NHL Hockey Betting: Edmonton Oilers at Chicago Blackhawks

Slow day in the NHL with only four games and only two Canadian teams in action. The only night game with a Canadian team takes place at Chicago’s United Center as the Chicago Blackhawks host the Edmonton Oilers who are trying to adjust to the injury that has Connor McDavid sidelined for a couple of months. Edmonton wasn’t playing great hockey when McDavid was still in the lineup though he was starting to show the spectacular talent that made him the most sought after rookie since Sidney Crosby. Head coach Todd McLellan does seem to have the team heading in the right direction though its unreasonable to expect much progress until he has all of his players back in the lineup. A bigger issue in the short term is the team’s porous defense–though that was anticipated as a weak spot before the season started. Still, McLellan needs to improve on that area–the Oilers are one of the worst defensive teams in the league allowing more than three goals per game.

The Blackhawks have a middle of the pack defense but the real concern has been the offense–or lack thereof. Chicago is currently tied for #18 in goals per game though they have scored 15 in their last 4 games. That’s the good news–the bad news is that they only won one of those games. Chicago has a big injury to deal with as defenseman Duncan Keith is out for at least another month. They will get Marian Hossa back tonight and it would help the team immensely if he could rekindle the scoring touch that has been largely absent this season. Hossa isn’t alone, however, as the rest of the ‘contributing players’ have not held up their end of the bargain leaving Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to carry much of the load.

Chicago has lost 4 of 5 and really needs a win to keep pace with the rest of the brutally competitive Central Division. They’re in sixth place and they could lose sight of the top teams in the division very quickly. They’ve had little trouble with Edmonton in the past (won 5 of the last 6 meetings) and they should get it done here.

BET CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS -190 OVER EDMONTON OILERS