NHL Preview: Edmonton Oilers vs. Minnesota Wild
The Edmonton Oilers (27-13-3) and Minnesota Wild (27-13-4) will meet for the third time this season on Wednesday, January 15 at 8:30 PM ET at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Oilers are favored with a moneyline at -185.
Edmonton Oilers Betting Preview
The Oilers are currently on a two-game win streak and are 7-3 over their last 10 games. Their latest victory was a 1-0 outing over the Los Angeles Kings.
Connor McDavid scored the only goal of the game, which occurred in the second period. This marked his 17th goal of the season, ranking him tied at 32nd in the league. Leon Draisaitl leads the team in points at 64 and in goals at 31, while McDavid is a key component to the offense with 42 assists so far.
They were clearly the aggressor in their win over the Kings. Both teams took 30 shots, but the Oilers landed 15 hits as opposed to the Kings’ eight.
The Oilers are averaging 3.26 goals and 32.2 shot attempts per game. Their defense allows 2.72 goals and 26.2 shots from opposing teams a game. This shows a slight margin of error, which is more appealing than the Wild’s.
Minnesota Wild Betting Preview
The Wild have also gone 7-3 in their last 10 matchups. Their latest battle was a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, which put them back on the losing side.
They got off to a good start with the first goal of the game in the first period by Ryan Hartman. However, they fell flat defensively in the third period when they allowed the Golden Knights to score three goals.
The Golden Knights were able to get off 37 shots, while the Wild could only get 16. The Wild also had 15 penalty minutes, which cannot happen against the Oilers.
The Wild have a minor margin of safety when looking at their goal differential. They currently average 2.95 goals and 27.9 shot attempts, while allowing 2.73 goals and 29.5 shot attempts per matchup.
Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick
The Edmonton Oilers vs. Minnesota Wild betting odds have been offered through MyBookie, which currently favor the Oilers. This series has been lopsided with the road team winning, as the Wild won the first meeting 5-3 but the Oilers won the second time with a 7-1 blowout.
The Oilers are 12-6-2 on the road while the Wild are 11-9-1 at home. The 1.5 puck line is appealing, but the Wild are not reliable.
Despite both teams having similar records, it is difficult to see the Wild winning this game. Their goal differential is slim, as they are essentially winning low scoring battles that are decided by less than a goal. The Oilers have good momentum and should be able to win.
Final Pick: Edmonton Oilers -185
