Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Wednesday’s matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks.
Oilers vs. Blackhawks Odds
- Edmonton Oilers Moneyline: -271
- Chicago Blackhawks Moneyline: +236
- Puck Line: Oilers -1.5 (-104), Blackhawks +1.5 (-108)
- Game Total: 6.5 (Over +103, Under -116)
Game odds courtesy of Pinnacle.
Handicapping the Oilers (33-20 SU, 20-33 ATS, 22-30-1 O/U)
Despite dominating the Blues in St. Louis on Tuesday, Edmonton trailed late in the game. Fortunately, Leon Draisaitl tied it with just 2:14 remaining in regulation, and Connor Brown netted the winner midway through overtime.
The Oilers controlled play, generating nearly 71 percent of the expected goals and 65 percent of the shots, but they couldn’t solve Jordan Binnington at five-on-five. Connor McDavid scored on the power play, Draisaitl with the net empty, and Brown’s goal, of course, came at three-on-three.
Both Draisaitl and McDavid recorded multi-point games, surpassing their point totals (1.5), with McDavid leading the way with a goal and two assists. He had just one shot in the game after registering a combined 10 shots in his previous two outings.
Speaking of shots, Draisaitl needed just one period to clear his shots-on-goal prop (2.5) and finished with eight on the night. The 29-year-old has now recorded three or more shots in five straight games, including three dominant performances in a row with 10, six, and eight shots, respectively. As a result, he’ll need four shots on goal to go over his prop on Wednesday.
Edmonton outshot St. Louis 38-22, and while Stuart Skinner wasn’t as busy as Binnington, he made key saves that allowed the Oilers to secure the win. Now, Calvin Pickard will look for his sixth consecutive victory on Wednesday in the second half of the back-to-back.
Handicapping the Blackhawks (16-36 SU, 27-25 ATS, 22-23-7 O/U)
The Blackhawks return home from a three-game road trip looking to avoid their third straight loss. Unfortunately, losing streaks are nothing new for Chicago—they’ve suffered six skids of three or more games this season. The Blackhawks have won just two of their last 11 games and only four of their last 19 dating back to Dec. 21.
Since then, Chicago ranks 22nd in goals per 60 minutes but has seen an offensive uptick over the last month. However, this improvement doesn’t seem to be driven by anything sustainable. The Blackhawks have scored 2.49 goals per 60 minutes at even strength since Jan. 5, ranking just outside the top 10, but they sit dead last in expected goals and shot attempts per 60 minutes.
In other words, they’ve had good shooting luck, but unless their play improves, that luck isn’t likely to continue. Moreover, only two teams have allowed more goals per 60 minutes in all situations.
Chicago ranks 31st in expected goals percentage and 32nd in shot attempt percentage at even strength over the last month, but at least Connor Bedard has been a bright spot. Bedard has recorded at least one point in 16 of his last 19 games, bringing his season totals to 15 goals and 30 assists in 52 games.
From a betting perspective, Chicago has been the seventh-least profitable moneyline bet this season. However, the Blackhawks have won nine of 24 games as home underdogs, producing a slightly positive return on investment—though another loss would erase that.
Best Bets for Oilers vs. Blackhawks
Leon Draisaitl Over 3.5 Shots On Goal (+132) at Pinnacle
Draisaitl has recorded four or more shots in 10 of his last 20 games, including three straight. While the odds reflect the challenge, his current form and playing alongside McDavid at five-on-five make this a worthwhile bet at +132.
Corey Perry Anytime Goal (+336) at Pinnacle
Perry made the most of his promotion to the top line on Saturday, registering three shots on goal and scoring in Edmonton’s loss to Toronto. He carried that momentum into Tuesday’s game in St. Louis, where he recorded four shots on goal.
Notably, he generated 1.15 expected goals in that game—nearly double his previous best. Facing his former team on Wednesday in Chicago, Perry should have a good chance to find the back of the net, even if it’s a greasy one.
