Panthers vs. Oilers Odds
| Panthers Odds | -150 |
| Oilers Odds | +130 |
| Over/Under | 6.5 |
| Time | 9 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The Florida Panthers will continue their road trip on Thursday night when they travel to Edmonton to take on the Oilers.
Florida and Edmonton have been trending in opposite directions as of late, with the Panthers being the squad that is heading in the right direction. Florida as won eight of their last ten games and has been doing so in dominant fashion, while the Oilers have lost six straight games and eight of their last ten.
Edmonton has fallen into a miserable slump, but so far this season the Oilers have been able to find some success on their home ice. Will that be the case in this one, or will the Panthers dominate once again and prove why they are one of the top teams in the NHL?
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers have been playing hockey at an unbelievable level as of late, and as a result they have been a tough squad to beat on a nightly basis.
Over the course of their last ten games, Florida has scored an average of 5.4 goals per game, much higher than their season average of 4.05. The Panthers have also found some success when it has come to defense and goaltending, holding their opponents to just 2.8 goals per game in that same span of games.
As a result of their recent success, this is now one of the most well-rounded teams in the league from a statistical standpoint.
Florida now has the most total goals scored in 5-on-5 situations with 111, which is 14 more than the Avalanche who are second in the league in that category. In addition, the Panthers are scoring 3.57 goals per 60 minutes in 5-on-5 while surrendering just 2.38, showing that their defense can remain strong and hold down that end of the ice and provide the offense with tremendous support.
Sergei Bobrovsky is in line to get the start in net on Thursday. Bobrovsky has won seven of his last eight starts, and in 5-on-5 this year he has an SV% of .929 and 10.3 Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx).
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton is in a downward spiral that has put quite the damper on their season, a season where they started out red hot.
The Oilers began the 2021-22 season by winning 16 of their first 23 games and looked like they had a shot to run away with the Pacific Division. However, Edmonton has only won three games since December 1st in what has been quite the collapse, and now finds themselves in seventh place in the Pacific Division with 35 total points.
One of the most lethal scoring attacks to begin the year, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, has since fallen to the middle of the pack. In 5-on-5, Edmonton is ranked 19th in total goals and 13th in Expected Goals For per 60 minutes (xGF/60) with 2.47, showing that they are not getting much support from anyone besides their two stars.
Defensively speaking, Edmonton hasn't been great either, but there is still room for some hope that they can turn the tide.
In 5-on-5 situations, Edmonton is surrendering the fifth most goals per 60 minutes with 2.91, but as a team they are in the top half of the league in Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) with 2.41. They've certainly had some poor moments on that end of the ice, but they have been getting unlucky in the process as well.
Between injuries and poor play, Edmonton has been rotating goalies left and right, and it looks like it will be Mikko Koskinen's turn to attempt to stop the Panthers in their tracks. In 5-on-5 this season, Koskinen has an SV % of .906 and -6.7 GSAx.
Panthers vs. Oilers Pick
Almost everything points towards a Panthers win in this one, but Florida's play on the road this season is something that should be taken into consideration.
Coming into this matchup, the Panthers are just 5-5-5 while playing on their opponents ice, which is a massive difference when compared to their home record of 21-3. Furthermore, Florida has lost nine of their last eleven games on the road, which includes a 5-1 loss to Calgary on Tuesday to begin their road trip.
Edmonton clearly has not played good hockey, but they are 10-7 overall this year on their home ice and will be facing a Panthers team that is unpredictable on the road, and has given up and average of 4.67 goals per game in their last three road games.
It's a bit of an ugly play, but I think there is value in the Oilers getting back on track tonight and taking down the Panthers.
Pick: Edmonton ML (+130 — Play to +115)
