Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers host Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals for what should be a great clash in the NHL on Tuesday. It is the first of two matches this season, and will bring us must-watch action.
Not only do these teams have exciting players, but they have both been dominant in the standings. This is a great test and two important points, and we are here with some Capitals vs. Oilers predictions to get you set for the game.
Both the Capitals and Oilers have been an elite hockey team this season for many reasons, including top-level offense. Washington is currently second in the NHL with 3.6 goals per game, while Edmonton is seventh with 3.3 goals per game.
The names displayed in this game are the real deal, as we have the leading goalscorer so far this season, Draisaitl, and Ovechkin, who is real close to becoming the all-time NHL’s leading goal scorer, along with elite support teams who are at a point per game average.
They have each done very well in keeping the puck out of the net, but I see an offensive style taking over this game real quick, and there should be a lot of combined goals.
Captain Connor McDavid will not be in this game, which is obviously a key hit to the Oilers' roster. Luckily for Edmonton, they still have a list of top-tier talent, including Draisaitl - who is even considered a top five player in the league by most.
Not only is he an extreme talent, but he also leads the NHL in goals with 33, five clear of his nearest challenger. This is no surprise, as Draisaitl is consistently near the top in NHL goals each season.
Without McDavid, Draisaitl will be leaned on even more heavily to help generate a win for the Oilers against a very good Capitals team. No matter how good the opposition, he is always a threat to score.
This is the first of three games without superstar captain Connor McDavid due to his suspension. What now lies ahead is a great chance for this team to prove they are not a one-man show. They are on home ice for the first time in three games, and should come out of the gates flying as they just lost a heartbreaker to kill a four-game win streak.
The Oilers have been dominating this league, but they still have work to do as they are behind the Vegas Golden Knights. Earning a win on Tuesday night could go a long way in their push for the Pacific Division lead, and they know this.
This will be a dog fight, but I think Edmonton has more skill, and will be the hungrier team. I expect them to squeak out this win on home ice.
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Washington Capitals | +115 ML |
Edmonton Oilers | -135 ML |
Puck Line | EDM -1.5 |
Total | O/U 5.5 |
Leon Draisaitl (EDM Oilers) | +115 |
Alex Ovechkin (WAS Capitals) | +125 |
Zach Hyman (EDM Oilers) | +160 |
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM Oilers) | +230 |
Tom Wilson (WAS Capitals) | +250 |
Victor Arvidsson (EDM Oilers) | +275 |
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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.