Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Thursday’s matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Seattle Kraken.
Oilers vs. Kraken Odds
- Edmonton Oilers Moneyline: -113
- Seattle Kraken Moneyline: +104
- Puck Line: Oilers -1.5 (+204), Kraken +1.5 (-237)
- Game Total: 6 (Over -117, Under +104)
Game odds courtesy of Pinnacle.
Handicapping the Oilers (41-30 SU, 26-45 ATS, 33-37-1 O/U)
The Oilers came out strong on Wednesday, outshooting the Dallas Stars 14-5 in the first period, but they trailed heading into the second—and that’s where things fell apart. Edmonton allowed three goals, all scored by Jason Robertson, and entered the third period down 4-0.
However, the Oilers made a game of it with three third-period goals from Corey Perry, Adam Henrique, and Zach Hyman, but it was too little, too late, and the Stars won 4-3. Now, Edmonton faces the tough task of heading to Seattle for the second half of a back-to-back.
So far this season, home teams have won nearly 60 percent of games when they have more rest than the road team, while road teams playing the second half of a back-to-back have won just 35.8 percent of the time.
Edmonton eked out a 5-4 win against the Kraken on Saturday without Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but this scheduling spot puts them at a disadvantage. Not to mention, while Zach Hyman was able to finish Wednesday’s game, he briefly left after a collision with Mason Marchment—hopefully, that injury doesn’t linger.
Additionally, goaltender Stuart Skinner was forced to leave the game after being hit in the head by Stars forward Mikko Rantanen’s thigh, forcing Calvin Pickard to step in. That’ll serve as a warm-up for Pickard, who is expected to start Thursday in Seattle. Pickard has won both of his starts versus Seattle this season, stopping 42 of the 46 shots he’s faced.
Handicapping the Kraken (30-36 SU, 36-36 ATS, 32-32-5 O/U)
Seattle will look to snap a three-game losing streak on Thursday as they kick off a three-game home trip against two of the best teams in the Western Conference. The Kraken will play Edmonton on Thursday before hosting the Stars in back-to-back games.
The Kraken have lost nine straight against the Oilers, including Saturday’s defeat, but this is a particularly advantageous spot for them to end that streak. As mentioned, the Oilers will be playing tired, and they’ll be without their two top stars, McDavid and Draisaitl.
Forward Jordan Eberle and defenseman Brandon Montour have led the way with 11 points in 12 games since March 1, but Montour holds sole possession of the team lead in goals this month with six. Three players—Vince Dunn, Matty Beniers, and Chandler Stephenson—are tied with eight points in March, but Stephenson has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury. The 30-year-old is second on the team in scoring with 48 points in 69 games.
Stopping the puck will be key for Seattle. The Kraken are 2-11-1 against the Oilers since entering the league and have allowed 4.2 goals per game against Edmonton. Goaltender Joey Daccord has never defeated Edmonton, going 0-5-1 against the Oilers in his career with a 3.82 goals-against average and an .874 save percentage.
Meanwhile, Philipp Grubauer is 1-4 against the Oilers as a member of the Kraken, with a 4.76 goals-against average and an .849 save percentage.
Best Bet for Oilers vs. Kraken
Moneyline – Regulation Time – Draw (+332) at Pinnacle
This strategy didn’t work out on Saturday, but it wasn’t far off, as the Oilers narrowly defeated the Kraken. However, I’m inclined to stick with the same approach for Thursday’s matchup because of the schedule. McDavid and Draisaitl have been key factors in Edmonton’s dominance in this matchup, but without them—and with the Oilers playing on Wednesday—bettors should expect another close game.
