The Edmonton Oilers were part of a five-team scrum that sat at the top of the NHL’s Pacific Division just a few weeks ago. Along with Vegas, Calgary, Vancouver and Arizona, the Oil was in a group that was separated by just a handful of points: the difference between a first-round playoff series against a wild card and missing the postseason altogether. Vegas has skated away with the division lead for now, but Edmonton is just three points behind, with a record of 37-25-9, good for 83 points. The Oilers have won five of their last ten and taken points out of two of their losses, and they now stand four points clear of the third-place Calgary Flames, although Calgary has a game in hand. If the NHL decides to cut off the regular season and move to the postseason immediately after the coronavirus suspension, Edmonton would open a first-round series with home ice advantage over the Flames. Is NHL futures wagering part of your sports betting plan? Then take a look at our thoughts about Edmonton.
NHL: Edmonton Oilers 2019-20 NHL Season Analysis
The Oilers have been frustrating their fan base for several seasons now. They won the draft lottery in 2015 and used that selection to pick Connor McDavid, who had been promoted as the next great player since he was a freshman in high school. They had already brought in Leon Draisatl in the 2014 draft, with the third overall selection, and it seemed like the Oilers were stocked for a long run of success. However, they missed the postseason the past two seasons, even though McDavid and Draisatl both tallied over 100 points apiece. However, 2019-20 has been a different campaign, with the Oilers finally getting everything right.
Offensive Analysis
Draisatl and McDavid were still dominating the NHL in terms of scoring when the league went into hiatus. However, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is also contributing, with a white-hot 61 points (including 22 goals) in 65 games. His career plus-minus was -44, but he had a +1 for this season, contributing from the second line. He has four game-winning goals this season alone.
Defensive Analysis
It takes two quality netminders to contend at an elite level in the NHL these days, and the Oil has two, in Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen. Smith has a 19-12-6 record in 37 starts, with a .902 save percentage and a 2.95 goals allowed average. Those two numbers have ticked toward the bad a couple of percentage points this season over his career, but they have improved over the course of the season as Edmonton has improved their defense. Koskinen’s numbers are a little better, with a save percentage of .917 and a 2.75 GAA, and his record (18-13-3) is about the same as well. Having a serviceable pair of goalies who can shut down the opposition when needed is invaluable in the playoffs.
Key Numbers & Key Players
Kailer Yamamoto has shoehorned himself into the regular lineup. In 27 games played, he has 26 points (including 11 goals) and a blistering +17 plus-minus rating. He is averaging over a shot and a half per game, and he is making those count. He is contributing a 3.7 points shared rating, according to Hockey Reference. It is second- and third-line players like Yamamoto who would help the Oilers in the postseason.
Defenseman Mike Green came in at the trade deadline, a right point who adds depth to the team. He is not here for his offense,as he has just 11 points in 50 games, but he can deliver big hits and takeaways when the team needs them.
Playoffs panorama and Championship Odds
Edmonton offers a lot of value when it comes to championship odds, as the moneyline on them is +4000 NHL Odds right now. If you look at how poorly top seeds do in the postseason, then you understand that postseason betting in the NHL is an especially dicey proposition. The Oil has the offensive talent to compete with anyone in the Western Conference. However, it is the reliability of their defense ahead of Smith or Koskinen that could prove fatal to their chances as contenders.
