Oilers at Sharks Odds
| Oilers Odds | -140 |
| Sharks Odds | +120 |
| Over/Under | 6 (-115 /-105) |
| Time | 10:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The Edmonton Oilers travel to the Bay area where they take on the San Jose Sharks. It’s the first time these teams will face off this season, and it’s also an important one, as both are still scratching and clawing for a playoff spot.
One of the more talked about teams this season has been the Oilers, with their never ending drama. They recently fired coach Dave Tippett, and Jay Woodcroft took over in successful fashion, beating the Islanders. They’ve gone 6-3-1 in their last 10, and seem to be turning a corner.
San Jose hasn’t even played since the All-Star break, with an unheard of 13 days off. Although, it could be good for them, given that they’ve gone 3-4-3 in their last 10.
Are Oilers Figuring it Out?
The drama-filled season got even more spicy when the Oilers fired their coach, and they're now hoping to make a push toward the playoffs. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl both are in the top 3 in scoring, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman producing as quality depth pieces.
But even with the high-end scoring, they still have nothing to show for it, currently four points out of the final wild card spot. Problem is, they’ll be without Duncan Keith, Kyle Turris, Mikko Koskinen, and Zack Kassian on Monday.
Edmonton had an incredibly tough time generating offense in their poor stretch these past two months. However, they’re getting better, especially with the return of Nugent-Hopkins. They rank 14th in expected goals per 60 minutes with a 2.45 xGF/60 and 16th in high danger chances. What used to be the best power play in the league is now second best, scoring at a 28.5% clip.
On defense, they could be better, but they could be worse. They rank 16th in high danger chances allowed, but they allow the 10th most goals.
In net, it feels like a never ending circus. Mike Smith has dealt with injuries and has underperformed, while Mikko Koskinen was in battles with his former coach, and also struggling. Third-stringer Stuart Skinner has held his own as well, but is still low on the totem pole.
Smith had an impressive win against the Islanders on Friday, but he still carries a 3.50 SV% and a -3.2 GSAx (Goals Saved Above Expected) while Skinner is posting a .908 SV% and a -1.1 GSAx.
Sharks Not Driving Play Despite Top-End Talent
San Jose is coming into tonight nice and rested, although an extended break can sometimes be counterproductive. They are led by All=Star Timo Meier, who leads the team in scoring, plus Tomas Hertl, captain Logan Couture and Brent Burns. They will be without Erik Karlsson and Kevin Labanc, so both sides of the puck will suffer from those losses.
Despite a good amount of talent, the Sharks just aren’t great play drivers. They stand at 26th among teams with a 2.15 xGF/60, but do generate the eighth-most high danger chances. The power play is pretty middle-of-the-road where they only score 18.8% of the time. With a talented roster up front, you’d expect better numbers, but the lack of bottom-6 depth hurts them.
The Sharks are decent on the defensive side as they’re 15th in high danger chances allowed, but they allow the 13th-most goals allowed.
It’s been hard to determine what’s going on in net in the Bay. James Reimer and Adin Hill have both split starts, but it seems Reimer gets favored by coach Bob Boughner. The veteran Reimer averages a .915 SV% and a 5.1 GSAx, while Hill posts a .901 SV% and a -6.5 GSAx. With the extended break, I expect the veteran to get the nod.
Oilers-Sharks Pick
Both teams are divisional opponents and desperate, which means this should be a high intensity game. San Jose may have the goaltending advantage, but it’s never enough when going against McDavid and Draisaitl.
I also think the extended break for the Sharks will hurt them, while the Oilers already have three games under their belt after the All-Star break and are rounding into form.
Pick: Edmonton Oilers -1.5 (+160)
