Hurricanes vs Oilers Picks and Predictions: McDavid Tries to Muster Offense for Edmonton

With the 2022-23 NHL season underway, we have a great matchup on Thursday night between the Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers. Carolina won each of the two meetings between these two clubs last season.

Will the Hurricanes take care of business once again, or can the Oilers grab the victory as a short home favorite? Find out in our free NHL picks and predictions for Hurricanes vs. Oilers on Thursday, October 20.

Hurricanes vs Oilers best odds

Hurricanes vs Oilers picks and predictions

These two teams enter this contest in opposite forms, as the Canes started the year 3-0 while the Oilers are 1-2. Edmonton’s offense has gone quiet over the last two games it has lost, recording three or fewer goals each time.

It is no secret that this club goes however far Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl take them, and in a game against a powerhouse Carolina team, we should expect them to carry the load once again. Out of necessity, McDavid and Draisaitl are shooting the puck more than anyone else on this roster (outside of Evander Kane) because of how inefficient the other 10 forwards have been.

Continuing a trend from last year’s playoffs, the two superstars are generating the vast majority of this team’s point production. The Oilers have a day of rest on each side of this contest, so McDavid and Draisaitl are going to see north of 22 minutes on the ice against a strong team.

Since they are going to get the volume, we are going to look at McDavid’s shots on goal prop. Recording at least four in all three of Edmonton’s games this season, we should expect the world’s most talented player to keep firing the puck in this contest.

In his last outing against Carolina, McDavid logged five shots in a 2-1 loss. The Hurricanes possess one of the best blue line plus goaltending combinations in the league, which usually prevents opposing teams from shooting the puck unless it is from the outside.

This tenacious defense is actually an advantage for McDavid’s shooting prop because he is the best player in the world in terms of making something out of nothing, so the Oilers are going to have to rely on his zone entries and net-driving a lot in this contest. 

With not many options available against such a stingy defense, McDavid will be one of the few guys on Edmonton who can find the high-danger scoring areas.

My best bet: Connor McDavid Over 3.5 shots on goal (-145)

Hurricanes vs Oilers moneyline analysis

I think Carolina will win as a short road underdog, one of the rare times you will get them at plus money. To keep it simple, they are the more well-rounded team and are capable of stopping McDavid and Draisaitl from finding the back of the net.

McDavid should get his shots, but will he score? Last season, Carolina held both of the Oilers’ superstars to zero points across two games.

As I mentioned above, Edmonton goes as far as those two take them, so it is not surprising that the Canes went 2-0 across those two contests. Another aspect of this game is the fact that Frederik Andersen is projected to take the crease for Carolina.

Andersen has absolutely stifled the Oilers throughout his career, going 17-1-2 with a .928 SV% and 2.16 GAA. The only reason I am not taking the road team to win is that Edmonton has had a very disappointing start to the season, and I could see it coming out firing on its home ice against another Stanley Cup hopeful.

Hurricanes vs Oilers Over/Under analysis

I would lean towards the Under in this game, but I do not trust Edmonton’s defense or goaltending at all. Stuart Skinner is projected to start between the pipes for the Oilers and is due for some regression.

After appearing in relief for Jack Campbell against the Flames, Skinner stopped all 31 shots he faced. However, his game took a predictable step back against Buffalo as he surrendered three goals on 23 shots for a .870 SV%.

Last season, Skinner would have ranked just 21st among starting goaltenders at 5v5 in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60). In front of Skinner is a blue line that has struggled every year during the McDavid era.

 At 5v5 last season, the Oilers ranked just 19th in the league in goals against and 23rd in expected goals against. They did absolutely nothing to address this problem over the off-season, which has already shown through the first three games as they rank 30th in xGA at 5v5.

Hurricanes vs Oilers betting trend to know

Connor McDavid has recorded at least four shots on goal in all three of his games this season. Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs Oilers.

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