Rogers Place will be hosting a cross-continent showdown as the Edmonton Oilers prepare to face the visiting Boston Bruins. It’s the last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. Sportsnet ONE will broadcast the game, and the puck drops at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 18.
Boston Bruins vs. Edmonton Oilers Odds
Boston is 4-2 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 3.0 units this year. That win percentage, the third-best in the Atlantic Division so far in this young season, isn’t too far off from to the 50-32 record the team posted during the 2017-18 season campaign. Three of its matches have gone over the total, while two have gone under. As the road team in 2018-19, the Bruins are 1-2 SU.
Boston has impressively scored on 31.3 percent of its power play opportunities so far. That’s a nice improvement from last season, when it was ranked second in the league by scoring on 25.0 percent of its extra-man chances. Its penalty kill has fallen off drastically, however, as the team has gone from successfully defending 82.5 percent of all opponent power plays (ranked fourth overall last year) to 75.0 percent this year.
Boston, as a collective unit, has been penalized 5.2 times per game this season, a number that has jumped noticeably from last year’s 3.8 penalties per game. After serving an average of 9.4 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to kill penalties for a whopping 13.2 minutes per matchup this year.
Averaging 24.5 saves per game with a .875 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (2-2) has been the top option in goal for Boston this year. Rask played last night, however, so head coach Bruce Cassidy could opt to rest him and roll with Jaroslav Halak instead (2-1 record, .961 save percentage, 1.18 goals against average).
The visiting Bruins have relied heavily on Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand this year. Bergeron has 13 points on six goals and seven assists this season; Marchand has two goals and nine assists to his name through the early stages of the regular season.
On the other bench, Edmonton is 2-2 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 0.6 units this year. Through four regular season contests, two of its games have gone over the total, while another two have gone under and none have pushed.
Edmonton has converted on 33.3 percent of its extra-man advantages this year after scoring on 14.8 percent (ranked 31st in league) last season. It has killed off a remarkable 63.6 percent of all penalties, a few points lower than the 76.7 percent the team recorded a year ago (when it was ranked 25th overall).
Edmonton skaters have been penalized 3.3 times per game this season, a number that’s 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 season ago the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 7.3 minutes per contest this year.
Cam Talbot has stopped 25.5 shots per game as the top netminder in goal for Edmonton. Talbot has two wins and two losses to his name and has maintained a pedestrian 3.02 goals against average and a subpar .895 save percentage this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Connor McDavid (four goals, five assists).
Boston Bruins vs. Edmonton Oilers Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Oilers, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
The over has hit in three of Boston’s last five outings.
After averaging 32.8 shots per game as a team last season (the ninth-most in the league), Boston has attempted 29.7 shots per game overall this season, and 29.7 in its last 10 games.
Edmonton has yet to win a game by two more more goals this season.
Boston skaters registered 24.3 hits per game last season, while the Oilers logged 26.0 hits per contest.
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