NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Stars vs. Oilers (November 23)

Stars vs. Oilers Odds

The Edmonton Oilers remain appointment viewing for NHL fans, but on Tuesday night the high-flying Oilers will take on a team built to win hockey games in a very different way than they do.

For the past few seasons the Dallas Stars have been one of the league's stingiest clubs. The Stars make no qualms about the fact that they want to slow teams down in the neutral zone, keep them to the outside and then counterattack the other way.

Two seasons ago that style landed the Stars a spot in the Stanley Cup Final, but things came undone for the club in 2020/21 and they surprisingly missed the playoffs. A slow start this year had folks wondering if the team's window has shut, but Dallas has won three of four and could be rounding into form.

Can the Oilers Get Consistent Goaltending?

Stuart Skinner, the 23-year-old net-minder has gotten the start and the win for the Oilers in their last two games, only allowing three goals combined. Skinner has just five career starts on his resume, but he's been solid in those contests, posting a +3.7 Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx) and a .939 save percentage (SV%).

Of course goaltending is important to every club, but the Oilers are one of a few teams in the NHL that can outscore inconsistent goaltending night in and night out.

The Oilers remain one of the league's best offensive clubs and are led by the sport's most iconic duo: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid and Draisaitl have combined for 67 points already this season and are both involved in some historic record chases. McDavid has a point in every game this season while Draisaitl has a chance at 50 goals in 50 games.

Overall, the Oilers are scoring 3.88 goals per game, which usually gives their defense and goaltenders some breathing room.

Has Dallas' Offense Come to Life?

It is never a good sign when your team's scoring leader is a defensemen and that is exactly what's happening in Dallas. Despite the fact that Miro Heiskanen is a rising superstar in the league, they need more production from the top of their lineup.

Overall, the Stars rank in the middle of the pack in generating expected goals and high-danger scoring chances, but the defense is inside the top-10 in both categories. Once again, the work the Stars do in front of their own goal is what will lead them to success.

Jake Oettinger appears likely to get the start in this one. The 22-year-old is coming off a terrific performance in which he stopped 35 of 36 shots in a win over St. Louis, so it would be surprising if Rick Bowness goes to one of his other netminders for this contest.

Oettinger has made only three appearances for Dallas this season but he's delivered the goods in those efforts, stopping 3.1 goals above expected and posting a .955 SV%.

Oilers vs. Stars Pick

Outside of an ugly 7-2 loss to the Wild, the Stars have seemingly found some footing in their last few contests and the team's defense has been solid once again this season. That said, they have not played the Oilers yet and stopping this team is a whole different beast from basically every other NHL team.

Despite being on the road, I think the Oilers should be a slight favorite in this game and thus, like the value on Edmonton as an underdog.

Pick: Edmonton Oilers -105