by OddsShark (@OddsShark) – Sponsored Post
The Edmonton Oilers will be looking to build on Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over Toronto when they close out their two-game set with the Maple Leafs on Friday night as +125 underdogs on the NHL odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Edmonton’s victory in Wednesday’s contest marked a dramatic turnaround after a slow start, and establishes the Oilers’ first two-game win streak in 20 meetings between the teams going into Friday night’s matchup at Scotiabank Arena.
Oilers vs Maple Leafs | OddsShark Matchup Report
The Oilers settled down considerably in their first road contest of the season after surrendering 15 total goals while going 1-3-0 during a dismal season-opening homestand. In addition to getting a steady performance from netminder Mikko Koskinen in his best outing of the campaign so far, the Oilers held Toronto to just 26 shots on goal, which represents the fewest shots the Maple Leafs have recorded in a regular season home contest since early January of last year.
However, the Oilers continue to struggle to generate offense in five-on-five situations. The club has recorded just two goals at even strength over its past three games, and has been outshot in four of its first five contests of the season. And while their victory over the Maple Leafs was a positive, the Oilers have work to do to stop the current slide on the North Division odds caused by their soft start; Edmonton sits off the pace as a +700 wager at betting sites.
The Maple Leafs aim to shake off their first home loss of the season as they return to action on Friday as -145 chalk. While Toronto struggled to solve Mikko Koskinen in Wednesday’s defeat, it was not due to lack of effort, with the club outshooting the Oilers by a wide 20-11 margin through two periods.
Toronto sits among the league leaders with 15 total goals through five outings. The club’s best players have led the way, with the trio of John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews recording a combined 17 points. Matthews tallied the Maple Leafs’ lone marker in Wednesday’s loss, but his status for Friday’s contest suddenly came into question on Thursday morning when he left team practice early after complaining about feeling unwell.
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