Category: nhl

Rangers vs. Oilers prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 10/26/2023

October 26, 2023

Who’s ready for some inter-league action later this evening? In what should have plenty of eyes glued on their televisions for this one, the New York Rangers will travel to the Pacific time zone to face off with the struggling Edmonton Oilers. Alas, it is about that time to take a look at our NHL odds series where our Rangers-Oilers prediction and pick will be all but revealed.

On paper, it is becoming difficult to argue against the fact that the New York Rangers are not a possible contender out east. So far, the Rangers have compiled a 4-2 record overall and are coming off back-to-back wins in which they’ve only allowed two goals combined in. With tremendous balance on both ends of the ice, could this New York squad be on the cusp of something special this season?

Meanwhile, the usual high-flying Edmonton Oilers have a flat tire out of the gate and are already seeking repairs to get back on track. In the midst of a three-game losing streak that saw the Oilers give up a whopping seven goals on the road in Minnesota, something needs to change in a hurry for Edmonton before it becomes too late! Still, talent obviously reigns supreme on this roster and the Oilers will have a great opportunity to make a statement with a stellar performance in front of their home fan this evening.

Here are the NHL Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

NHL Odds: Rangers-Oilers Odds

New York Rangers: -1.5 (+180)

Edmonton Oilers: +1.5 (-220)

Over: 6.5 (+110)

Under: 6.5 (-134)

How to Watch Rangers vs. Oilers

Time: 9:00 ET/6:00 PT

TV: ESPN+

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Rangers Will Cover The Spread/Win

As a whole, this Rangers club doesn’t have a whole lot of weaknesses when they lace up the skates and tape their sticks for play. Since New York doesn’t often shoot themselves in the foot like many other teams do throughout the NHL, the margin of error with their opponents is often extremely slim to none. All in all, New York forces you to make plays against a suffocating defense that will make you pay. Combine that with one of the best net-minders in the game reigning supreme between the pipes, and it can often be game over for whoever New York faces off with before the contest barely begins.

In regards to covering the spread on this wild Thursday of action throughout the league, be on the lookout for the Rangers to try and overwhelm the Oilers with an effective power-play attack that has been difficult to slow down this season. In their latest win, it proved to be New York that converted on 40% of their extra-man opportunities which was a huge reason why they were able to overcome an early deficit in the first period. In short, drawing a fair amount of penalties and keeping the Oilers in the box will not only make life easier for Igor Shesterkin, but it will keep the pressure on a shaky Oilers defense.

Most importantly, Shesterkin hasn’t clicked on all cylinders just quite yet to begin the season, but he is fresh off of a dominating start against the Kraken which resulted in surrendering only a lone goal in the victory.

Why The Oilers Will Cover The Spread/Win

Without question, the loss of Connor McDavid due to injury is a major blow for a team that could use his electrifying playmaking in an attempt to snap a three-game slide. As it stands, it appears that McDavid has resumed skating which is a positive, but he certainly will be out for this tilt with the Rangers.

Although the lack of firepower offensively will be a tough hill to climb without their superstar center running the show, but the bigger concern may possibly be a defense that has more leaks than the Titanic. Far too often, the Oilers have been giving the opposition open lanes to shoot the puck which makes life miserable for whoever is in net. Indeed, an improvement in this area needs to happen immediately.

Known for their high-scoring offense over the years, the slower-than-usual start in the scoring department has definitely raised a few eyebrows and not in a good way. Overall, Edmonton is averaging only 2.83 scores per game up to this point and has only produced more than four goals in a contest just once this season.

At the very least, center Leon Draisaitl continues to be an absolute force whenever he is on the ice. So far, the 27-year-old German has amassed 11 points (fifth-most in the league) including seven assists, and has done a stellar job in finding open teammates for scoring opportunities. Not a whole lot has gone right this season for the Oilers, but take a deep break Edmonton fanatics. The sky isn’t falling as of yet.

Final Rangers-Oilers Prediction & Pick

The Rangers are thriving and the Oilers are sinking. While this might not be the case by the end of the year, is is wise to side with New York in this one based on their recent play.

Final Rangers-Oilers Prediction & Pick: Rangers -1.5 (+180)

The post Rangers vs. Oilers prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 10/26/2023 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Blues vs. Flames prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 10/26/2023

October 26, 2023

Happy Thursday everyone! It is time to buckle up for an epic showdown at the Scotiabank Saddledome as the St. Louis Blues head north to square off with the Calgary Flames. Join us for our NHL odds series where our Blues-Flames prediction and pick will be revealed.

Fresh off of a narrow loss to Winnipeg by a score of 4-2, the Blues have been hovering around average to begin the newly appointed regular season with a 2-2-1 overall record. A year ago, it was St. Louis that took a major step backward en route to a 37-38-7 record after it was the year prior that saw the Blues capture a whopping 49 wins and a fourth-place finish in the conference. Do the Blues have what it takes to return to the dominance that the showcased during the 2021-2022 campaign at some point this year?

Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames are off to an extremely sluggish start and already see themselves in the midst of a three-game losing streak. With losses in four of their last five games overall, the Flames are parched to get back into the win column especially following a 3-1 home loss most recently against the New York Rangers.

Here are the NHL Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

NHL Odds: Blues-Flames Odds

St. Louis Blues: +1.5 (-152)

Calgary Flames: -1.5 (+126)

Over: 6.5 (+110)

Under: 6.5 (-134)

How to Watch Blues vs. Flames

Time: 9:00 ET/6:00 PT

TV: ESPN+

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Blues Will Cover The Spread/Win

First things first, the best chance that the Blues have to cover the spread versus the Flames is to get off to a much better start and not have horrendous stretches during the game that ultimately make things tough to come back from. Alas, this was the exact case the last time the Blues were out on the ice as they surrendered a pair of goals to the Jets in a span of 18 seconds early in the second period to trail 2-0 and couldn’t really recover after that. Instead, jumping out to a multiple-goal lead themselves to kick off the party will end up being a recipe for success in regards to finding a way to cover the spread as +1.5 goal underdogs.

All in all, it proved to be St. Louis’ offense that couldn’t figure out how to get on the same page with only 20 shots on goal against Winnipeg. Remember, the Blues are only averaging 2.00 goal per game and desperately need something to change on the offensive side of the ice. Even if St. Louis can manage to find the back of the net a few times, the chances of goaltender Jordan Binnington acting as a human wall is quite high. Overall, the 30-year-old net-minder has already posted a minuscule 1.69 GAA and also possesses an elite .945 save percentage through three games in between the pipes. Worst comes to worst, Binnington will prove to be a one-way ticket to covering the spread for the Blues and getting them back on a winning track.

Why The Flames Will Cover The Spread/Win

On the other side of things, the Flames have been downright bad lately. Similarly enough to the Blues, the Flames went into last season after finishing near the top of the conference but failed to match the success found on the ice within the 2022-2023 regular season. As a whole, Calgary’s 38 wins a year ago ended up not being nearly enough to make it to the postseason for the sixth consecutive season.

In order to get back on track and start heading in the right direction with a spread-covering victory on the road, there is no doubt that the Flames will need to sort out their power-play attack that has been rather sluggish and that’s putting it nicely. In their third straight loss coming at the hands of the Rangers, Calgary came up empty far too often and failed to record a goal in all four of their extra-man opportunities. Whenever a team goes on the attack, they are often expected to score, and coming up empty when your team needs a score the most is rather deflating.

In addition to finding a way to capitalize when or if the Blues commit penalties, goalie Jakob Markstrom is slated for the start in the cage on this Thursday and tonight could serve as a get-right game against a scuffling Blues offense. Thus far, Markstrom is a sloppy 1-3-1 in net with an underwhelming .897 save percentage next to his name. Above all else, Calgary is desperate for a worthy outing from Markstrom and if he can prove to be the ultimate equalizer in this one, then watch out for the Flames!

Final Blues-Flames Prediction & Pick

There is no question that both of these squads come into this Thursday night matchup with plenty of question marks. However, it is hard to imagine that the Flames have what it takes at the moment to come out on top by multiple goals based on the way they have been playing. The safe bet here is to rely on St.. Louis to make the necessary plays and heavily rely on Binnington in net to swoop in and save the day.

Final Blues-Flames Prediction & Pick: Blues +1.5 (-152)

The post Blues vs. Flames prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 10/26/2023 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Maple Leafs vs. Stars prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 10/26/2023

October 26, 2023

The Toronto Maple Leafs travel all the way down to Texas to take on the Dallas Stars. This game will continue our NHL odds series as we hand out a Maple Leafs-Stars prediction and pick. We will also let you know how to watch the game.

The Maple Leafs are 4-2-0 to begin this season. They William Nylander, and John Tavares both lead the team with 10 points. Nylander has an even amount of goals and assists while Tavares has seven assists. Auston Matthews is the team leader in goals. He has netted seven on the season. In net, the Maple Leafs have allowed 3.33 goals per game.

The Stars have yet to lose a game in regulation this season. They are 4-0-1, and are showing an ability to be very dominant. Joe Pavelski leads the team in goals, but he has just three on the season. Four different players have three assists on the season for the Stars. Their highest point total is six. The Stars are also very good in net. They allow just 2.00 goals per game this season.

Joseph Woll is the likely starter for the Maple Leafs. Scott Wedgewood is the confirmed starter in goal for the Stars.

Here are the NHL Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

NHL Odds: Maple Leafs-Stars Odds

Toronto Maple Leafs: -1.5 (+210)

Dallas Stars: +1.5 (-260)

Over: 6.5 (+102)

Under: 6.5 (-124)

How to Watch Maple Leafs vs. Stars

Time: 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

TV: TSN Direct, Bally Sports Southwest

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Maple Leafs Will Cover The Spread/Win

The Leafs are catching a break not having to shoot on Jake Oettinger in this game. Toronto will be facing Wedgewood in this game. He has made one start this season, and it was not the best game. He allowed four goals on 40 shots against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Maple Leafs will take their shots in the offensive zone, so Wedgewood will have some saves to make. If the Maple Leafs can put a few in the back of the net, they will cover this spread.

Woll has done a good job this season. He has wins over the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Washington Capitals this season, and a loss against the Chicago Blackhawks. However, in those games, Woll is only averaging 1.44 goals allowed, and he has a save percentage over .950. Woll has been good, and the Maple Leafs will need him to take care of business in this game.

Why The Stars Will Cover The Spread/Win

Dallas has been playing well all season. They have scored three goals per game, and they allow just two. The Stars spread the love, and they get contributions from a lot of different skaters. 10 different players have scored a goal for the Stars, and 13 different players have recorded an assist. Every shift makes their presence known, and it shows. If the Stars can continue to get help from everyone, they will cover the spread.

Final Maple Leafs-Stars Prediction & Pick

This game is going to be a close one. To make my pick, I will be looking at solely the goaltending matchup. With that, I trust Woll, and the Maple Leafs more. I think they can hold the Stars to just a couple goals, and in turn, lead the Maple Leafs to a win. I will be taking Toronto to cover the spread.

Final Maple Leafs-Stars Prediction & Pick: Maple Leafs -1.5 (+210), Under 6.5 (-124)

The post Maple Leafs vs. Stars prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 10/26/2023 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Bruins get mixed bag of injury updates with franchise history on the line vs. Ducks

October 26, 2023

The Boston Bruins are aiming to break a franchise record for most consecutive victories to start a season, but they’ll have to do it without a pair of forwards.

Milan Lucic will be out for a “couple of weeks” with a foot fracture, while Jakub Lauko is expected to miss a week with a facial fracture, B’s head coach Jim Montgomery confirmed to Boston.com’s Conor Ryan on Thursday.

Lucic was hit by teammate Derek Forbort’s shot in Saturday night’s win against the Los Angeles Kings. He left warmups early ahead of Sunday’s win over the Anaheim Ducks, and was diagnosed with the foot ailment this week.

The 35-year-old has scored two assists in four games since his return to Massachusetts at the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign. He’s added eight hits and two blocks in a bottom-six capacity with the team.

Lauko was hit in the face by Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson’s skate in the Bruins’ shutout win over Chicago on Tuesday night. It appeared he took a skate to the eye area, and he made straight for the bench.

Although it was a scary situation, Lauko confirmed on social media that he was no worse for wear:

The 23-year-old has suited up for all six of Boston’s wins this season, but has failed to register a point yet.

With both Milan Lucic and Jakub Lauko on the shelf, Boston only has 11 forwards available on the roster. And with just over $1.2 million of cap space to work with, the team could choose to recall a player from the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins ahead of Thursday’s rematch with the Ducks.

If the Bruins can pull out a victory and start the season 7-0, they’ll make franchise history.

The post Bruins get mixed bag of injury updates with franchise history on the line vs. Ducks appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Jared Spurgeon’s latest injury update will disappoint Wild fans

October 26, 2023

The Minnesota Wild will be without Jared Spurgeon for at least three-and-a-half more weeks after the defenseman was placed on long-term injured reserve by the team on Wednesday.

Spurgeon hasn’t played a single game this season after he sustained an upper-body injury during a preseason game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 5. The veteran remains week-to-week and no other update was provided on his status.

The move to LTIR means the 33-year-old will be out for a minimum of 24 days and 10 games. The hope is that he can return to the team before the end of November, although the injury certainly is concerning for a player who has struggled to stay healthy.

The Wild’s captain scored 11 goals and 34 points in 79 regular-season contests last season, adding two assists in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. Minnesota was defeated 4-2 in Round 1 by the Dallas Stars, who went on to lose to the eventual champion Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final.

Jared Spurgeon has been a huge part of the Wild for his entire career; he’s appeared in 851 regular-season games with the club, scoring 110 goals and 379 points over that span, as well as 29 points in 67 playoff affairs.

In a corresponding move, Minnesota recalled forward Jujhar Khaira from the American Hockey League’s Iowa Wild on Wednesday.

The Wild are off to a solid start to the 2023-24 season, compiling a 3-2-1 record over six games, good enough for third place in the Central Division. They open a three-game road trip against the Philadelphia Flyers in Pennsylvania on Thursday night.

The post Jared Spurgeon’s latest injury update will disappoint Wild fans appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Avalanche vs. Penguins prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 10/26/2023

October 26, 2023

The Colorado Avalanche are still undefeated as they look to keep it going against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It is time to continue our NHL odds series with an Avalanche-Penguins prediction, pick, and how-to-watch.

The Avalanche are 6-0 this year and have been dominant all year. They have had just one game this year that was within one goal, and that was the second game of the year on the road to the Sharks. Since then, they have scored four or more goals in every game, while winning by two or more goals in every game since then. The Avalanche have been great on the road this year. They have won their last 14 road games and can break the NHL record with a win in this one.

The Penguins come in at 2-4 on the year. Overall, they have lost their last three games, and been struggling. They lost by three to the Red Wings, then lost by two to the Blues. Last time out, they faced the Dallas Stars. The Penguins got up 1-0 in the first, but the Stars scored two in the second, and another two in the third. In that game, they got plenty of shots on the next, but could not find a way to score, while they allowed four goals on 34 shots to take the loss.

Here are the NHL Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

NHL Odds: Avalance-Penguins Odds

Colorado Avalanche: -144

Pittsburgh Penguins: +120

Over: 6.5 (-122)

Under: 6.5 (+100)

How to Watch Avalanche vs. Penguins

Time: 7:00 PM ET/ 4:00 PM PT

TV: NHLPP/ESPN+

Stream: FuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Avalanche Will Win

The top line for the Avalanche has been great this year. It is anchored by Artturi Lehoknen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Valeri Nichushkin. Lehoknen comes in with two goals and four assists on the year while being solid on the power play, with a goal and three assists. MacKinnon comes in with four goals and three assists on the year, with two of the assists coming on the power play. Nichushkin has a goal and six assists on the year.

Still, the top two producers do not sit on the top line. Miko Rantanen has five goals already this year. That leads the team, as does his seven assists on the season. He has a plus-six rating this year and has played well on both sides of the ice. Meanwhile, Cale Makar has three goals from the blue line this year, with six assists. His nine points on the season which is second on the team.

Meanwhile, Ryan Johansen has been great on the power play this year. He has four goals overall with an assist. Three of the goals and the one assist all come on the power play. The power play has been amazing for Colorado. They have scored six times this year on the power play, but they have 21 chances this year. The Avalanche have also been great on the man down. They have allowed just two goals on 27-man down chances, and still have three shorthanded goals. That means they have scored more when manned down than the other team.

Alexandar Georgiev will be in the net today for the Avalanche. He is 6-0-0 on the year with a 1.98 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. Georgiev started the season great, allowing just four goals in the first four games with a shutout. In the last two games, he has allowed four goals in each of them, but he still took two wins.

Why The Penguins Will Win

It has been Bryan Rust leading the way for the Penguin this year. He has six goals this year on just 19 shots. Also, all five of them come in five-on-five situations. Meanwhile, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby are still producing. Malkin has four goals this year and four assists. His eight points lead the team this year, with two assists on the power play this year. Meanwhile, Crosby has three goals this year with three assists. Two of those goals have come on the power play.

Jake Guentzel has been setting up the plays great this year. He is second on the team, in points this year, mainly due to his six assists this year. He also has one goal this year, but he has a minus-two rating on the year. Only four guys have more than one goal this year. Rust, Malkin, and Crosby all have over two goals, while Reilly Smith has two goals.

The Penguins have been great at getting shots on goal this year. They have 33 or more shots this year on goal in all but one game. They had 29 shots on goal in the one game and still won. They have also been solid at limiting shots. They have allowed under 30 shots in three of their sit games, but have allowed 34 or more in the other three.

One area of improvement for the Penguins this year is the power play. They have scored just twice on the power play this year, both coming in the second game of the year against the Capitals. They have had 16 chances this year on the power play with just two goals.

Tristan Jarry is slated to be in the net in this game. He is 1-3-0 on the season with a 2.81 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage. He started the season strong with two games over a .910 save percentage in both games. In the last two games, he has struggled. Against the Red Wings, he saved just 23 of 27 and then against the Blues, he saved just 17 of 21 shots.

Final Avalanche-Penguins Prediction & Pick

The Avalanche come in undefeated on the season and for a good reason. They are scoring a ton of goals while defending very well. Tristan Jarry has struggled as of late. He is allowing shots on low volume. The Avalanche are going to give him a high volume of shots in this game. Further, Colorado has been solid on the power play and the Penguins are giving up plenty of chances on the power play. Take the Avalanche in this game.

Final Avalanche-Penguins Prediction & Pick: Avalanche ML (-144) 

The post Avalanche vs. Penguins prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 10/26/2023 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Senators vs. Islanders prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 10/26/2023

October 26, 2023

The Ottawa Senators are in New York City to take on the New York Islanders Thursday night. This game will continue our NHL odds series as we hand out a Senators-Islanders prediction and pick. We will also let you know how to watch the game.

The Senators are 3-3-0 to begin the season. They won three straight, but they are coming off two straight losses. Brady Tkachuk is the leading scorer for the Senators. He has netted four goals this season, and has six total points. Vladimir Tarasenko leads the team in points with eight. This is thanks to his five assists on the season. As a team, the Senators have 25 total goals in six games played.

The Islanders are 2-2-1 to begin this season. Their three losses have all come in their last three games. The teams they played were all decent, but New York has not been able to pull out the wins. Brock Nelson leads the team in goals with three. Two other skaters have two goals, while the rest of them that have scored have only scored once. Noah Dobson leads the team in assists with four, and his five points are also tops on the team. As a team, the Islanders have scored only 13 goals.

Joonas Korpisalo is expected to be in net for the Senators. Ilya Sorokin should be the starting goaltender for the Islanders.

Here are the NHL Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

NHL Odds: Senators-Islanders Odds

Ottawa Senators: +1.5 (-220)

New York Islanders: -1.5 (+180)

Over: 6.5 (+102)

Under: 6.5 (-124)

How to Watch Senators vs. Islanders

Time: 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT

TV: MSGSN, TSN Direct

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Senators Will Cover The Spread/Win

The Senators do a good job scoring the puck. However, the story of this game will be the Islanders’ inability to score. New York averaged less than three goals per game, and they have not scored more than four goals this season. What makes matters even better for the Senators is they do not allow opponents to shoot many shots on them. Ottawa allows only 26.3 shots against them this season. There is a good chance the Islanders do not score many goals this game, and that will only benefit the Senators.

Why The Islanders Will Cover The Spread/Win

The Islanders, as mentioned, do not score very well. This means they will need to rely on their pressure in the defensive zone. The Islanders allow 32.8 shots per game, which is pretty high, but they should be able to keep the pressure on the Senators. If they can keep the pressure on, the Islanders will cover the spread.

The Senators are one of the most penalized teams in the league. They are fifth in penalty minutes this season, so they are constantly playing a man down. The Islanders commit the second-fewest penalties in the NHL. There is a good chance the Islanders go on the powerplay a few times this game, and they will need to capitalize on it.

Final Senators-Islanders Prediction & Pick

The Senators are the underdogs in this game. However, I like them to cover the spread. The Islanders do not do a good job scoring, and with low scores comes close games. Even if the Islanders win this game, it is going to be a close on, so the Senators should be able to keep this within a goal.

Final Senators-Islanders Prediction & Pick: Senators +1.5 (-220), Under 6.5 (-124)

The post Senators vs. Islanders prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 10/26/2023 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Canucks prospect leaves AHL game on stretcher after shocking incident

October 26, 2023

Vancouver Canucks prospect Vasily Podkolzin was stretchered off the ice during an American Hockey League game between the Abbotsford Canucks and Colorado Eagles on Wednesday, after taking a huge hit and appearing to land head-first on the ice.

Podkolzin was aware and awake as we was taken off, but at one point was convulsing, causing both benches to empty in support of the 22-year-old. The hit was delivered by Eagles defenseman Keaton Middleton, who was administered a five-minute major and game misconduct on the play.

It was a shocking incident, although Podkolzin shared an Instagram Story from the hospital with the caption “all good, no worries!” late Thursday night

It looks like Podkolzin avoided a situation that could have been a lot worse, and the fact the young Russian is responsive enough to post on social media is an excellent sign.

“After an incident involving another player during this evening’s game against Colorado, Vasily was transported to a local hospital,” the Abbotsford Canucks said in a statement. “Vasily is continuing to be thoroughly assessed by physicians as a precaution, but since exiting the ice he has continued to be alert and responsive.”

Vasily Podkolzin has been excellent in the AHL this season, recording seven points in six games, including scoring the game-winning goal against these same Eagles earlier this week.

The former No. 10 overall pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2019 NHL Draft made his big league debut in 2021-22, but was sent to Abbotsford after failing to carve out a bottom-six role with the team.

Podkolzin has played some of the best pro hockey of his career in 2023-24, and the hope is that he can recover quickly and continue working towards returning to Vancouver.

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Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft stands behind defensive system despite abysmal start

October 26, 2023

It’s been a nightmare start to the campaign in Oil Country, with the Edmonton Oilers shockingly sitting in 31st place after a 1-4-1 start. But despite the team’s glaring struggles, coach Jay Woodcroft defended their systems on Thursday.

“I think it gets magnified by the fact that our record is what our record is right now,” he said on Wednesday about the team’s defensive structure. “Any time you go do something new and you’re working through something, there’s growing pains. Can we be better? Yeah, we can. And we don’t make any excuses for it.”

The Oilers changed from man-to-man coverage to zone defense ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, a tactic that clearly has not been working in the early going. They’ve given up 4.5 goals per game, which also ranks second last in the National Hockey League.

Oilers being undone by defense, goaltending

Edmonton was expected to be a Stanley Cup contender, but poor team defense and brutal goaltending has been the downfall in the early going. Still, Woodcroft stands behind his systems.

“I think through (the first) five games, we gave up one defensive-zone goal,” he explained. “[On Tuesday] it wasn’t good enough. Part of that’s on us, part of that’s a credit to the other team that did some unique things, some good things, and their top players found a way to break it.

The Oilers were most recently shelled 7-4 by the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night, again finding it impossible to keep the puck out of their own net. Edmonton has been outscored 17-27 through their first six contests, and it seems obvious that something needs to change. But Woodcroft might not see it that way.

“The first goal was off a rush where a player floated one, we missed it, a guy tipped it in. Second goal was off a breakout turnover. I think we gave up three power-play goals that night, so that’s five. Gave up a faceoff goal, that’s six. We gave up a forecheck goal where we didn’t work above someone, that’s seven.”

It’ll be intriguing to see if this team can turn things around once Connor McDavid is healthy, or if the defensive play ends up costing this core a precious season.

The post Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft stands behind defensive system despite abysmal start appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Jets vs. Red Wings prediction, odds, pick, how to watch – 10/26/2023

October 26, 2023

The Detroit Red Wings look to rebound from their second loss of the season as they face the Winnipeg Jets. It is time to continue our NHL odds series with a Jets-Red Wings prediction, pick, and how-to-watch.

The Jets enter the game at 3-3-0 on the year. They have won the last two games, including beating the St. Louis Blues last time out. The game started slow, with no goals in the first period. Then the Jets took the lead with two goals in the first 3:13 of the second period. The Blues got one back, but could not tie the game up. The Jets took a 4-2 win after an empty net goal. They will be without their head coach in this game though, as he has taken a leave of absence.

The Red Wings come into the game at 5-1-1 on the year. After an opening loss to the Devils to open the season, they won five straight games. Last time out, the Red Wings took the lead early with a goal 1:07 into the game. The Kraken would come back and score three straight and have a 3-1 lead. They would hold that lead into the third. In the third period, the Red Wings scored three in a row, but Jaren McCann scored with under two minutes left to tie it up. Then, the Kraken would win in overtime.

Here are the NHL Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

NHL Odds: Jets-Red Wings Odds

Winnipeg Jets: -125

Detroit Red Wings: +104

Over: 6.5 (-105)

Under: 6.5 (-115)

How to Watch Jets vs. Red Wings

Time: 7:00 PM ET/ 4:00 PM PT

TV: NHLPP/ESPN+

Stream: FuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Jets Will Win

The Jets’ top line is led by Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor. They have been solid this year, and are the top two players on the team in scoring this year. Scheifele leads the team with seven points, having four goals and three assists. He has scored once on the power play and has one power play assist this year. Connor has four goals and two assists this year. He is second on the team with six points, while also having a goal and an assist on the power play this year. Alex Ifallo joins them on the top line. He has three goals this year with one assist.

Meanwhile, the Blue Line has been providing points points for the Jets. Josh Morrissey had six points on the season, while Dylan DeMelo had five points. Overall, defensemen have 14 points this year for the Jets.

The Jets are also good at getting shots on the net. They have 27 or more shots in every game this year, while also having over 30 shots in four of six games this year. Meanwhile, they have given up over 30 shots just twice this year. One the power play, they have scored four times this year. That is on 24 chances on the power play. so that is something that needs to improve. The biggest issue has been killing the man-down. They have given up a power-play goal in every game this year. Overall, they have given up seven goals on 25 chances this year.

The Jets will see Connor Hellebuyck to the goal today. He is 3-2 on the season with a .881 save percentage and a 3.72 goals-against average. He has been better in the last two games. Against the Oilers, he saved 38 of 40 shots to get the win. Then last time out, he saved 18 of 20 shots to get another win.

Why The Red Wings Will Win

Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin have been great this year for the Red Wings. Larkin is coming in with four goals and ten assists on the year with a plus five rating. He has also been great on the power play, with three goals and seven assists. Alex DeBrincat has been the beast scoring goals this year. He has scored nine goals this year with four assists on the season. Still, he is a little beat up and is considered day-to-day.

Meanwhile, the blue line has been a huge help for the Red Wings, especially on the power play. Shane Gostisbehere has nine points this year, with three goals and six assists. A lot of that has been on the power play, with two goals and four assists this year on the power play. Mortiz Seider has a goal and six assists on the season. Five of those assists have come from the power play.

The Red Wings have been great on the power play this year. They have scored a power play in five of seven games this year. Overall, they have 12 power-play goals this year on 29 chances this season. Meanwhile, they have been solid in killing penalties. They have given up five goals when man down this year while giving up 28 chances. The special teams have been a key for the Red Wings. They have been outshot in the last four games, but due to the power play, are 3-0-1.

James Reimer will be in the goal tonight for the Red Wings. He is 2-0-0 this year with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .963 save percentage. In his first game, he saved all 23 chances and came away with a shutout. Last time out, he gave up two goals on 31 shots and took his second win of the year.

Final Jets-Red Wings Prediction & Pick

The Red Wings are off to a strong start, with 11 points already and sitting just one point behind Boston in the division. They are the best in the NHL at scoring while sitting 12th in goals against per game. Meanwhile, Winnipeg is giving up a lot of chances on the power play, against a second-ranked power play unit of the Red Wings.  The only way for the Jets to win this game is to stay out of the box and score plenty of goals. They are not good at either of those. The Red Wings will score on the power play at least once this game, if not twice. Take them in this one.

Final Jets-Red Wings Prediction & Pick: Red Wings ML (+104) 

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