Oilers vs Penguins Prediction, Preview, Odds and Picks, Feb. 23
The Edmonton Oilers visit Pittsburgh looking to extend their winning streak against the Penguins to four. The NHL betting odds slightly favor Pittsburgh, however, as these teams will pit their potent special teams. Edmonton has the top-ranked power play while Pittsburgh’s penalty kill can be one of the best in the league.
Let’s check the latest NHL news, stats, injury reports, and NHL lines for Oilers vs Penguins. We’ve got plenty of NHL picks for you to consider.
Oilers Have To Keep Scoring
The offense is the best defense for the Oilers. Like the Kings, Edmonton needs to keep the pedal to the metal thanks to porous defending and/or subpar netminding. The Oilers are fortunate for Stuart Skinner’s development as the All-Star has been solid enough in net.
Still, Skinner is letting in nearly three goals per game. He also has an 85.5 save percentage on the penalty kill (PK), which is below the league average. It’s one reason why Edmonton is getting lit up here. Thankfully, Edmonton also has the best power play (PP) to more than makeup for the goals they give up here.
Edmonton’s 64 PP goals are the most in the league by far. We can thank Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, who scored 37. This team’s penchant for producing and allowing special teams goals is a big reason why it continually cashes the “over” in the sportsbook.
Best OVER teams this NHL season:
Canucks 38-18-1
Oilers 38-17-3
Blues 33-21-3
Panthers 34-23-3
Sharks 34-24Best UNDER teams:
Jets 40-15-2
Stars 36-19-1
Avs 35-20
Wild 32-23-2
Capitals 33-23-2— John Ewing �� (@johnewing) February 22, 2023
Penguins Get Jarry Back
After missing nearly a month, the Penguins welcomed back starting goaltender Tristan Jarry. Pittsburgh went 4-4-2 without Jarry, which is respectable. But one stat that really dipped was their PK. The Penguins’ 71.4 PK percentage (20-of-28) was a continued slide for what was one of the league’s three best units.
Pittsburgh had a PK percentage of over 82% when Jarry played and over 84% before the New Year when defenseman Kris Letang and Jarry were active. The Penguins’ on-ice save percentage on the PK is 93.8% when Letang is involved.
With both back, it’s not surprising to see Pittsburgh favored by folks betting online. Even if this team has struggled in stretches, it may finally be back to full strength here. If Pittsburgh can neutralize the NHL’s best power play, it will be a big confidence builder.
Oilers vs Penguins Game Game Injuries
Oilers vs Penguins Head-to-Head
In the Penguins’ last six home games versus the Oilers, the total has gone under five times. However, the total has gone over in nine of Edmonton’s last 11 road games this season.
Oilers vs Penguins Game Information
- Game: Oilers (31-19-5) vs Penguins (27-20-9)
- Day/Time: Thursday, Feb. 23, 7 p.m. ET
- Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
- Oilers vs Penguins Live stream:NHL.TV
Oilers vs Penguins Betting Lines
Oilers vs Penguins Picks and Prediction
In this matchup, side with the Penguins’ better two-way play. Edmonton can be dangerous with their top-six forwards and their first power play unit. Expect McDavid and/or Draisaitl to score for Edmonton. But overall, a healthier Penguins team will not let the Oilers score too many times. Likewise, Pittsburgh is unlikely to score more than three goals. Bet the under.
Pittsburgh is listed at -115 in our Vegas NHL lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Penguins, you have a chance to win $87. The Edmonton Oilers are -105, offering a chance to win $95 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Penguins a 53.49% chance to win, with the Oilers at 51.22%.
