nine players with 14 points or more. Additionally, their power play is also solid, at 21.4%.
Defensively, Carolina frustrates its opponents by allowing a league-low 24.6 Shots Against per game. But with Frederik Andersen on the shelf as he deals with blood clots, the Hurricanes' goaltending has been less than reliable. Their team save percentage of 86.97% in all situations is lowest in the league, but the situation has been better of late.
Antti Raanta made his first start in five games on Monday and allowed two goals in a 3-1 road loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Pyotr Kochetkov went 3-0-1 in the previous four games while allowing a reasonable 10 goals in total over that span.
The Oilers are now 6-3-0 under new coach Kris Knoblauch and have outscored their opponents 21-7 during their current four-game winning streak.
Four Edmonton players have now crossed the 20-point threshold, led by McDavid and Draisaitl with 29, and the fundamentals have actually been there all season: Edmonton ranks right behind Carolina with an Expected Goals Share of 56.32% for the year.
The Oilers special teams also enter this matchup with momentum. Over the last five games, the power play is clicking again at 8-for-19 while the penalty kill has gone 20-for-21. Other than Dylan Holloway's long-term knee injury, the Oilers are now both healthy and rested.
Hurricanes vs. Oilers
Betting Pick & Prediction
The Oilers are coming off three straight practice days — a rarity, but a great opportunity for Knoblauch to continue building familiarity with his new charges. McDavid was away from the team for a bit, while he was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame last weekend, and other players have also been given maintenance days to let the bumps and bruises heal up.
That could lead to a flat start on Wednesday night, but Edmonton knows that it needs to keep the throttle wide open.
It's tough to make up ground in the NHL standings, and even after putting together one of the best records in the NHL over the last 10 games, the Oilers remain 14th in the Western Conference, eight points out of a wild-card spot.
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For their part, the Hurricanes also haven't been very busy. Since Edmonton's last game on Nov. 30, Carolina beat Buffalo 6-2 on home ice before dropping that game in Winnipeg on Monday. While the Hurricanes are a solid 11-5-1 since late October, their 6-7-0 road record is a bit of a blemish, as Monday night's loss in Winnipeg drove home.
The Hurricanes dished out a 6-3 decision when these two teams met in Raleigh two weeks ago, but look for the Oilers to get their revenge on Wednesday as they continue their climb back to respectability.
The oddsmakers have made the home side the slight favorite on the moneyline. Lean into a fifth consecutive win and another big night from McDavid and the Oilers.
Pick: Oilers Moneyline -108 (BetRivers | Play to -120)
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