Two teams squaring off for the first time this season, the Edmonton Oilers and the Winnipeg Jets clash at Bell MTS Place for a Western Conference showdown. Sportsnet Oilers will showcase the matchup, and the opening face-off is at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 16.
Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets Odds
Winnipeg (-180) is currently favored over Edmonton (+160) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Netting moneyline bettors 0.8 units, the Jets are 3-2 straight up (SU) overall this year. That win percentage, the second-best in the Central Division so far this season, is a big slide from what the team managed during the 2017-18 season (52-30). Out of the team’s five regular season matches, three of them have gone under the total, while zero have gone over and two have pushed. The team’s 2-0 SU at home so far this year.
Winnipeg’s successfully connected on 25.0 percent of its power play opportunities thus far. That mark hasn’t moved a lot from last season, when it was ranked sixth in the league by scoring on 23.4 percent of its extra-man chances. Its penalty kill has improved nicely year-over-year as it has gone from successfully defending 81.0 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 11th overall last season) to 86.4 percent this year.
As a team, Winnipeg has been called for penalties 5.8 times per game this season, a number that’s swelled from the 3.8 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.6 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for a noteworthy 18.6 minutes per outing this season.
Averaging 28.5 saves per game with a .919 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (2-2) has been the primary option in goal for the Jets this season. If head coach Paul Maurice chooses to give him a breather, however, the Jets may turn to Laurent Brossoit (1-0 record, .977 save percentage, 1.00 goals against average).
The Jets will continue looking for leadership via Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey. Connor (five points) has put up four goals and one assist while Morrissey has four assists to his credit so far in the season’s early going.
Edmonton is 1-2 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of two of its outings have gone under the total, while one has gone over and none have pushed. As the road team, Edmonton is 1-2 SU so far.
Edmonton’s scored on 20.0 percent of its power play chances this year after converting on 14.8 percent of its extra-man opportunities last season (a percentage that was ranked just 31st in the NHL). The team has gone from killing off 76.7 percent of opponent power plays (ranked 25th overall last season) to 62.5 percent this year.
Edmonton’s skaters have been called for penalties 3.3 times per game this season, a number that is pretty close to the 3.6 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 9.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to kill penalties for 7.7 minutes per outing this season.
Cam Talbot (2.71 goals against average and .901 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Edmonton. Talbot is averaging 24.3 saves per game and has one win and two losses to his credit.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Oilers will be Connor McDavid (two goals, three assists) and Leon Draisaitl (one goal, two assists).
Edmonton Oilers vs. Winnipeg Jets Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
The total has gone under in three of Winnipeg’s last five games.
Edmonton has managed 24.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Winnipeg is averaging 32.5 shots per game over its last five home outings.
The Jets are 1-2 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Oilers are 0-1 SU in games where they spend more time in the box than their opponent.
Edmonton skaters converted 8.2 takeaways per game while allowing 12.5 giveaways per game in 2017-18
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