Teams Struggling to Meet Lofty Expectations
The Edmonton Oilers arrive in New York to face the Rangers, both struggling to live up to the contender status they were labeled with before the 2022-23 NHL season began. Both teams are coming off losses, and although the Oilers haven’t looked impressive, the Rangers have been very status quo recently.
We’ll dig into the stats and the story so far to prepare you and your online sports betting ticket for the Oilers and Rangers on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on the NHL Network from the World’s Most Famous Arena: Madison Square Garden.
Let’s check the latest NHL odds, stats, injury reports and NHL lines for Oilers vs Rangers. We’ve plenty of NHL betting odds for you to consider.
Oilers Have Goaltending Problem … Again.
The Edmonton Oilers thought they had found a solution to their long-standing goaltending issues when they signed Jack Campbell in the offseason. The Oilers need better goaltending from their tandem to even make the playoffs in a surprisingly competitive Pacific division. Edmonton enters Saturday’s matchup with a 10-10-0 record, losing three of their last five games.
We’re not sure who the Oilers will start in the net against the Rangers. Campbell has a 6-5-0 record, a 4.15 goals-against average, and a .876 save percentage. Stuart Skinner has a 4-5-0 record, a 2.78 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.
Skinner’s numbers are pretty good, considering he was the backup goalie heading into the season.
The Oilers’ team stats also demonstrate how much Edmonton’s season has been affected by poor goaltending and penalty killing. Edmonton is averaging 3.3 goals per game on 31.9 shots but is giving up 3.60 goals against on 34.2 shots.
The Oilers’ power play is unsurprisingly dangerous, scoring 21 power-play goals and converting on 29.2% of their opportunities, while the penalty kill has given up 22 goals, operating at only 72.2%.
Those are awful stats for a team with the best player in hockey and the most dynamic duo in the league. It should go without saying that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are leading the Oilers in scoring and should be prop-bet targets. McDavid has 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists) while Draisaitl has 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists).
McDavid and Draisaitl are ranked first and third in player scoring in the league. The Oilers have the fourth-worst goals-against average in the league, ahead of only the Columbus Blue Jackets, Anaheim Ducks and Vancouver Canucks.
Rangers Need Balance
Like the Edmonton Oilers, the New York Rangers were among the preseason favorites as Stanley Cup contenders. However, with a 10-7-4 record, it’s fair to ask what’s wrong with the New York Rangers. Statistically speaking, one glaring issue is their backup goalie.
So, if Jaroslav Halak is playing, don’t take the Rangers to win on the moneyline when betting online. Halak has a 0-5-1 record with a 2.70 goals-against average and a .881 save percentage.
The Rangers have 2022 Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin, who we think will get the start on Saturday, and they’re fine when he starts: Shesterkin has a 10-2-3 record, a 2.38 GAA and a .917 save percentage.
Another issue below the New York Rangers’ statistical surface is scoring. Aside from their top three scorers, who have all surpassed 20 points, the Rangers need a little more production from their secondary scoring. The Rangers are averaging 2.90 goals per game on 34.6 shots while giving up 2.57 goals per game on 28.3 shots.
While those stats are not good enough to make the Rangers a true contender, New York’s special teams have been pretty good. The Rangers have scored 16 power-play goals, converting on 22.2% of their opportunities, while the penalty kill has only given up 11 power-play goals (82.5% efficiency).
Oilers vs Rangers Game Injuries
Oilers vs Rangers Head-to-Head
This is the first of two head-to-head matchups between the Oilers and Rangers. Last season, the Rangers and Oilers split their two matchups, with the Rangers winning one game and losing the second in overtime.
The Rangers averaged 4.50 goals per game while the Oilers averaged 3.50 goals across the two games in 2021-22.
Oilers vs Rangers Game Information
- Game: Oilers (10-10-0) vs Rangers (10-7-4)
- Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City
- Day/Time: Saturday, Nov. 26, 1 p.m. ET
- Oilers vs RangersLive stream: NHL.TV
Oilers vs Rangers Betting Lines
Oilers vs Rangers Picks & Prediction
We think the Rangers and Shesterkin will control Edmonton’s offensive talent and keep this a lower-scoring game, with New York taking the victory. The Oilers have a 10-10 moneyline record, while the Rangers are 10-11 straight up on the moneyline.
Regarding the total goals line, we like the under, especially with Shesterkin in the net. However, this game could hit the over despite the Rangers’ scoring issues because the Oilers can’t keep the puck out of the net most nights. The Rangers have a 7-14 over/under record while the Oilers are 10-8 over/under.
We think this game will be close and expect the Oilers to lose but cover ATS. We’ll take the Oilers on the puck line.
The New York Rangers are listed at -140 in our Vegas Lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Rangers, you have a chance to win $71. The Edmonton Oilers are +120, offering a chance to win $120 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines give the Rangers a 58.33% chance to win, with the Oilers at 45.45%.
Pick: Edmonton Oilers +1½ (-220), New York Rangers (-140)
Oilers vs Rangers Trends
Oilers vs Rangers Edge
Oilers vs Rangers Results
Oilers vs Rangers Game Summary
