NHL picks: Maple Leafs vs. Oilers odds, predictions, Mar. 1
The Edmonton Oilers are going through another rut.
After catching fire in early January, the Oilers are just 5-3-5 in their last 13 contests and are 2-3-3 in their last eight.
Even more concerning is that the schedule has not been that tough.
Edmonton has dropped decisions against Columbus (twice), Montreal, Detroit and Philadelphia.
This should have been a stretch where the Oilers made a run at the Pacific Division title, but instead they’ve fallen into the chasing pack.
Edmonton is a slight home underdog against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday night.
Maple Leafs vs. Oilers NHL pick
8 p.m. ET
While the Oilers certainly have some issues to solve, the defense actually hasn’t been terrible of late.
The goaltending is another story, but over their last 10 games Edmonton ranks third in expected goals against and seventh in high-danger chances conceded at 5-on-5 but 24th in save percentage and 28th in 5-on-5 save percentage.
Edmonton’s made life pretty easy on Jack Campbell and Stuart Skinner, both in terms in the chances its given up and the offensive support its providing, but it’s still not been enough to get wins because the netminders are leaking goals left and right.
That’s a tough situation for any team, but especially for Edmonton since its been the same problem for years.
Campbell signed a big contract to stabilize the situation but has not provided the goods.
Skinner has been strong for most of this season, but he’s a rookie, so maybe he’s hitting a wall.
Either way, it’s an issue that the Oilers need to sort out.
However, everything else that Edmonton is serving up looks pretty good.
The Oilers are tilting the ice in the right direction, their defensive process looks solid and Connor McDavid has 50 goals on March 1.
The Maple Leafs have also been playing some solid defense of late and lead the NHL in high-danger chances against over their last 10 contests.
Like Edmonton, Toronto can outscore defensive issues or poor goaltending, but it hasn’t had to of late.
The goaltending matchup, however it ends up, will be underwhelming but with the way these two teams are playing defensively, the under looks like a solid contrarian option on Wednesday night.
If you are going in that direction, you can likely wait out the market as these two teams will likely attract plenty of over money as we get closer to puck drop.
