In their first of three head-to-head meetings this season, the Minnesota Wild and the Edmonton Oilers take the ice at Rogers Place in a Western Conference tilt. The action gets underway at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 30 and it can be watched live on Sportsnet Oilers.
Minnesota Wild at Edmonton Oilers Odds
Earning 3.4 units for moneyline bettors, Edmonton is 6-4 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That winning percentage, ranked 1st in the Pacific Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 36-46 record from the 2017-18 season campaign. Six of its 10 outings have gone under the total, while four have gone over and none have pushed. This year, the team is 2-2 SU at home.
The Oilers have converted on 25.0 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 75.8 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Oilers have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game this season, a number that’s pretty close to last year’s 3.6 penalties per game they gave up. After serving an average of 9.2 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 8.2 minutes per outing this year.
With a .909 save percentage and 26.8 saves per game, Cam Talbot (5-4-1) has been the best goalkeeper for Edmonton this season. If Edmonton decides to rest him, however, the team could go with Mikko Koskinen (1-0 record, .889 save percentage, 3.05 goals against average).
Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will each look to continue their strong seasons for the Oilers. McDavid (17 points) has tallied eight goals and nine assists and has recorded two or more points six times this year. Nugent-Hopkins has three goals and nine assists to his credit and has notched a point in six games.
Minnesota is 6-5 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.8 units this year. Through 11 regular season matches, six of its games have gone under the total, while three have gone over and just one has pushed. As the road team, the Wild are 1-3 SU so far.
The Wild have converted on just 13.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked seventh overall and it’s successfully killed off 85.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Minnesota’s skaters have been penalized 5.4 times per game this season, a number that’s climbed noticeably from the 3.8 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.6 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 11.5 minutes per outing this year.
Devan Dubnyk (33.2 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk owns a 5-4-2 record, and has registered a .937 save percentage and 2.19 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Wild, the offense will be coordinated by Zach Parise (three goals, eight assists) and Ryan Suter (three goals, seven assists).
Minnesota Wild vs. Edmonton Oilers Betting Picks
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Notes
Betting Notes
After posting a 3-3 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Minnesota is off to a 0-1 start in shootouts this season. Edmonton was 5-1 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The under has hit in three of Edmonton’s last five outings.
After averaging the seventh-most shots in the league last season (33.4 per game), Edmonton’s attempted 29.9 shots per game overall this season, and 32.8 in their last five home outings.
Edmonton has allowed 3.0 goals per game overall this season, but is giving up only 1.7 per contest over its three-game winning streak.
Minnesota skaters recorded 16.9 hits per game last season, while the Oilers logged 26.0 hits per contest.
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