A pair of teams on winning streaks, the Edmonton Oilers and the Chicago Blackhawks meet at the United Center. Sportsnet West will air this Western Conference matchup, which gets going at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 5.

Edmonton Oilers vs. Chicago Blackhawks Odds

The money line for each team is currently set at an identical -110, and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals. If gamblers want to put some action on this game’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -105 money on the over and -115 on the under.

Edmonton is 36-31 straight up (SU) and has netted 7.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 67 regular season contests, 32 of its games have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just four have pushed. As a road team this season, the Oilers are 20-16 SU.

Edmonton comes into the match up with the first-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 29.9 percent of its extra-man chances this year. On the other hand, it has the third-best penalty kill in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 84.4 percent of its penalties.

For the team as a whole, Edmonton has been sent to the penalty box 3.4 times per game in the 2019-20 season, 3.2 per game over its last five games total, and 3.4 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

Averaging 27.9 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Mikko Koskinen (18-17-2) has been the best option in goal for Edmonton this season. If it chooses to rest him, however, the team might turn to Mike Smith (19-18-6), who has a .905 save percentage and 2.88 goals against average this year.

Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Oilers. Draisaitl has 108 points on 43 goals and 65 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 32 different games. McDavid has 32 goals and 63 assists to his credit, and has logged a point in 45 games.

On the other side of the rink, Chicago is 30-36 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 0.7 units this year. Through 66 regular season matches, 33 of its games have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team is 14-17 SU at home this year.

Chicago has converted on just 15.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places it in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.

Chicago players have been sent to the penalty box 3.5 times per game this season, 3.4 per game over their last five games total, and 4.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

Corey Crawford has stopped 30.1 shots per game as the top choice in goal for Chicago. Crawford has 14 wins, 22 losses, and three overtime losses to his name and has maintained a pedestrian 2.82 goals against average and a .916 save percentage this season.

The home team will be led on offense by Patrick Kane (29 goals, 51 assists).

Edmonton Oilers at Chicago Blackhawks Free Picks

Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Oilers, O/U – Under

Notes

Betting Trends

Chicago is 4-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while Edmonton is 2-2 in shootouts.

For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their past five matchups.

Edmonton has managed 30.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Chicago has been attempting 35.0 shots per game over its last five home outings.

Chicago has averaged 3.0 goals per game overall this season, but has upped that figure to 4.7 per match up over its three-game winning streak.

Edmonton skaters created 26.7 hits per game last season, while the Hawks logged 16.5 hits per contest.