The Edmonton Oilers have work to do. They’re hovering in fifth place in the Pacific Division and are missing multiple impact wingers.
Thankfully, Connor McDavid is jumping the boards.
Edmonton hosts the Columbus Blue Jackets at Rogers Place on Thursday, December 5, and my Blue Jackets vs. Oilers predictions expect No. 97 to be buzzing in the Columbus end of the rink all night.
Oilers vs Blue Jackets prediction
My Oilers pick
Connor McDavid Over 3.5 shots (-120 at BET99)
My Oilers analysis
Regardless of the sport, it’s rare to find value in the betting markets for superstars, so seeing an edge on a prop for Connor McDavid is a nice surprise — and one I'll happily add to my NHL picks card.
McDavid took a game to hit top gear after missing three with an ankle injury, but since then, he’s been as good as ever. The Edmonton Oilers captain has racked up 51 shots on 79 attempts and recorded four or more in nine of the past 11 contests.
His ice time is up, too, with No. 97 logging a monster 22:39 per night during the stretch.
The Oilers are also dealing with multiple injuries and merely treading water in the competitive Pacific Division, so returning to Rogers Place following a three-game road trip sets up McDavid to hog minutes and have a number of favorable on-ice matchups with the last-change advantage tonight.
He continues to drive 5-on-5 possession with an elite 62.3 Corsi For percentage and 59.8% shot share during the 11-game stretch, and he also sports respective 62.3% and 62.2% marks on home ice for the season.
A reason we’re landing a fair number on McDavid’s shots prop is because the Columbus Blue Jackets have been a surprisingly solid possession team with a 51.3 CF% at 5-on-5. The Jackets have also allowed a middling 28.6 shots per game, so on the surface, this doesn’t project as a plus-matchup.
Still, I’m anticipating McDavid pushing the play and tilting the ice in his favor to generate enough shooting opportunities to clear this total.
Oilers vs Blue Jackets same-game parlay (SGP)
Connor McDavid Over 3.5 shots
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Over 0.5 points
Darnell Nurse Over 2.5 shots
Playing with McDavid has been kind to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and the duo have been on the ice for an eye-popping 7.88 goals per 60 minutes since the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign.
With Columbus allowing the fourth-most goals per game (3.5), this is a good spot for RNH to find the scoresheet.
Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse has shown off a recent uptick in shot volume and rounds out this same-game parlay.
He’s registered 14 shots on 25 attempts through four games since returning from an upper-body injury, and in addition to skating with the No. 2 power-play unit, Nurse also takes 54.6% of his faceoffs in the offensive zone.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Oilers vs Blue Jackets odds
Oilers vs Blue Jackets live odds
Oilers vs Blue Jackets opening odds
- Puck line: Edmonton -1.5 (-110) | -1.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Edmonton -275 | Columbus _225
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-120) | Under 6.5 (+100)
Odds courtesy of BET99
Oilers vs Blue Jackets trend
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid has registered four or more shots in nine of his past 11 games. Find more NHL betting trends for Oilers vs. Blue Jackets.
How to watch Oilers vs Blue Jackets
| Location: | Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB |
| Date: | Thursday, 12-5-2024 |
| Puck drop: | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | SNW |
Oilers vs Blue Jackets latest injuries
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