The NHL is treating fans to a jam-packed 15-game slate on Saturday. The first puck is dropped at 1PM ET in Philadelphia and the final puck is dropped at 10PM ET in Edmonton. The game that caps Saturday’s action might be the best of the 15 games.
Of the solid matchups on Saturday, Rangers vs Oilers might be the must-watch. These are two deep, talented teams that make for great entertainment. If you are not a fan of either team but want to watch with some skin in the game, here are a few markets to consider.
The Rangers have been the better team between the two, both recently and on the season as a whole. Edmonton have 1 win in their last 4 games as part of 4 wins in their last 9. Meanwhile, New York have won 3 out of their last 4 as part of 6 wins in their last 9. They have also scored more and allowed less goals per game than the Oilers, and also have better special teams.
The Rangers are 7-2 on the road this season to the Oilers’ 4-6-1 home record. To pile on, New York is 6-3 against the spread on the road while Edmonton is 1-10 against the spread at home.
Though this is not a puck line pick, those numbers reinforce the value of plus money outright for the Rangers. In what has the makings of a great game, the Rangers are the more reliable play.
There is good potential for goals in this game given the star power on both sides. The Rangers score the 6th most goals per game in the NHL and Chris Kreider is a key contributor. Kreider has the second-most goals on the team with 9 split between 4 even strength, 3 power play, and 2 short handed. Regardless of the situation, Kreider has a chance to score.
Kreider has averaged 43 goals per year over the last 3 seasons. This form has continued this year and is the reason he is on the team’s top line and top power play. The Rangers have the 8th best power play in the league right now and the 2nd best penalty kill. Kreider is on the ice in every situation, is effective in every situation, and is a consistent producer. This +190 has plenty of appeal.
Leon Draisaitl is a factor in just about every Oilers game, regardless of whether they win or lose. If the Oilers are winning, he likely has a hand in them getting the lead. If the Oilers fall behind, as they may on Saturday, Draisaitl will log even more ice time and push even harder for offense.
Draisaitl leads the Oilers in both goals scored with 15 and in points with 28. That is pretty good considering he has played in 21 games. It’s no surprise, though. This is one of the world’s best players who produces year after year. This season is no different.
In his last 4 games played, Draisaitl has 3 goals and 6 points. In a tough matchup, he will log plenty of important minutes with Connor McDavid, Evan Bouchard, and other talented Oilers players. Regardless of the outcome of this game, Draisaitl should have a few opportunities to tuck one.
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New York Rangers | +110 |
Edmonton Oilers | -130 |
Puck Line | Oilers -1.5 (+185) |
Total | O/U 6.5 (-105/-115) |
Leon Draisaitl | +120 |
Connor McDavid | +120 |
Artemi Panarin | +135 |
Vincent Trochek | +155 |
Chris Kreider | +190 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.