NHL Hockey Betting: Edmonton Oilers at Washington Capitals

The Edmonton Oilers haven’t won many games with franchise rookie Connor McDavid sidelined with a broken collarbone but they haven’t collapsed either. Thanks to the emergence of forward Leon Draisaitl who has put up 12 points in eight games since being added to the roster the Oilers have remained competitive. They’re 2-4-1 in the seven games without McDavid and two of the four regulation losses have been by a single goal. They’re coming off a very nice effort in a 5-1 home win over New Jersey on Friday night but now step up in class as they head East to take on the Washington Capitals.

The Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers have separated themselves from the pack atop the Eastern Conference but Washington is maintaining sight of these teams. The Capitals are currently in third place with 27 points putting them 7 back of the first place Habs and 5 back of the second place Rangers. They’re also maintaining decent form–maybe not the 9-1-0 pace of the Rangers but a respectable 6-3-1 over their last ten games. The Caps are coming off a 7-3 home bludgeoning of the Colorado Avalanche and will play a home game every two days against Edmonton, Winnipeg and Tampa Bay until a road game at Toronto on 11/28. The Oilers play their next five on the road starting tonight and continuing with stops at Carolina, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Toronto.

Edmonton is still a very fast and dangerous team even without McDavid in the lineup but they’re not good on the defensive end. They’re #28 in goals against per game and are one of only five NHL teams allowing 3 or more per game. Washington is a very solid #6 giving up 2.32 per contest. Anders Nilsson will get the start in net tonight for Edmonton and will be opposed most likely by Braden Holtby (though the team has yet to confirm the starting goalie assignment). Edmonton will get a few goals but it’s hard to see them beating a very solid and well balanced Caps team–especially on the road where Edmonton is just 3-7-0 this season. We’d love to make a value case for taking the ‘plus money’ with Edmonton but keep coming back to the fact that Washington is the substantially better team.

BET WASHINGTON CAPITALS -200 OVER EDMONTON OILERS