Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Wednesday’s matchup between the St. Louis Blues and Edmonton Oilers.
Blues vs. Oilers Odds
- St. Louis Blues Moneyline: +105
- Edmonton Oilers Moneyline: -125
- Puck Line: Blues +1.5 (-235), Oilers -1.5 (+195)
- Game Total: 5.5 (Over -120, Under +100)
Game odds courtesy of Sports Interaction.
Handicapping the Blues (43-36 SU, 45-34 ATS, 33-41-5 O/U)
The Blues’ franchise-record 12-game win streak came to an end in Winnipeg on Monday with a 3-1 loss to the Jets. St. Louis has posted the best record in the NHL (19-3-2) since Feb. 8 and now has three games remaining to secure a wild card spot.
Offense has been a big part of the team’s success, as only one team has scored more goals per 60 minutes than St. Louis over the past nine weeks. However, the Blues rank among the bottom 10 teams in both shot attempts and expected goals per 60 during that span, so they’ve definitely benefited from some good fortune. St. Louis has posted the second-best shooting percentage in the NHL since Feb. 8. That said, only five teams have allowed fewer expected goals, so their ranking of sixth in goals against per 60 minutes isn’t just due to luck.
According to Evolving Hockey, the Blues rank 10th in expected goals percentage and ninth in shot share at five-on-five since the start of February. They’ve also ranked among the top 10 teams on the power play since the start of January, converting on 26 percent of their opportunities with the man advantage.
Forward Robert Thomas has been the Blues’ best offensive player this season, recording 21 goals and 76 points in 67 games. He’s been one of the hottest players in the league over the last month, too. Meanwhile, Jordan Kyrou leads the team in goals with 33, along with 32 assists. Former Oilers forward Dylan Holloway has also emerged as a top-six contributor, with 26 goals and 37 assists, but he has missed the last two games and is currently listed as day-to-day. The Blues are also without defenseman Colton Parayko, who hasn’t played since March 5.
Handicapping the Oilers (44-33 SU, 27-50 ATS, 34-42-1 O/U)
Edmonton closed out its four-game road trip with back-to-back losses to the Los Angeles Kings (3-0) and Anaheim Ducks (3-2). Now, the Oilers return home to Rogers Place looking to avoid a third straight loss. Edmonton sits four points behind its likely first-round opponent, the Kings, and with just five games remaining, it appears they’ll be starting the playoffs without home-ice advantage.
The Oilers have defeated the Blues in both meetings this season, winning 4-2 at home on Dec. 7 and 3-2 in overtime on Feb. 4 in St. Louis. However, the two clubs have split their last 10 matchups dating back to Dec. 29, 2021, and Edmonton will be icing a depleted roster on Wednesday. Not only is the team missing its two best players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but goaltender Stuart Skinner and defenseman Mattias Ekholm are also out. Forward Trent Frederic is listed as day-to-day after making his debut on Saturday.
The Oilers haven’t scored more than three goals in any of their last seven games, and their lack of scoring depth could be a problem—especially considering the Blues have allowed more than three goals in just four of their last 22 games and have been one of the league’s most effective offensive teams over that stretch.
While a few players have stepped up in the absence of McDavid and Draisaitl, no forward has produced consistently. Evan Bouchard is the only Oiler averaging a point per game since the beginning of March. Goaltender Calvin Pickard has been resting since Saturday, which could help, but Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington has been off since then as well.
The Oilers can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Blues on Wednesday—but they’ll also need the Calgary Flames to lose their game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Best Bet for Blues vs. Oilers
3-Way result: Regular Time Tie (+310) at Sports Interaction
With five out of the last nine meetings between the Blues and Oilers having gone to overtime or a shootout, bettors should expect another close game on Wednesday. Therefore, betting the +310 odds on this game to go to extra time is a solid strategy.
